A lot of sebum on the face

Sebum plays an important role: it protects our skin from pathogenic bacteria, and also protects it from losing excess moisture. But it happens that the sebaceous glands produce excess sebum. Why does this happen and how to get rid of unpleasant oily shine?

Increased sebum secretion: causes

There may be several reasons for malfunction of the sebaceous glands:

· poor nutrition. Usually, changes in the state of skin secretion directly depend on the amount of sweet and starchy foods in your diet. It is worth reducing the consumption of these products, and the condition of the skin improves significantly;

· improper washing. It seems that by washing our face more often, we cleanse our skin of harmful bacteria and its condition should improve. However, this does not happen. The fact is that by our actions we force the sebaceous glands to work more intensely. To maintain the skin in normal condition, two washes are enough: in the morning and in the evening. During the day, excess sebum can be removed using mattifying wipes;

· incorrect rhythm of life. Problems at work, loans, problems in your personal life - all this has become the norm for a modern person. Meanwhile, frequent stress and overwork negatively affect the condition of our body and especially the condition of the skin;

· improper metabolism. Some diseases can cause metabolic disorders in the body. It is important to consult a specialist in a timely manner and not self-medicate.

Having learned more about the reasons for increased sebum secretion, let's talk about how to deal with it.

How to reduce sebum on face

Decoctions of medicinal herbs help bring the skin into good condition due to the tannins, beneficial acids and trace elements they contain. By rubbing your face every morning with an ice cube made from a decoction of chamomile, calendula or green tea, you can quickly improve skin tone and tighten pores.

Regular use of simple cosmetic masks will significantly improve the condition of oily skin:

· Mix blue clay with water until it reaches the consistency of sour cream. Apply to cleansed skin and leave for about half an hour. Wash off without using soap;

· In a bowl, beat one egg with a couple of drops of lemon juice. Add oatmeal. Keep the resulting mixture on your face for 20 minutes;

· Grind the cucumber to a paste and mix with two tablespoons of aloe juice. Apply the mask with massaging movements and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. Zucchini can be used instead of cucumber.

The tips discussed above really help improve your skin condition. However, they only fight visible signs and give temporary results. To normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the malfunction in the body. Remember that only a dermatologist should do this.

RESCUE OF DROWNING PERSONS IS THE WORK OF THE DROWNING PERSONS THEMSELVES

In this post I want to share important knowledge that helped me understand a lot about my skin, about the mistakes that I have unknowingly made for many years, about proper care, as well as about the underlying reasons that we are not aware of, but which greatly influence on the condition of the facial skin. We will talk about oily, combination and problem skin and will go in different directions.

This knowledge was given to me much! Thanks to them, I myself improved the condition of my facial skin, since I didn’t need the names of creams, gels and tonics, but KNOWLEDGE.

I thank the blogger abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzlolololololololo - with our short correspondence my journey to beautiful skin began (or rather continued, but in the right direction).

Human skin consists of 3 layers: hypodermis (subcutaneous fatty tissue), dermis, epidermis.

The deepest layer hypodermis, is mainly responsible for thermoregulation and shock absorption. It also supports the upper layers of the skin.

Above is dermis. Unlike other layers of the skin, the dermis consists primarily not of cells, but of intercellular substance. It contains elastin and collagen - the main fibers that give the skin elastic properties. They are in a gel that is largely composed of hyaluronic acid. These components form a water spring mattress. If all components of the dermis have been formed correctly, are renewed quickly and there is a lot of moisture in the skin, then it looks elastic, like at a young age. If the renewal of the components of the dermis occurs slowly and with errors (as is the case with chrono- or photoaging), then the “mattress deflates”, the skin sags, forming jowls and wrinkles.

The top layer of skin epidermis, consists of several layers of living cells (basal, spinous, granular, or basal, and lucid) and a dead stratum corneum.

