Oily Skin : A Comprehensive Understanding and Management
-
Iqra Ali
- Posted on
- 0 comments
Oily skin can be frustrating, but with the right routine, you can keep it under control. Below is the comprehensive guide to the management of oily skin.
Are you tired of fighting an oily, greasy complexion that appears to have a mind of its own? You’re not alone—managing oily skin is a common struggle for many, often leading to frustration and the relentless search for practical solutions. Although oil plays a crucial role in keeping skin healthy, excess sebum can result in clogged pores and acne, leaving you feeling less than radiant. Achieving a uniform complexion requires more than cosmetic fixes. The following comprehensive handouts will help you know your skin type, demystify the causes behind your oily skin, and present a tailored skincare routine that includes gentle cleansing, the right products, and proven treatments to minimize shine and regulate sebum production. Let’s move forward to the ultimate routine for oily skin and take the first step toward a healthier, flawless complexion!
Understanding Oily Skin
Before the management of oily skin, having a clear understanding of your skin category is pertinent.
Oily skin is generally characterized by the greasy and shiny appearance. Theoretically explaining, When the significant cells in sebaceous glands, a gland that lies under each pore of your face, release extra sebum through a process known as holocrine secretion, it makes skin appear oilier than usual. Although oil is produced by the sebaceous glands naturally as part of its normal function to maintain your skin’s natural moisture, it leads towards oily skin when produced more than normal.
Read More: How to Identify Your Skin Type
Characteristics of Oily Skin
Other than sebum production, here are some other characteristics of oily skin helping you understand your skin even more
- Shiny Appearance: The oily skin often looks greasy or shiny, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).
- Large Pores: Pores in the oily skin may appear very large or prominent.
- Clogged Pores: Their pores are generally more vulnerable to blockage, leading to blackheads and whiteheads.
- Frequent Breakouts: Occasional or persistent pimples are common in people with oily skin
- Less Visible Wrinkles: Fewer wrinkles may be apparent compared to other skin types.
- Rough Texture: Face may feel rough in certain areas on oily skin due to clogged pores.
Causes of Oily Skin
Many factors may contribute to oily skin. Some are things a person can change, while others are not. According to Dr Nkem Ugonabo, a renowned dermatologist at the UnionDerm, the main reasons include
- Genetics: Family history is the main reason that influences oily skin.
- Hormonal Fluctuations: Changes during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause can increase oil production **Medications that affect hormone levels can also contribute.
- Dietary Habits: A diet rich in dairy or sugary foods is linked to increased skin oiliness, particularly in young women.
- Environmental Factors: High humidity can exacerbate oiliness in the people prone to oily skin.
- Stress: Mental strain and tension can lead to increased sebum production. Age: Skin type can change over time; some may experience less oiliness as they age.
- Medical Conditions: Pathologies like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can contribute to oily skin.
- Wrong Skin Care Products: Some people mistake their skin type or use random skin care products that do more harm than good, making skin oilier.
“Your skin [type] can change over time. Some people may find that their skin becomes less oily as they age or in certain environments and humidities.”
-Dr. Ugonabo
Daily Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin
So, still here? Now, you must be sure you have oily skin and are eager to get rid of it. Although eliminating the oil completely from the skin is almost impossible as sebum production is essential for the body and has some significant roles to play, it can be bridled through the following keen skincare routine you must add to your life from today.
1- Wash
Start and end your day by washing your face thoroughly. It seems obvious, but many people with greasy skin don’t wash their face daily. Make sure not to overdo it. Avoid harsh soaps. Instead, use a gentle soap such as glycerin soap instead.
2- Cleanse
Cleanse your face thoroughly with a gentle, water-soluble cleanser to remove excess oil, dirt, and impurities. Be soft on your skin so that you may not strip the skin of its natural moisture.
3- Tone
After cleansing, toning your face with an alcohol-free toner loaded with anti-oxidants and skin-replenishing ingredients is an essential step for oil prone skin. It replenishes your skin and minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores. Some people can use toners as the only moisturizer.
3- Exfoliate
Since oily skin has an extra-thick coat of built-up dead skin on the surface, gently exfoliating is the only way to remove that build-up and diminish clogged pores. It is also the best way to improve the look of stubborn bumps on your face. For this purpose, always use a non-abrasive, hydrating, and skin-soothing exfoliator that helps extra oil on skin to naturally shed.
