Have you ever complained about acne breakouts? We all have faced such situations at some point of time in our lives. We might have gone through some of the most embarrassing moments of our lives when we used to feel very shy with all those red bumps in our face! We have attacked acne by all possible means. But have we ever tried to target the underlying reason behind it? Excessive oil production by the skin, a common reason behind the development of acne and pimples.
This brings us to the topic of oily skin. Oily skin is the most common type of problem for people across the globe with teenagers topping the list! In a country like India, heat and humidity only exacerbate the oil secretion and intensify the problem of oily skin.
Natural skin oils are necessary to prevent the dryness of skin. But sometimes, the oil glands become too active and begin to produce too much oil or sebum resulting in an oily skin. Oily skin attracts more dust and dirt. Excessive oil build-up can also clog the pores leading to acne breakouts and pimples.
What Causes Oily Skin?
Oily skin can be caused by a number of factors such as:
- Heredity: It can be hereditary with your genetics deciding the amount of oil your skin can produce.
- Diet: Diet also plays a major role in oil production. Consumption of greasy and fast foods and processed items leads to excess oil secretion.
- Hormonal Changes: Rampant hormonal swings can also lead to excess oil production especially during teenage years. Changes in the level of the Androgen hormone can cause excessive secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands.
- Pregnancy: Pregnancy can also raise the level of sebum produced by the skin. This is again due to hormonal changes in the body.
- Contraceptives: Birth control pills can lead to an increased sebum production as a side effect.
- Cosmetics: Cosmetics used by you can also have an adverse effect on your skin.
- Weather Conditions: Too much heat and humidity can stimulate the production of sebum.
What are the Problems Associated with Oily Skin?
Oily skin invites a lot of issues and causes the following conditions:
- The pores become enlarged and make way for an easy entry of bacteria.
- The skin appears to look dark due to excess oil production.
- Black heads appear due to the clogging of pores by excess oil.
- Acne and pimples are the most serious concerns that an individual with oily skin might face. Acne and pimples spread very rapidly across the face and take time to get healed. Some zits are painful and can leave a scar behind! Acne might affect a person's appearance and might lead to low self-esteem and depression in the long run.
How Should You Take Care of Oily Skin?
Oily skin care is a little more arduous as compared to normal skin. These tips might help you to take care of oily skin:
- Begin your day with a gentle, foaming facial wash. This will remove dirt and oil without stripping away moisture. Try a mild facial cleanser that cleanses without causing any drying effect.
- You should choose to wash your face for a maximum of 2 to 3 times a day. Too much washing will only stimulate the glands more, and the glands will start secreting more oil to maintain the oil balance of the skin.
- Make sure you develop proper healthy eating habits. It is better to keep yourself away from greasy and fried foods, processed food items and fast-foods.
- To avoid the clogging of pores, make use of moisturizers that are non-comedogenic (lotions or cream formulas which do not block pores). Avoid skincare products that make your skin feel tight and dehydrated.
- Ask your dermatologist to recommend you a good cleansing soap. But if you find your skin comfortable with a particular soap that you have used for a long time then continue to use it.
- Drink lots of water that will help in hydrating the skin.
- Look for an oil-free sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
What are the Various Home Remedies Available?
Indian traditions comprise of several effective home remedies which make use of natural items to treat skin conditions. Here's what you can do:
- Apply half teaspoon of lemon juice mixed with half teaspoon of cucumber juice on the face just half an hour before taking bath.
- Make a pulp of raw papaya and apply on the face. Papaya has a cleansing action. It softens dead skin cells and aids in the process of removal of such cells.
- Once a week, use a clay mask to help clean your pores. This is especially great for oily skin treatment because it helps to clean off the extra oil and the dead skin cells.
- Citrus essential oils present in fruits like lemon, grapefruit, tangerine and orange can help with oily skin problems.
You cannot curse or put blame on yourself if you have oily skin. That's what nature has given to you and you have to accept it gladly. But you can think of regulating your skin condition by taking proper care of your skin. And one good fact - oily skin shows delayed signs of ageing in comparison to dry skin types! You would get wrinkles and fine lines much later! Cheer up!