The cells of the basal layer, corneocytes, rise upward, gradually losing their nucleus, that is, “dying,” in order to become corneocytes in the stratum corneum. Between the corneocytes there is a protein-lipid mass (lipid barrier). The main task of corneocytes and the lipid barrier is to protect the body from microorganisms, dehydration, dust, and smog. Imagine how meticulously nature had to calculate the composition of the stratum corneum so that it alone could be responsible for the protective function and serve as a reliable barrier between the body and the external environment. The importance of the stratum corneum is demonstrated by an experiment in which laboratory mice were given a special additive that slowed down the production of one of the components of the lipid barrier. The mice were dying.

ABOUT PROBLEM SKIN:

Acne is a form of dermatosis. Yes, yes, medicine has finally recognized acne as a form of dermatosis.

Ph of healthy skin is 5.5.

Ph of skin with acne is disturbed to the side alkaline.

Science seems to know everything about acne.

Known genetic predispositions:

- increase level of sensitivity of the sebaceous glands to androgens provokes the production of sebum (Did you notice the phrase “high sensitivity of the sebaceous glands to them”? This indicates a decrease in immunity. That is why now acne does not end with youth. Health does not get better with age, and although the main wave of hormonal rebellion subsides, small hormonal fluctuations are enough to start the chain);

- thin, long and winding ducts of the sebaceous glands prevent sebum from splashing to the surface;

- presence in the skin of a larger amount sensory nerve endings cells surrounded by mast cells capable of secreting inflammatory mediators.

Development process:

— the level of sebum production increases, and its composition changes towards increasing viscosity;

- in order to process the glycerin contained in sebum, the P.acne bacterium begins to multiply intensively, which is a permanent resident of the stratum corneum of the skin and feeds on glycerin;

— as bacteria work, they leave behind waste products. They trigger an immune response in the skin, provoking an inflammatory response;

- at the same time, viscous fat glues the horny scales of the skin, they do not peel off from the surface of the skin in a timely manner, clogging the ducts of the sebaceous glands;

— also, excess sebum penetrates into the stratum corneum, changing its composition to a non-physiological one, increasing skin permeability and worsening its barrier properties.

— since all processes in the skin are interconnected, over time it becomes dehydrated, pigmentation increases, the condition of blood vessels worsens, and tone decreases.

Why does acne appear?

Previously, the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes was blamed for everything. And all therapy basically boiled down to the principle “kill the bacteria!” (for which alcohol and antibiotics were wonderfully suitable). Now the knowledge of science has expanded and the picture is more complete.

The bacterium P. Acnes is a normal representative of the microflora of the sebaceous glands. And it gains strength only when blessed soil. What creates it?

The chain looks like this:

1) The first link is increased sebum production. The main provoking factor for this is an increase in blood concentration (mainly teenage disease and after) hormonal riot. If previously everything went away by the age of 20, now statistics show that 40-50% of people aged 20-30 years and 20% of people aged 40-50 suffer from acne and its consequences.

Can you tell me what sebum? I have dry skin and acne. The fact is that an increase in sebum secretion can be local. Therefore, dry (sebostatic) skin is not a guarantee of acne-free skin.

2) And here she is Pacnes. This bacterium feeds on glycerol, which is abundant in sebum. If immunity is reduced, there is a lot of sebum, then rampant bacteria stimulate sebocytes, further increasing the production of sebum. The glycerol is eaten away and free fatty acids (FFAs) remain.

3) FFAs cause the third link in the chain - follicular hyperkeratosis. An increase in the amount of sebum and a change in its composition towards an increase in saturated stearic acid glues skin flakes, which normally peel off easily, and the sebaceous gland duct becomes clogged. A comedone is formed. Along with the increase in stearic acid, the amount of essential acids (linoleic and linolenic) in sebum decreases, the protective function of the skin worsens, and skin permeability increases. And following P. Acnes, staphylococci, streptococci and other pathogens of purulent infections begin to multiply.

4) The proliferation of bacteria causes an immune response, inflammation develops, and free radicals accumulate.

