Oily Skin

Signs of Oily Skin

• Looks glossy, especially on the forehead, nose, and chin
• Tendency to breakout and for acne
• Enlarged pores

Cause

Skin gets oilier than normal when hormones activate the sebum glands, which then produce way too much oil. Then, pores are enlarged by the constant flow of sebum. Oily creams, and frequent or aggressive oil removal only make it worse. There aren’t any cosmetic means to reduce sebum gland activity or pore size. Oily skin occurs more frequently in men than in women, and in younger people than in older people.

The Do’s and Don’t’s

• Don’t try to wash off excess oil with aggressive cleansers. Also, avoid scrubbing too hard because it can agitate your skin and make it even oilier.
• In the morning and at night, wash your skin with pH 5.5 products (e.g. Sebamed Cleansing Bar or Liquid Face and Body Wash) instead of soaps or neutral cleansers.
• If you have pimples or keep breaking out, use products that are specially formulated for acne treatment (e.g. Sebamed Clear Face).
• Remove excessive oil with a toner containing alcohol (e.g. Sebamed Clear Face Deep Cleansing Facial Toner). You can also dab your skin with a cotton pad, handkerchief, or wipe.
• Avoid oily creams. A light, moisturizing cream (e.g. Sebamed Moisturizing Cream) or an oil-free gel (e.g. Sebamed Clear Face Care Gel) can help to make your skin smoother, but not oilier.