Oily skin is the most problematic type of skin. It is characterized by too much sebum production and larger pores on the face. The greatest number of problems is due not to the oily appearance of the skin, but to its innate imperfections, which are less related to cosmetics and more to nutrition and inadequate lifestyle. See how to care for this type of skin, what treatment methods exist and what to look for during care.
What characterizes oily skin?
Oily skin is a condition that is characterized by an overproduction of sebum in the pores of the skin. Sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands, which acts as a kind of lubricant, whose main task is to protect the skin from external factors. However, if these glands produce too much sebum, we are dealing with oily skin and this can lead to the formation of acne, blackheads and other pimples on the face.
Features characteristic of oily skin:
- The pores are large in size
- Skin is oily even after washing or applying lotion/cream
- Skin tends to shine during the day due to excessive oil production in the pores
- Has difficulty absorbing moisturizers, serums and medicinal products
What causes oily skin?
The main causes affecting oily skin include genetic conditions and hormones that cause excess sebum production during puberty. Hormones also play a role in the production of fat on the skin in pregnant women, due to their changing levels.
Other factors that can contribute to oily skin include m.in:
- Age – with age, the sebaceous glands produce less and less sebum, due to which the skin becomes less oily with age.
- Obesity – people who are overweight usually have more sebaceous glands than people of normal weight, which is why they are more likely to have oily skin.
- Nutrition – eating foods rich in fats contributes to the production of excess sebum by the sebaceous glands on the face.
- The use of certain hormonal drugs
How to get rid of oily skin?
If you have oily skin, you probably know how frustrating it can be. The most common skin type, oily skin, is not only prone to acne, but also makes the skin look dull and oily. It is also more susceptible to the formation of blackheads and white blackheads. Although there are many cleansing products on the market that promise to control the condition of oily skin, there are some natural methods and activities that will help you get rid of oily skin without having to spend money on expensive products.
Here are some simple tips to help you get rid of oily skin:
- Avoid stress: Stress can cause breakouts on the face and make the skin produce more sebum. To reduce stress levels, try yoga or meditation, which have been proven to benefit mental and physical health. You can also try exercises that regulate your breathing.
- Drink plenty of water: Drinking plenty of water helps flush toxins out of your body. In addition, it helps to maintain an adequate level of hydration in the body, which prevents dryness of the skin of the face.
- Wash your face twice a day with a non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging) cleanser that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide – these ingredients help kill bacteria in the pores and relax dead skin cells.
- Exfoliation of the epidermis: regular exfoliation of the epidermis with gentle products such as scrubs or masks. You can also try tonics and astringents containing active ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which help remove excess sebum from the face without drying it out too much (always remember to use sunscreen).
- Avoid touching your face as much as possible – especially when you’re wearing makeup – as this causes bacteria to spread to your skin that can cause breakouts.
What pills for oily skin?
The use of drugs should be carried out with the permission of the doctor. The dermatologist should check the condition of our skin and on this basis make decisions about the further path of treatment. The use of drugs without the knowledge of a doctor can be very harmful to our health. However, we can use the help of dietary supplements that are available without a prescription and their main task is to support and care for the skin and provide all the nutrients that will help us maintain the condition of our skin at the right level. Such supplements are, for example:
- Derminax
- ImpreSkin
- Re:Nev Skin
How to care for oily skin?
Home remedies for oily skin
1. Baking soda for oily skin
Baking soda is one of the best remedies for oily skin care because it has a gentle abrasive effect that removes dead cells from the top layer of the epidermis, thus helping to prevent clogging of pores.
Mix a little baking soda with water to form a paste; add a few drops of lemon juice to it if you want to get a better effect of exfoliating the skin of the face. Apply this mixture to the face and gently rub it into the skin for about two minutes; then rinse with warm water.
2. Apple cider vinegar with honey
Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with one teaspoon of honey and five drops of lemon juice. Apply this mixture to the face with cotton swabs and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse with water. This remedy will help balance the pH level of the skin and remove excess oil from the face.
3. Cucumber paste
Make a paste of cucumber juice and apply it to the face. Leave on the face for 20 minutes, then wash the face with warm water. This will help reduce excess oil on the skin.
4. Honey with milk or yogurt
You can use raw honey as a mask by mixing it with a little milk powder or yogurt and applying it to your face for 15 minutes, then washing it off with cold water. This will help control excessive oil secretion from the pores of the skin, as well as moisturize dry areas on the skin that are caused by excessive sweating during the summer.
Cosmetics for the care of oily skin – what should they contain?
Cosmetics for oily skin should contain natural moisturizing ingredients, such as aloe vera gel or cucumber juice, as well as substances that balance the secretion of sebum and help protect the skin from the harmful effects of external factors.
To find out what oily skin cosmetics are right for you, it’s important to understand how your skin reacts to different products. If you have acne or pimples skin, it is best to avoid cosmetics containing alcohol or fragrances that can further irritate it and worsen the condition of acne.
Ingredients that we should also look for in cosmetics are:
- camomile
- witch hazel
- lemon balm
- sage
- rosemary
- alpha hydroxy acids (fruit acids)
- Silicon
- ammonium compounds
- vitamin A (Retinol) and vitamin E
- aluminium salts