There are also known reasons for increasing the level of sebum production:

- increase in the amount of male hormones in the body androgens stimulates the production of sebum in the sebaceous glands (And even if everything is not in order with hormones, then by properly balancing the care and taking dietary supplements (primarily omega acids) you can live without acne. And traumatic care can cause acne, even if everything is fine with hormones.);

- substances, annoying skin, also provoke sebum secretion;

— under stress The level of adrenacorticotropic hormone increases, which also increases sebum production.

We work with the reasons for increased sebum production:

1) External As we can see, one of the three reasons for increased sebum production is irritation skin. If possible, avoid soaps, scrubs, peelings, cleansing and other causes of skin sensitivity.

2) Psychological Another reason for the increase in sebum synthesis in the skin is stress. Sometimes stress cannot be avoided, but often we create them for ourselves (old grievances, anger, fear, depression, etc.). And it is entirely within our power to go to bed on time, eat normally, engage in meditation or some other practice, reducing stress levels in the body.

3) Interior The third reason is the increased level of male hormones in the body. But it is not necessary to take chemical hormonal drugs to help the body regulate hormonal levels. There are effective natural remedies.

There are 2 types of fats in the skin:

A) sebum (sebum). It is produced in excess by the sebaceous glands of those with oily skin.

b) lipids, which are part of the stratum corneum (superficial) layer of the skin. If the lipid mantle of the skin is disrupted, it becomes more permeable, irritable, and loses moisture. This explains the frequently encountered type oily dehydrated skin. To help the skin recover, oils with essential essential acids omega 3 and omega 6 are needed. And those with oily skin are no exception in this regard. These fatty acids can be consumed internally in the form of special vitamins or as part of oils, or they can be applied to the skin with cosmetics.

ABOUT DEHYDRATION:

Usually we distinguish two opposite skin types - oily and dry. In this case, by oily we mean skin with increased production of sebum, or sebum, and by dry skin we mean skin with insufficient water content. The paradox is already visible. What then is the name for skin with reduced sebum production? And is it only dry skin that can lack water?

Without delving into these details, it is usually recommended to dry oily skin (which leads to dehydration), and moisturize dry skin (most often not effective, see below)

Any skin can suffer from a lack of water, that is, it can be dehydrated, and dehydration is now observed in almost 100% of people living in cities. The skin becomes dehydrated for various reasons, but the key link in this process is damage stratum corneum. This is our main defender, responsible for retention water in the body. And if breakdowns occur in it, then the skin connects additional reserves and tries to retain water with the help of increased sebum production. As a result, we get oily, dehydrated skin.

This often leads to the fact that the owner of such skin begins to wipe with alcohol-containing products and degrease the skin in other ways. As a result, the stratum corneum is damaged even more, since alcohol dissolves not only the fats of the sebum, but also the stratum corneum. As a consequence of this damage and dehydration, the skin produces even more sebum. At the same time, trauma to the skin triggers an inflammatory reaction, which is expressed in redness, itching, burning, and we add the diagnosis “sensitive” to the skin. Now you get oily, dehydrated, sensitive skin.

EXTERNAL CARE:

Untidy skin is like an old renovated apartment - there is no point in dusting if the ceiling is falling off.

Practice shows that in more than 90% of cases, increased oiliness and skin sensitivity we ourselves provoke improper, traumatic care: we wash it until it squeaks with foams with laureth or lauryl sulfate, scrub it, dry it with sulfur powder, wipe it with alcohol, and so on. The main problem is skin irritation from aggressive care. The good news is that with proper care, we can get rid of the problems that were caused by improper care.

The entire cosmetic industry comes down to solving the problem of reducing sebum production by suppressing the production of androgens and destroying the P. acne bacterium. Pharmacies sell drugs with antiseptics and antibiotics, gynecologists prescribe chemical hormones, dermatologists prescribe retinoids, and beauty salons offer cleansing and peeling.

