When it comes to skin care, determining what skin type you have can make a difference in the approach you take. If you have oily skin then you may be trying to figure out the best way to manage your skin. Our bodies are supposed to naturally produce oil in order to protect our skin however when you have oily skin your skin produces too much oil and can cause a shiny and greasy appearance. For those that suffer from chronically oily skin you may have enlarged pores which can lead to having blackheads and blemishes. Treating this type of skin may be tricky but with proper care you may be able to get your excess oil under control.
It is important to know what is causing your skin to be oily. Often oily skin can be treated due to the reason you have it in the first place. Things that can cause oily skin are diet, pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone levels, puberty, makeup, cleansers, soaps, lotions, humidity and weather changes. It is also possible that your oily skin was inherited if one of your parents deals with the same condition. It is also possible that you can have something known as combination skin, which is when one or two areas of your face are oily while the rest of your face has a normal or dry texture.
When it comes to managing oily skin, it is important to not to use products that can cause your skin to over-react and produce twice as much oil. The sebaceous glands are responsible for producing a healthy amount of oil but with oily skin these glands are out of control and produce an over abundance of oil. When certain products are used these glands go into overdrive and start producing double the amount of oil to over compensate for the drying effect of these products. Not only products can cause this to happen but so can over washing. Therefore, you should limit washing to only a twice a day.
To wash your face you should use hot water and a mild soap. Hot water will open the pores enough to get the germs and bacteria out in order to prevent blemishes. The soap should not be drying, but rather something that is gentle and antibacterial. Look for cleansers that are made specifically for oily skin. Products that are oil based may seem counter productive but they tend to work better and keep the face from drying out and becoming taut. There is a common misconception that people with oily skin do not need to use moisturizers but it is a good idea to use a moisturizer after using hot water to prevent the skin from producing too much oil in defense. When choosing a moisturizer it is best to stick with an oil-free product. Stay away from all products containing alcohol since alcohol will also stimulate the oil glands to produce more oil.
For those that are battling extremely oily skin, you may need to add an extra wash in the middle of the day to cleanse the skin a little better. During summer months you can avoid using excess moisturizers since most people produce more oil naturally during humid and hot weather. Just make sure to continue using sunscreen. Look for a facial sunscreen that is does not have a greasy texture. Also for women, make sure to purchase makeup that is specifically made for oily skin. Before applying makeup, make sure your face is clean and completely dry.
Other tips for reducing oil production as well as maintaining healthy skin include eating a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Take a daily multi-vitamin since Vitamin B deficiencies can cause oily skin and well as Vitamin A and E deficiency. Stay away from foods containing sugars and alcohols. Both of these have been contributed to causing poor skin quality. Make sure to drink plenty of water daily to flush toxins from your body and keep your entire body, including your skin, as healthy as possible.
If you have a serious problem dealing with your oily skin, you should talk to your doctor for some suggestions on keeping excess oil at bay. Although it can be frustrating, there may be some good news when it comes to having oil skin. Oily skin ages less quickly and actually keeps a person looking more youthful later in life.
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