Is it oily skin?
Everyone needs a certain amount of natural oil to keep their skin supple and moisturized. Skin type is determined by how much oil the skin on your face produces; depending on this, your skin type can be categorized as dry, combination, or oily.
An oily skin type is exactly what it sounds like – excess oil on the face produces a persistently shiny or greasy appearance. If you don’t treat your oily skin, pores can become clogged and enlarged, and dead skin cells may accumulate. Blackheads, pimples, and other types of acne are also common with this skin type.
The Science Behind the Oil
Sebaceous glands are located within the skin and are responsible for secreting an oily substance called sebum. Sebum lubricates the skin, protecting it from drying out or becoming irritated. This oil, along with sweat, is secreted through the pores. When this process goes smoothly, sebum not only lubricates your skin but also removes dead skin cells and other irritants from your pores. However, when over-active sebaceous glands produce excess sebum, your skin looks shiny and your pores can become clogged, leading to a host of skin imperfections.
How to Know if You Have Oily-Type Skin
If your skin exhibits the following, then you have an oily skin type:
- Your face is shiny and usually appears greasy later on in the day
- Makeup doesn’t stay on and seems to “slide” off
- The oilier areas of your face have blackheads, pimples, or other types of acne
- Pores are visibly enlarged, especially on your nose, chin, and forehead
Take special note of your T-Zone. The T-Zone is the region of the face consisting of the forehead and nose which naturally tend to have more active oil glands that may produce excess sebum. If your T-Zone is oily but the rest of your face looks normal or dry, then you have combination-type skin. Anyone’s skin can have multiple “types,” and these types can change due to hormones, climate, and stress levels.
Who Gets Oily Skin?
Oily skin is typically hereditary – if you have oily skin, it’s probably because your parents suffered a similar fate. But excess oil can also be the result of heightened hormone levels, for instance during puberty, as well as during some parts of women’s menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and when they’re going through menopause, as sebaceous glands become more active during these times.
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Treatments for oily skin
- Choosing water-based products
If a person has oily skin, they should ensure they use water-based products. Using water-based products prevents extra oil from getting into the pores.
A person with oily skin and large pores should avoid oil-based products. These may lead to excess oil on the skin, making pores appear larger.
- Washing the face both morning and evening
Washing the face is basic skin care. But with so many products available, a person may forget just to use warm water and a cleanser.
Having a good face-washing habit is essential. Washing the face every morning and evening helps to wash away oil and dirt from the pores, which helps to reduce their appearance.
- Choosing gel-based cleansers
If a person has oily skin and wants to reduce the appearance of their pores, they should choose a gel-based cleanser.
A moisturizing cleanser may leave residue in the pores and increase oiliness. A gel-based cleanser helps to clear oil from the pores, reducing their appearance.
- Exfoliate
Exfoliating the skin may be recommended to help remove blockages from the pores.
A person with oily skin should exfoliate once or twice a week. Exfoliating helps to remove things from the pores that can block them. This includes:
- dirt
- dead skin cells
- excess oil
Look for exfoliating products containing salicylic acid, which is a natural acid that helps to release debris from the pores.
It is important not to exfoliate more than twice a week, however. Exfoliating too frequently with products that contain salicylic acid or alcohol can dry out the skin.
Although exfoliation keeps the pores unclogged, they can look bigger if the skin becomes too dry.
- Moisturizing daily
The idea of moisturizing oily skin may be counterintuitive. However, it can help to reduce pore enlargement.
Although moisturizing cleansers may clog the pores, in contrast, moisturizing lotions used after washing and patting the skin dry are beneficial.
This is because moisturizers hydrate and soften the skin. This allows the sebum to penetrate deeper into the skin, rather than sit in the pores on the surface.
In this way, moisturizing prevents pores from becoming clogged with oil, reducing their appearance.
- Applying a clay mask
Using a clay mask once or twice a week can help to remove oil from the pores. This can prevent them from becoming enlarged, and reduce their appearance.
However, it is a good idea to do this on a different day to exfoliating. Over-treating the skin may irritate it. When the skin gets irritated, pores may appear enlarged and blemishes may occur.
- Always remove makeup at night
It is essential to always remove makeup before going to sleep.
Sleeping with makeup on overnight can lead to a person’s pores becoming blocked. This is because makeup, oil, and bacteria build up in the pores.
Using cleansing wipes is a quick way to remove makeup if a person is short on time.
- Wearing sunscreen
It is crucial to care for skin in the sun. If a person’s skin becomes sun-damaged, this can be very drying. When the skin is dry, pores may appear larger.
Keeping the skin protected from the sun keeps it supple. The best ways to do this are:
- wearing a wide-brimmed hat
- wearing sunscreen every day
- staying in the shade when the sun is strongest