Acne already tells us that the skin damaged, her Ph is disturbed towards alkaline so this kind of skin needs to be treated carefully. When we injure our skin, we We destroy her protective barrier. Alcohols, for example, destroy problematic the skin is quite aggressive. After degreasing the skin with alcohol, a layer cutaneous lard is being restored in less than 30 minutes.

One of the main functions of the skin - retain water. Once the barrier is destroyed, the water evaporates. To prevent water leakage, the skin needs to create a new barrier. The protective barrier is called lipid because it consists of lipids=fats. Restore the destroyed lipids protective barrier is long and difficult, but you can produce a lot of sebum in a few hours. It will cope with the task worse, but for an emergency option it will do. Better bad than nothing.

“Emergency” sebum has the wrong composition. It contains less and less anti-inflammatory essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and more and more unnecessary in such quantities, but more easily generated from food, omega-9 fatty acids (monounsaturated acids. A sign of their excess is liquid sebum) and unsaturated fatty acids acids (form viscous sebum, clogging the mouths of the sebaceous glands and forming comedones and subcutaneous pimples). “Wrong” sebum contributes to the development of acne.

The more passionately the girl or boy gets rid of sebum - including comedones - the more it dehydrates the skin. Because 99% of cleansers remove all fats indiscriminately, which means that the protective barrier is destroyed more and more, the skin dehydrated getting stronger and the more sebum she needs to produceto eliminate water leakage and ensure the survival of the organism.

Therefore, cleansers and other products should be gentle. Soap (alkaline ph), hot water, scrubs, peelings and other aggressive agents should be excluded, as they destroy it even more and are the causes of the development of skin sensitivity.

From all that has been said, important practical conclusions follow

1. Treating acne patients with products that cause skin irritation is like trying to blow out a well-lit fire.

2. Using only antibacterial agents for acne is like fighting flies that have descended on an open jar of honey.

3. Using drugs that destroy the barrier layer of the skin for acne is the same as driving a mosquito that accidentally flew out of the room by throwing the windows wide open. Products that, together with sebum, destroy the lipid barrier of the epidermis, open access to the skin not only to new bacteria, but also to allergens and toxins.

WASHING:

The importance of properly cleansing your skin frequently underestimated. Girls think that all problems can be solved with cream or serum. In fact, if you destroy the skin every day morning and evening with traumatic cleansing, then sooner or later the moment will come when no cream can help.

Example: a girl for whom no means were suitable. Even for the most sensitive skin. Everything was irritating. The cosmetologist began to collect anamnesis and could not understand what was wrong. There are no diseases, the girl is not atopic. During the survey, it turned out that the client had been washing her face every day for three years in a row with a gel containing exfoliating particles. Thus, gradually destroying her skin, the girl turned it from normal to hyper-reactive.

SIMPLE RULES:

1) Washing filtered boiled water (or distilled, or saline, or filtered frozen). Suitable for all skin types except oily (thick skin with enlarged pores all over the face). For those with oily skin, it is better to wash your face with a decoction of herbs.

2) Morning wash decoctions of herbs. Mild natural cleansing agents, saponins, are contained in licorice, so for washing with herbal decoctions you can use a 50/50 mixture of licorice with linden (for all skin types), with calendula (for combination and oily skin) or with chamomile (for dry, dehydrated, sensitive skin). ). Brew ½ teaspoon in 500 ml of water in a thermos or thermal mug in the evening. In the morning, the decoction will be at the appropriate temperature and concentration. Decoctions cannot be stored, so make portions for one wash.

3) Splash technique How you wash your face with water is also very important. Take cleansing water into your palms and spray onto your face. Repeat until the water runs out. This creates skin micromassage, which improves complexion, shrinks pores, reduces sebum production and makes washing a more moisturizing procedure.

