How to Treat Oily Skin

Excess oil on skin can lead to those dreaded blemishes and breakouts. Here’s how to stay in control.

The Cause of Oily Skin
The oil is produced by oil glands known as sebaceous glands. These glands are bigger and more active in the region of the nose than any other areas of the face. Other areas on the body where sebaceous glands are most heavily concentrated are the neck, chest, and back areas, where body acne can be common.

Many people have the same level of hormones, but produce different amounts of oil, because their oil glands respond differently. During adolescence, a surge in the level of sex hormones, known as androgens, create a problem of oily skin where previously there was none. The reason for this is that androgens enlarge and stimulate he sebaceous glands, causing them to produce more sebum.

While this stimulation is not directly responsible produces more fatty acids when a comedo plug closes off a pore opening. The additional fatty acids increase the amount of inflammation, and more severe acne occurs. Despite all the trouble that sebum causes it is very important to the maintenance of the skin. When the system is working properly, sebum performs the important job of helping lubricate your skin. Sebum also carries with it dead cells shedding from your hair follicle walls. For someone with oily skin, the best to do is to take measures to keep pores from getting clogged and forming acne lesions.

Of course there is also the alternative which is getting your skin treated by professionals. The Houston plastic surgery experts are famous for their awesome jobs. Get to know more about them if you wish. But doing things naturally is obviously cheaper and safer so take note of these suggestions.

Moisturizers for Oily Skin
It is important to maintain a regular skin care routine to keep your skin from becoming too irritated or too dry during acne treatments. This can result in even more breakouts, as the skin overcompensates by producing more oil. We recommend lightweight oil-free moisturizers. During the day, an oil-control moisturizer may be desired in order to reduce shine – and thus reduce the need for powders (which can contain pore-clogging ingredients). Of course, for some people, the lighter weight the moisturizer, the better.

Skin Care for Oily Skin
Remember, there is no way to completely prevent oily skin from occurring, but hopefully these tips will help keep the oil under control:

Cleansing

• Keep your skin very clean. Limit washing your face to two or three times a day. Too much washing will stimulate your skin to produce more oil.
• Although dirt and oil on the surface of the skin do not cause acne, excessive oil on your skin may exacerbate the clogging of pore openings, so proper washing is often a good way to keep the situation from becoming worse. Washing with very hot water, harsh soaps or cleansers will not improve existing acne or prevent future flare-ups. In fact, these methods can dry and irritate your skin so badly that you will not be able to use effective acne medications in cream or gel form.
• Choose your cleanser with care. Avoid heavy cleansing creams. Avoid the use of harsh soaps or cleansers. Use a purse soap with no artificial additives. Try an antibacterial cleansing lotion or a lightly medicated soap, and use it in combination with a water rich in minerals, not tap water. Do not use cleansers and toners that contain alcohol.
• Use hot water when washing your face. Hot water dissolves skin oil better than lukewarm or cold water.
• Always remove your makeup before going to bed, but avoid cold creams and thick lotions which may leave a greasy film on your skin.
• When cleansing, massage your face well with your fingertips, using an upward and outward motion Be careful not to rub soap into the skin; it can clog pores.

Toning

• Aside frm removing every last trace of oil and makeup from your face, toners can be addictive because they give that “shrunken pores” effect. Just make sure to choose an alcohol-free formula — it may give your skin a nice tingly feeling at first, but it dries out your face even more as it evaporates your skin.
• For those hot summer days, stash your toner in the fridge. The chill feels good on the skin and helps skin look tighter too!

Moisturizing

• After cleansing, apply a natural oil-free moisturizer to keep the skin supple and shine-free.
• If your skin is extremely oily, three or four daily cleansings may be in order, and little or not moisturizing necessary before you are 30 years old. After that point, the skin around your eyes and mouth and on your throat may benefit from a nightly moisturizin, plus a mere touch of moisturizer in the morning.

Special Care

• If your oily skin is scaly, you can often correct the problem by using a deep-cleaning exfoliant on alternate nights, and following up on the treatment with a light-coating of moisturizer.
• Try using a clay or mud mask. If you have sensitive skin, use white or rose-colored clays.
• Use a light antiseptic night cream from time to time if you wish, and apply a clarifying mask one or two times a week.
• Before applying makeup, use an antiseptic day cream with active ingredients that diminish sebaceous secretions. Look for benzoyl peroxide in the list of active ingredients.
• Use a light antiseptic night cream from time to time if you wish, and apply a clarifying mask one or two times a week.
• Most topical acne medications have a drying effect on oily skin. Avoid them.

Makeup

• Choose cosmetic and facial care products specifically designed for oily skin.
• Do not use any oil-based cosmetics, which will only aggravate oil skin and create further blemishes. Use water-based, non-comedogenic cosmetics.
• Avoid skincare products that leave your skin feeling taut and dehydrated. They cause the upper layers of the skin to shrink. This restricts oil flow through the pores leading to blockages and breakouts.