Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin
Understanding Oily Skin
Our skin contains sebaceous glands found everywhere except for the palms and the soles. These glands' function is to release oil (sebum) to keep our skin moisturized. It also shields our skin from harmful environmental elements. Oily skin is a result of these overactive sebaceous glands. When they produce excess oil, our skin looks greasy, which is why we call it oily skin. Let's uncover more about oily skin to help you create a skincare routine for oily skin.
Let's start from the beginning. How is sebum produced? It involves a process of oil production by sebocytes (cells present in the sebaceous glands). The sebaceous gland synthesizes triglycerides and other forms of lipids. These are stored within the sebaceous glands until they show up (as oil) on the skin's surface to keep it hydrated.
How does sebum contribute to skin health?
Sebum, an oily substance, has an important role to play in ensuring our skin's health. Here's how sebum helps our skin:
Skin hydration is all it takes:
Our skin thrives in a hydrating environment. Sebum creates that environment so that your skin can remain hydrated, balanced, and moisturized. Simply put, sebum acts as a protective barrier that locks in moisture to keep your skin soft and supple.
Your delicate skin demands protection:
Sebum is your skin's personal shield that defends the skin from harmful fungi and bacteria. It also helps to maintain your skin's natural pH balance, which is, again, important for a strong barrier.
Make Your Skin Soft:
Dry or flaky skin results from less oil production, which is not ideal for your skin to thrive in. Sebum ensures that your skin remains soft and retains its natural moisture.
Now that we have discussed sebum and its role in skin health, it's time to understand the factors influencing sebum production. This will help you understand how to care for oily skin and control excess oil effectively.
- Age: A change in hormonal level during puberty and menopause influences the overproduction of sebum.
- Diet: Increased sebum production occurs when you intake foods rich in saturated and omega-6 fatty acids.
- Gender: Men are more prone to oily skin than women as they tend to have more sebaceous glands.
- Climate: Humidity in the air can increase sebum production, as your body responds by trying to cool down.
Understanding your oily skin is the first step towards achieving a healthy skin. When you know how oily skin occurs, you get one step closer to balanced skin.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Oily Skin
It takes patience and the best care to manage oily skin. In case you want to be absolutely sure that you have oily skin, we’ll discuss oily skin's early signs and symptoms. This helps you to take proactive steps to prevent acne or breakouts (the results of oily skin).
These are the common signs that you have oily skin:
- Your skin will appear shiny, especially in the T-zone (Forehead and nose)
- There are large, visible pores on your face
- You may experience frequent acne breakouts
- Black or white spots, pimples
- You may have thicker skin
- Makeup will appear cakey, especially in the T-zone
These are some common symptoms of oily skin, but other factors can also lead to oily skin, including:
- Seasonal changes may impact oily skin. For example, it can become more oily when there's too much humidity in the air.
- Certain medicines may worsen or cause oily skin.
- High-stress levels can lead to the overproduction of sebum.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of oily skin is a must. If you notice any of these signs, take action right away. Please consult a doctor to learn more about your specific skin concerns and take the necessary steps to manage it effectively.
What Causes Oily Skin?
Oily skin is a common concern among men and women. Sometimes, you may feel frustrated and don't want to deal with it anymore. While the exact reason why you may have oily skin is unclear, there are some common reasons why your skin is oily. Knowing what causes oily skin can help you address it adequately.
- a) Genetics or heredity: You may have oily skin because of your parents or grandparents. If they have oily skin, it's more likely for you to have oily skin.
- b) Changes in hormone levels: Your skin tends to produce more sebum due to a change in your hormonal levels. Hormonal fluctuations are a common phenomenon during puberty, which could lead to increased oiliness. You may also develop oily skin during pregnancy and menopause when hormonal levels change.
- c) Overactivity of sebaceous glands: These are tiny glands present almost everywhere in our skin. When they become overactive, they produce excess sebum (a natural oil), leaving your skin greasy.
- d) Excessive production of testosterone: Excessive testosterone secretion causes your skin to produce more sebum. This hormone influences the production of more sebaceous glands, which leads to increased sebum production.
- e) Diet: Your food habits play a role in oily skin. If you are prone to dairy products and high-glycemic-index foods, you produce more growth factors, which in turn increases sebum production.
- f) Ovulation: Your skin is more likely to produce excess sebum during ovulation, which is when progesterone hormone levels excessively fluctuate.