4) And once again forget about soap and other factors that increase skin pH. When pH increases, beneficial skin microflora dies and pathogenic microflora develops.. Therefore, all cosmetic products used must have a pH of 5-5.5. In courses you can use cleansers with a lower pH (4-4.5)

5) Dry your face after washing individual face towels and change it as often as possible. Or use disposable napkins. When drying your face, it is important not to scrape the skin up and down with a towel, but to gently blot it. Pillowcases must be clean. If for some reason your hair is dirty, it should not touch your face! Not touching your face with your hands is TABOO

6) Choose soft products. Without sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate.. Avoid products with scrubbing particles. Choose foams based on soft surfactants - decyl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Aminoacids - and natural hydrophilic oils. The main criterion that you are cleansing your skin in a way that suits you is that after cleansing it feels comfortable, that is, there is no tightening, redness, itching or other unpleasant sensations. This is the norm. Otherwise Cleanser needs to be changed.

7) After washing, use a toner to adjust the pH of the skin. Water in most European countries is maintained at Pn8. Normal PH skin restores from 3 to 6 hours. In skin with acne, it is already disturbed towards alkalinewhat creates excellent conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic microflora. The main criterion that you are cleansing your skin in a way that suits you is that after cleansing it feels comfortable, that is, there is no tightening, redness, itching or other unpleasant sensations. This is the norm. Otherwise Cleanser needs to be changed. In any case, there should be water warm - not hot - and not cold.

Greasy shine, loose pores, grayish skin tone, constant formation of pimples and comedones - all these appearance defects are caused by increased work of the sebaceous glands. Their activities cannot be hidden under foundation and powder. Neither expensive cosmetics nor pharmaceutical preparations to get rid of acne often help reduce skin oiliness. Moreover, the problem is equally relevant for young ladies and teenage boys, as well as for older women and men. The prophecy of the “experienced” - after 30 everything will pass - unfortunately, does not come true. Every person wants to have clean, fresh, radiant skin with narrow pores and an even tone. But how to achieve this? What provokes such an abundant secretion of fat by the epidermis? Are there really effective ways to deal with oily skin or is it time to get used to the idea that this is a lifelong problem?

Is oily skin normal or pathological?

It is important for those with a greasy sheen and other “charms” of oily dermis to understand that they have a completely healthy skin type.

There are four in total:

With proper care for oily skin, it can look attractive and not cause any inconvenience. The indisputable advantage of this type of dermis is the later appearance of wrinkles, compared to other types of dermis. Also, due to a higher level of hydration, the epidermis retains its elasticity and fresh appearance longer.

Pustules, pimples, comedones, acne and other rashes are just a sign of illiterate care and selection of cosmetics. But skin care can be learned.

It’s another matter if you have pathological oily skin, characterized by a greasy appearance, peeling, redness of the epidermis and an abundance of acne or pimples. This condition may indicate a disease seborrheic dermatitis or seborrhea. The disease requires drug treatment under the supervision of a qualified dermatologist.

To check whether you really have increased oiliness of the skin on your face, you can use a common test using a regular cosmetic wipe (dry!). For the purity of the experiment, the test is carried out on clean and dry dermis, which has not been exposed to water or any cosmetics for at least 3–4 hours. The napkin should be pressed firmly to the forehead, cheeks, chin and nose. If after each contact with a paper napkin there is a visible greasy imprint on it, then you really have oily skin.

Causes of increased activity of the sebaceous glands

The causes of almost any disease lie deep inside our body. Treating oily epidermis with external influences is absolutely pointless. The maximum effect that can be expected is temporary masking and reduction in the intensity of symptoms.

Therefore, it is very important to find the causes of oily skin on the face. After eliminating them, most likely, the problem itself will disappear.

Increased fat content can be caused by the following factors:

1. Disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.
2. Hormonal changes in the body (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause).
3. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.
4. Excessive consumption of fatty and sweet foods.
5. Frequent washing with hot water.
6. Using cosmetics that are inappropriate for your dermis type.
7. Failure to maintain facial hygiene.
8. Frequent nervous tension and stress.

