Skin Concern

Oiliness

How to achieve a healthy complexion that looks glowy, never greasy.

Oily skin is usually caused by excess sebum being produced by the body.

It can be affected by many factors, and the good news is, some are completely under your control.

It’s all about balance

Did you know, your skin can be oily and dehydrated at the same time? If you’re lacking a little H20 and your skin is dehydrated, your sebum production will kick in… but in overdrive, and before you know it, you will have excess oil yet still lack the much-needed hydration your skin is singing out for. This is the perfect recipe for those uninvited little lumps known as milia, clogged pores, and breakouts.

What you need to know about oily skin

The fact is, everyone has oil in their skin. Under each and every one of your pores is a sebaceous gland. This is necessary to produce natural oils called sebum which helps keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

Although at times it may feel like it, oil isn’t the enemy! We all need it to maintain a barrier allowing moisture to stay in but environmental nasties out. But too much oil does mean unwanted sheen and breakouts. Whether your skin is normal, dry, or oily, you have a certain amount of natural oils (sebum). Dry skin lacks these vital oils. A normal skin type has a perfect balance. If you have oily skin, you produce sebum to excess.

What causes oily skin?

Oily skin is usually caused by excess sebum being produced by the body. It can be affected by many factors, and the good news is, some are completely under your control. Most people with oily skin types try to eliminate the problem the wrong way which circles back to becoming more of a problem.

It’s important to understand how your skin’s production of oil can be affected and the everyday skincare faux pas that only enhance the circle of oily skin.

Most factors of oily skin are caused by hormones. Hormones play such a big part of regulation in the body and can affect your mood to your skin health. A few common experiences can trigger hormonal changes that lead to an increase in sebum production: Diet, sleep deprivation, pregnancy, puberty, menstruation, and stress.

Puberty and menstruation are a fact of life so understanding how to roll with it is crucial. Also in this bracket, falls pregnancy. A sudden mammoth change in hormone levels and most significantly, testosterone levels rise around ovulation. Similarly, times of high stress or sleep deprivation alter hormonal levels and upsets the balance. This causes commotion as the body tussles to release new hormones that enable us to cope with such new demands being placed on us. You can imagine this rollercoaster process only plays disruption with our hormonal balance.

The conclusion is that life events such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and stress can all cause skin to become oily.