Oily skin is a problem for millions of people and although there are numerous treatment options available, the condition may persist for years in some cases. Oily skin is characteristically shiny with a dull-colored pallor. If the condition persists for years and is a chronic concern, the pores of the skin will become clogged with excess oil and outbreaks of acne may occur. Most treatment options attempt to remove the excess oils with chemicals or harsh soaps. However, this tends to go too far and actually remove too much oil to the point that the skin dries out. Treating oily skin properly is a delicate process that requires a balance between removing enough of the excess oil to eliminate the problem without creating a new one by removing too much and causing dry skin. A firm understanding of the causes of oily skin is important in understanding the best treatment options for you.

Common Causes of Oily Skin

Sadly, our genes are often responsible for our oily skin problems—at least to some extent. The other major factor that causes oily skin is our diet. Too many processed sugars, fluids, and excess salt may all contribute to oily skin problems. Even when heredity is suspected as the cause of oily skin, a dermatologist will still recommend alterations to the diet as a means of managing the problem.

Our hormones are another big factor where temporary (and in some cases long-term) problems with oily skin are concerned. This is especially the case during puberty when hormone levels are known to vary greatly. A common factor in adolescent outbreaks is due to excessive sebum (oils) production as a result of hormone imbalances.

Hormones are also prone to imbalance during pregnancy which is why oily skin is often a problem for many women prior to giving birth. Birth control pills can actually make the problem worse but they are often prescribed initially as a potential means of correcting the hormone imbalance.

Other known factors contributing to problems with oily skin are cosmetics and humidity or very hot weather.

Treating Oily Skin

While diet is often a large factor in problems with oily skin, most people will choose to attack the condition directly. That is, they choose to remove the excessive oil. This is often accomplished by washing excessively, using a harsh soap with high lye concentration, or a combination of both. Unfortunately, this often creates more health problems than existed with the oily skin.

The oil produced by the sebaceous glands helps lubricate our skin and help retain moisture. When a person washes excessively or removes too much sebum, the skin will become dry, flaky, and eventually, itchy. Plus, the removal of those oils will stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce even more oils and can result in a condition known as Reactive Seborrhea. This will send your glands into overtime and may lead to malfunctioning in the future. Any soaps that cause more problems than they create should obviously be avoided.

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