Caring Tips for Oily Skin


Oily skin is shiny, thick and dull colored. Often a chronically oily skin has coarse pores and pimples and other embarrassing blemishes. It is prone to blackheads. In this type of skin, the oil producing sebaceous glands are overactive and produce more oil than is needed. The oil oozes and gives the skin a greasy shine. The pores are enlarged and the skin has a coarse look.

 

Regardless of your age, oil - also known as sebum � is always produced by the sebaceous glands. Located deep within the second layer or "dermis" of the skin, these glands are most plentiful in the face, neck, chest, head and back . To get from the glands to your skin, the oils flow into nearby follicular pores, and eventually works its way to the surface. Here it plays a vital role in the health of both skin and hair by giving hair that healthy sheen and helps keep skin plump and hydrated . But in some folks too much oil is produced. Skin and hair no longer look healthy, but instead, greasy, slick and even dirty.

 

 

Tips to manage oily skin

  • The first step is proper cleaning. One thing that needs to be remembered is that oily skin requires gentle cleaning because harsher the cleansing, the more likely the body is to respond by producing more oil. In fall and winter when skin is naturally drier, you'll benefit most from a super gentle cleanser.  In warmer months, when perspiration can combine with sweat to make skin harder to clean, you may need a more thorough, deep cleaning product.

  • Secondly,  never over-wash oily skin, even if your cleanser is gentle. Twice a day is usually enough. Too much washing will stimulate your skin to produce more oil.

  • Avoid soap, since most types strip the skin of all natural oils. That squeaky clean feeling people get from using soaps is derived from stripping the fatty oils from your skin and is more harmful than good.

  • Once a week, use a clay mask to help clean deep down into your pores.  This will help to clean off any extra oil and dead skin cells. Again, be sure to use this only once per week, or you skin will increase its oil production to compensate.

  • Try incorporating alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs) creams into your daily skin care regimen. AHA creams increase production of collagen and hyaluronic acid which in turn helps in relation to moisture � plus they treat superficial lines and wrinkles so you also get a rejuvenating effect.

  • If your skin feels overly dry after you wash and apply an acne treatment or astringent, then a moisturizer would be a good idea.  Avoid moisturizers with cocoa butter and minerals oils; instead, look for a light, oil-free version, also labeled as noncomedogenic. 

  • Astringents and toners can also help � although the results are temporary, so application may have to be repeated more than once a day. Choose an astringent that contains acetone, which is known for dissolving oil. Strong astringents will do more harm than good, stimulating an overproduction of oil. 

  • Cosmetic products known as "anti shine" primers can also help by forming a layer between skin and make-up that works to absorb excess oil as it's being secreted.

 

  • If nothing seems to work, there are also several professional treatments that can help. These include prescription topical and oral drugs like Retin A, Differin, Tazorac or Accutane. Accutane works the longest and has both immediate and long-term results.

  • Sunscreen is still important!  If you do not have at least SPF 15 in your moisturizer, then make sure to find a sunscreen that is formulated just for the face.  Gel versions are the best for those with oily skin.

Make-up for oily skin

Just because you have oily skin doesn't mean you have to stop wearing makeup if you so desire.  Look for oil-free foundations and loose powders.  Using a makeup primer product can help to keep oil at bay and your makeup in place for hours.  Applying loose powder throughout the day can help to keep your makeup looking fresh while absorbing any extra oil from your skin.

 

To prevent the problem of your makeup becoming patchy either on the forehead, chin or nose due to excessive oiliness in these areas, apply a little cucumber juice on the excessively oily parts of your face, dry thoroughly and then apply your makeup.  If your whole face turns patchy after makeup is applied on it, then apply equal parts of lime juice and witch-hazel. Dry well before putting on your makeup.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated 14 August 2010

 

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