Causes of Oily Skin
There are many factors that contribute to oily skin:
- Genetics: an excessive volume of the sebaceous glands;
- Age: more common in adolescence, but there are also many cases of oily skin after puberty;
- Sex: males are more affected;
- External factors: the climate, which can make sebum more or less viscous, pollution, diet (although this remains a much-debated factor in the pathogenesis of oily skin);
- Conditions: such as acromegaly, seborrheic dermatitis, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Tips and Remedies for Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, you know that keeping it under control is a real challenge! We are often tempted to cleanse it too much and moisturize it too little, but don't lose hope!
Remember to cleanse your face twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening. If you work out, add a third time to prevent sweat and excess sebum from building up on your skin. Also, don't make the mistake of thinking your oily skin doesn't need to be moisturized.
Apply lightweight, sebum-regulating creams to keep your skin fresh and radiant.
So, what should not be missing from your routine?
The best remedy is proper hygiene: we recommend using gentle foaming cleansers to remove dirt and excess sebum without disrupting the hydrolipidic film.
The essential step is exfoliation with exfoliating acids such as salicylic acid. Thanks to its lipid solubility, this acid can easily penetrate the pores and remove the impurities trapped inside.
In addition, it is important to use products containing sebum-regulating ingredients, such as niacinamide, to control sebum production.
Since oily skin is often associated with acne, we recommend following an appropriate skincare routine to prevent or treat it.
If the cause is due to polycystic ovary syndrome or other conditions, a dermatological consultation may be necessary.
The most common concerns of Oily Skin
Oily skin can be more prone to pimples or blackheads, so it is important to follow a daily cleansing routine and remove impurities with a gentle exfoliation.
- Acne: This is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases; in fact, 80% of young adults and adolescents experience this condition. It affects the skin's pilosebaceous units and can cause inflammatory or non-inflammatory reactions: open comedones (blackheads), closed comedones (whiteheads), and inflammatory lesions such as nodules, pustules, and papules.
- Blackheads: Blackheads (or open comedones) are blockages that develop at the opening of hair follicles when sebum, keratin, debris, and bacteria accumulate. The brown or black color is due to the surface oxidation of the open comedone. You find them in areas where the sebaceous glands are most active, generally around the nose and on the outer cheeks.
- Whiteheads: A whitehead (closed comedone) is an acne lesion that forms when sebum and skin cells block the opening of the hair follicle. You will see it as a small whitish bump beneath the surface of the skin.