- g) Weather: The weather or climate in your area has much to do with your oily skin. Humid climates and hot weather are significant culprits for increased sebum production.
- h) Medications: If you intake certain hormonal medications, anti-seizure drugs, or corticosteroids, it may cause oily skin.
- i) Stress and other environmental elements: Oily skin can result from high stress levels. Factors like pollution and excessive heat can also stimulate sebum production.
If you have been struggling with managing oily skin, consult a professional. They can help you understand what is causing your skin to produce more oil. This way, you can create a proper oily skin face care routine.
Now that we’ve discussed everything you need to know about oily skin and its causes - it's time to explain the steps you need to take to manage your oily skin better.
Steps to Maintain Your Oily Skin
Managing oily skin can feel like a mammoth task, especially if you are constantly fighting those breakouts. But it doesn't have to be this way. A simple oily skincare routine and patience are all it takes to effectively manage oily skin. Here we have discussed a step-by-step guide to help you create an effective oily skincare routine. Let's delve into it:
Step 1: Gentle Cleansing
Cleansing your oily skin is super important. Since you have oily skin, it is more important to take your skincare routine more seriously. Start off your day with some gentle cleansing sessions. Non-comedogenic face washes are gentle on your oily skin. After all, you don't want your skin to lose its natural oil and pores to become clogged. Gentle foaming face washes deep cleanse your oily skin without removing excess oil. They ensure your skin is free from oil, dirt, and makeup residue. It sets the skin for the next step, which is toning.
Is your skin more prone to breakouts? Look for ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid in your face wash.
A general rule of thumb is to wash your face twice a day (every morning and before bed at night) with a mild face cleanser formulated for oily skin. Rinse your face with warm water. Skincare professionals advise against excessive rubbing because it can wreak havoc on acne-prone skin. Plus, you need to avoid scrubbing your face frequently.
Step 2: Exfoliation for Oily Skin
Dead skin cells and clogged pores are major contributors to acne. Exfoliation is good for your oily skin because it helps unclog those pores and remove dead cells. While it's an important step in your skincare routine, overdoing can do more harm than good. Excessive exfoliation only means your oily skin becomes red and irritated. It can also cause your skin to produce more oil, which is the last thing you want.
Your best bet would be to invest in a gentle exfoliator meant for your oily skin. Ideally, your exfoliator should contain salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, or linoleic acid. Salicylic acid has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and is good for your oily skin. It works by loosening cell bonds to help you eliminate dead cells. Alpha hydroxy acid aids in cell turnover. It stimulates the skin to produce new skin cells faster. Linoleic acid is suitable for your oily skin, too. It helps regulate excessive oil production and prevent clogged pores and pimples.
Be gentle on your oily skin while exfoliating. Use your fingertips to massage your skin in circular motions for about a minute.
Step 3: Toning to Control Oil
Your skincare routine is incomplete without this step, which is toning. Make sure to use a toner for oily skin after cleansing your skin. Toners have properties that are good for your oily skin. Their astringent property helps tighten your skin. Toners help draw moisture to the skin without making it look greasy.
Step 4: Hydration and Moisturizing
Contrary to popular belief, your oily skin needs hydration, too. Incorporate a daytime and nighttime moisturizer (lightweight) into your skincare routine. Make sure to apply an oil-free moisturizer that's water-based and free of oil.
Step 5: Sun Protection
The best defense for your oily skin is to wear sunscreen. Sun exposure (especially the harmful UV rays) is not good for your oily skin. The rays can contribute to acne and breakouts, and worsen existing skin conditions. Make sure your sunscreen has ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These are good for acne and breakouts.
The Bottom Line
Trying to manage oil and have healthy skin requires consistency with the skincare routine. Sometimes, you may want to skip the hassle of using multiple products and skincare steps. It's time-consuming plus overwhelming.
But that does not mean your oily skin cannot get what it deserves. A facial care machine, a comprehensive solution, is all you need to manage oily skin.
Its advanced features simplify and enhance your oily skin care routine by:
- Gentle yet deep cleansing that helps remove excess oil and impurities without stripping natural oil from your skin.
- Exfoliating, which helps remove dead skin cells gently and effectively.
- Improving product absorption, which is good for your oily skin. The machine maximizes the effectiveness of skincare products by letting them penetrate deeper into the skin.
- Saving you time, which helps streamline your oily skincare routine. It combines cleansing, exfoliating, and toning in a single device.