6 important steps to reduce oily skin

Getting rid of oily skin is a completely feasible task, but it is a long and labor-intensive process. The main thing in this matter is patience and regularity. Treatment should be organized in several stages:

1. Eliminating the cause of increased activity of the sebaceous glands

If you suspect that oily facial skin is caused by some disease, you need to urgently take care of yourself: cure the disease or at least consult a doctor. Women are advised to first normalize their hormonal levels, which also cannot be done without the help of medicine.

2. Organizing a balanced and healthy diet

In the struggle for beautiful skin, many do not pay due attention to their diet. We hasten to assure you that eating fatty, sweet, smoked, fried and other “harmful” foods causes irreparable damage to the condition of the epidermis.

3. Maintaining facial hygiene

1. Washing with hot water is strictly contraindicated. Only warm liquid will do. Ideally, not from the tap, but even better - boiled.
2. You must bring your own towel, used exclusively for your face. It should be changed daily. You can use disposable paper towels.
3. All tools for the face should also be individual - brushes and sponges for applying makeup, sponges and brushes for washing.
4. The cosmetics and hygiene products you use must be appropriate for your skin type, made by a reputable manufacturer, and not expired.

Advice: contact a trusted cosmetologist and ask him to select suitable hygiene and cosmetic products for your face. All of them should be alcohol-free and non-comedogenic, that is, they should not clog pores.

4. Stress management

Direct your energy in the right direction - stop being nervous. What can be done for this?

1. Take a course of mild sedatives (Persen, Adaptol, valerian extract or motherwortetc.).
2. Play sports. An ideal option for calming the nervous system is swimming or yoga.
3. If all else fails, consult a neurologist or psychotherapist.

5. Get rid of bad habits

Smoking, drinking coffee, alcoholic beverages and chocolate can significantly activate the sebaceous glands.

6. Drinking water

For oily skin, it is important to drink at least two liters of fluid per day: preferably in small portions 4 to 6 times a day. Give preference to raw filtered, bottled or mineral water.

Treatment of oily facial skin: effective methods

1. Cosmetology procedures

The following cosmetic procedures help effectively remove oily skin:

1. Mechanical and chemical peeling.
2. Ultrasonic facial cleansing.
3. Biorevitalization

Many people mistakenly assume that this procedure, because it replenishes moisture loss, is necessary only for dry dermis. In fact, oily skin is also quite often dehydrated and needs moisture. Light creams and hydrogels are more suitable for daily moisturizing.

1. Mesotherapy.
2. The use of masks (with pore-tightening and tonic components).

2. Traditional medicine recipes

Many traditional medicine methods help reduce oily facial skin. The most effective of them:

2.1. Washing with herbal decoctions

For oily skin, medicinal plants with an anti-inflammatory effect are suitable, such as chamomile, sage, mint, rowan leaves, serpentine, calendula, nettle, St. John's wort, plantain, blueberry, oak bark, yarrow, etc. Remember that water should be warm, not hot.

2.2. Steam facials

They work much more effectively when adding the same medicinal herbs.

1. Rubbing your face with ice cubes (you can also add decoctions of medicinal plants to their composition).
2. Masks made from natural ingredients.

White and blue clay, egg white, potato starch, coffee grounds, banana pulp, lemon, cucumber, and apple cider vinegar are good for removing oily skin. The mask should be applied to a previously cleansed face for 15 – 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

2.3. Homemade scrubs

You can make them yourself using oatmeal, citrus peel or rice flour. All ingredients are finely ground in a coffee grinder or blender and applied with gentle massaging movements along the massage lines of the face. Wash off with cool water after 2 – 3 minutes.

Those with oily skin should avoid scrubs with traumatic particles - from apricot, peach, almond kernels, etc. The same applies to masks with the addition of components such as salt, baking soda, etc. They can injure tissues and increase inflammation. process.

Most owners of sebaceous shine successfully cope with the problem on their own and even find their advantages in the features of this type of dermis. A good cosmetologist can be another assistant in the fight for glowing skin. If all your efforts do not bring any results, then you should stop experimenting on your own body. Consult a qualified healthcare provider. Modern dermatology is quite capable of correcting any uncomfortable conditions of the epidermis.