The Biggest Culprit Behind Oily Skin

 

Pores the size of earth. A shine that’d shame the sun. For most people, the gross glory days of puberty included facial skin thickly glossed with oil – especially on the forehead, nose and chin. It was a time of never-ending zit trauma, all caused by this thing called oily skin.

And for some people, having oily skin still hasn’t crossed the line into ‘bygone era’ just yet. While more common in younger vs. older people (and in men vs. women, interestingly enough), adult oily skin – and the consequent tendency to break out – is very much a thing.

So, we need to know what’s going on here.

What’s the Deal with Oily Skin?

Ever heard of something called “androgen”? It’s your pubescent self’s arch nemesis and the biggest, baddest culprit behind oily skin. Androgen is a male hormone that both sexes naturally have (I know, pretty weird, right?). Basically, it gives marching orders to your sebum glands, drilling them into producing overtime.

Your skin ends up getting way oilier than is healthy or normal because of these over-activated sebum glands. Then, the constant flow of sebum actually enlarges your pores, while simultaneously clogging them (I dare you to read that sentence in a draconian British accent). Ta-da! Acne.

What Can You Do About Oily Skin?

Ok, so oil in your skin is good for pretty much just one thing: it helps your skin age slower and keeps you wrinkle-free for longer. But having skin that’s overly oily is never good. Using oily creams, and frequent or aggressive attempts at oil removal only make it worse. There also aren’t any cosmetic means to reduce the sebum gland activity or the pore size (yet!).

It’s always a good idea to see your dermatologist. Also use a light moisturizer like the Sebamed Visio Active Hydro Gel and a mild astringent like the Visio Gentle Toner to gently, but thoroughly cut through the oil. The key is finding pH-balanced products that hydrate without clogging, and tone without stripping your facial skin.

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