4- Moisturize
Some believe you do not need to moisturize if you have oil prone skin. The fact is totally opposite to it. All skin types need moisturizer, but if you have oily skin, you should be more careful with what kind of moisturizer you use. Nonetheless, moisturizing skin after every step you consider last for your skin care is a key to healthier skin. Select a moisturizer that is water-based and is lightweight.
5- Protect
People of all skin types should wear SPF on exposed skin if they will be spending time outside, mainly if they are using acne treatments such as acid exfoliants. SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, measures how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, the radiation that causes sunburn, damages skin, and can contribute to skin cancer. Wearing at least 30 SPF sunscreens when sunlight is generally recommended to protect your skin from high ultraviolet exposure.
Need to know more about the uses of cleansers, toners, and exfoliators? Read here
The Right Skincare Ingredients for Oily Skin Products
Finding heaps of products for one problem can be overwhelming. Here are highly available ingredients in the market you must look for before buying any skincare product for your oil prone skin.
- Salicylic Acid: Salicylic acid, a Beta-Hydroxy acid (BHA), is a gentle chemical exfoliant. It works excellent for skin type with excessive oil to decongest the pores.
- Emollients: Emollients are butter and oils derived from natural plants. For oily dermis, they attract moisture from the environment
- Retinol: Retinol is Vitamin A derived from plants or laboratory products. It is a powerful anti-ageing potion and reduces acne scars, marks, hyperpigmentation, and enlarged pores.
- Topical niacinamide: Niacinamide is a water-soluble Vitamin B3 that is an excellent solution to your oily skin by retaining moisture, regulating oil production, and brightening your skin.
Home Remedies for Oily Skin
Feeling that maintaining so many skincare products on your skincare shelf would leave you broke? No worries!! Here are some home ingredients that can make your oil prone skin look gorgeous, absorbing extra oil from pores
1- Honey
Honey has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that make it practical for oily and acne-prone skin, helping to draw excessive moisture without drying it out.
2- Cosmetic Clay/ Multani Matti
Cosmetic clays are highly absorbent and help to draw out excess oil and impurities, making them ideal for treating excessive oil and acne.
3- Egg Whites and Lemons
This combination tightens pores and helps absorb oil, while lemons also provide antibacterial benefits, making them helpful in managing oiliness and acne.
4- Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is widely known for its soothing properties. It helps to treat flaky skin caused by oily patches, providing moisture without adding oil.
5- Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain salicylic acid, which can absorb excess oil and unclog pores, making them beneficial for acne-prone skin.
Read More: How to Use Home Remedies For Oily Skin
Do’s and Don’ts for Oily Skin
Make the following dos and don’ts your habit if you are suffering from the challenges of extra oil on your skin
| Do’s for Oil Prone Skin | Don’ts for Oil Prone Skin |
| Use blotting papers gently to reduce shine without spreading oil. | Refrain from products with drying alcohols like SD or denatured alcohol. |
| Opt for lightweight and non-greasy formulas. | Avoid heavy, oil-based products that can clog pores. |
| Choose a weightless, mattifying sunscreen for daytime protection. | Don’t Skip Sun Protection to avoid the worsening of skin conditions. |
| Use a lightweight, water-based serum or gel moisturizer. | Avoid heavy creams as they can exacerbate oiliness and clog pores. |
| Use a toner that curbs sebum production and supports skin health. | Don’t use products with ingredients like menthol that tingle. |
| Use oil-based cleansers to remove oil-based impurities without stripping skin. | Avoid bar soaps as solid forms often contain pore-clogging ingredients. |
| Try oil-absorbing primer while wearing makeup as it can help minimize pore appearance and control shine. | Don’t overwash you skin skin so that a moisture could be maintained |
| Use sheet masks for hydration and refining texture | Don’t use thick masks with heavy formulations to avoid pores blockage |
Oily Skin and Men
Surprise! The guide for oily skin in men is the same. Eezzyy Yeezy!!
Bottom Line
Oily skin is not as bad as you think. All you need is to manage it sagaciously through a proper skincare routine, adding some remedial ingredients to your life and choosing the right skincare product. Do not forget to understand your skin before starting the whole process.
