Oily Skin and Greasy Skin

What Causes Oily and Greasy Skin?

Sebum or oil is produced to keep your skin soft and supple. Some skin types will produce too much sebum, which can lead to oiliness and a greasy feel – a leading cause of acne. There can be many factors for skin becoming oily, with the two main factors being genetics and hormones.

Oily/greasy skin is known medically as seborrhoea and is caused when excess skin oil is produced within the skin’s pores. Puberty and other life events can cause hormones to fluctuate resulting in increased levels of androgen. Androgen is a male hormone that is present in both males and females, which signals the maturation of the skin’s sebaceous glands. When these glands mature, the production of the skin’s natural oils will increase.

The higher the amount of androgens present, the more sebum is funnelled through the pores. If more sebum is produced it will simply sit on the surface of the skin creating an oily sheen. Any excess oil can become trapped in the pores and combine with any dead skin cells and bacteria on the surface of the skin and inside the pores. This can create pimples, blackheads and other blemishes to form.

Genetics can also play in a part in the condition of your skin. Many hormonal changes can be dependant on genes as well as hormones. During pregnancy and puberty your hormones are likely to fluctuate, with genetic and hereditary factors also influencing how your skin will react.

How to Stop Oily and Greasy Skin

Although oily skin can fade over time there are always ways to treat it, from simple lifestyle changes to using products designed to remove excess oil.

One of the easiest ways to reduce the amount of excess oil is to wash your face every morning and night. This will not only get rid of unwanted oil but also any dirt and bacteria that you have picked up during the day/night.

Getting the right amount of sleep is also important not only for your health but also for the look and appearance of your skin. Not enough sleep can result in insulin resistance. If your body sees an increase in insulin it can result in the creation of the IGF-1 hormone, which stimulates production of sebum, resulting in oily skin.

Stress can also be connected to insulin resistance and can worsen breakouts. By exercising regularly, practicing forms of meditation you can reduce stress. These small changes should reduce your stress levels and help to lower the amount of sebum produced.

Protecting your skin is an important part of keeping it looking as healthy as possible. Sun damage is one of the main causes of problems with your skin but by using any form of daily SPF will help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, however, with greasy or oily skin it is important to use sun cream that is labelled oil-free.