IS OILY AND SHINY SKIN BOTHERING YOU?

Oily skin and large pores are often embarrassment as it makes the skin shine excessively and I have seen people trying nose pore strips, facial scrubs, and are generally over-washing their face, all of which are only bound to exacerbate the problem. What makes matters even worse is that oily skin is often treated as a problem only teenagers have, and so many people in their 30s and onwards who have oily skin are often completely clueless about the things they can do to reduce excess shine. 

What is Oily Skin? 

Skin types are predetermined by our genetics. In most cases, oily skin is completely normal and men are more likely to have it than women, and with age skin becoming less oily. People with oily skin have more and larger sebaceous glands than other skin types, and so these glands produce a bit more natural skin oils called sebum, which appear as a shiny layer on the skin. Throughout the day or night, these oils further build upon the skin, and so the face becomes even shinier in the afternoon or when one wakes up. Sebaceous glands aren’t distributed evenly throughout the skin. These are more around the nose, on the forehead, and on the chin - an area also known as the T zone - which commonly becomes oily quicker. In most cases, having a little shine by the afternoon is completely normal; in fact, it means that the sebum is creating a healthy skin barrier that in turn is protecting the skin from pollution and germs. However too much oiliness and shine means that something else is causing your skin to be oilier than it should be. 

What causes excessive shiny skin? 

Climate, skincare products, diet, medications, and health conditions can all make our skin oilier. High humidity and hot summer weather makes us sweat more, which can make the skin appear oilier. Certain hormones like Testosterone cause excessive sebum production and that is why males and teenagers are more likely to have oily skin. Food items like refined sugar, processed foods, milk, and chocolate increase sebum production or make it thicker, which could cause more clogged pores and acne. Skincare routines may be to blame for excess oiliness. Washing face more than twice a day, using facial scrubs, toners than contain alcohol, and washing face with ordinary soap or an overly drying facial cleanser can in fact force the skin produce more oil. Our skin tries to compensate for all the drying agents we use on our skin and protect it from damage caused by scrubs. Thus, by scrubbing our face clean, we may be actually training your skin to produce more oil. 

How to reduce skin shine? 

1. Avoid excessive face washing and scrubbibg, alcohol-based toners, and nose strips, as these will only irritate the skin, make pores look larger, and urge the skin to produce even more sebum. 

2. Wash face twice a day and after exercises with a neutral cleanser formulated for the face to prevent clogging of pores. Special face wash that contains ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid help regulate sebum production. 

3. Use skin moisturizers. This may sound strange but moisturizing skin may actually help it to produce less sebum. By using a moisturizer after cleansing, we can ‘trick’ the skin into believing it has the right amount of oil so it does not overproduce! We can also opt for a gel moisturizer that will hydrate the skin without creating an occlusive layer over it’. Oily-skin-friendly ingredients to look out for in a moisturizer are hyaluronic acid, retinol, niacinamide, and glycerin. 

4. One can use a mask to reduce the shininess; wash-off clay masks are generally effective at blotting the oils from the skin and can be safely used 1-2 times a week. 

5. To manage the excess shine during the day, blotting papers are the most effective, but a paper tissue will do the trick just as well. 

6. Choose skin care products that are labeled “oil free” and “noncomedogenic.”This means that products that have these labels — including cleansers, moisturizers and makeup — won’t clog your pores or cause acne. 

7. Use sunscreen outdoors. Sunscreen helps prevent sun damage that could lead to wrinkles, age spots and even skin cancer. To prevent acne breakouts, look for sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and do not use sunscreens that contain fragrance or oils. 

8. Don’t sleep in your makeup. Always remove all makeup before going to sleep. 

9. Don’t touch your face at all times. Doing so can spread dirt, oil and bacteria from your hands to your face. Only touch your face when you’re cleansing, moisturizing or applying sunscreen or makeup, and make sure your hands are clean and washed. 

 Every person’s skin is different, and there is no "one size fits all" approach to skin care. If you are concerned about the amount of oil your skin is producing or if you’re struggling with blackheads or acne, make an appointment with a Plastic Surgeon or a Dermatologist.