Why does skin become oily?

There are advantages to be found in the disadvantages of each skin type. What makes a face attractive and healthy is not only nature, but also proper care and selection of products. Every third woman has oily skin. It seems to be the most problematic; acne, comedones, shine, inflammation, and enlarged pores appear more often on it. If you look at it in terms of benefits, this type resists aging longer. Why did the skin on my face become oily, how to deal with it and properly care for it?

Oily facial skin is genetically transmitted to men and women. This is due to the fact that a person has a thick layer of epidermis, and the sebaceous glands function with particular intensity. If too much sebum is produced, the face takes on an unhealthy shine, makeup turns into an unattractive mask throughout the day, and the woman feels uncomfortable. In this case, fatness has cosmetic and medical reasons that need to be eliminated.

Causes of oily skin

1. Hormonal background. Older people practically do not have such problems, because one of the causes of oily skin is an increased level of sex hormones. In other words, excess testosterone. This hormone stimulates the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum. If this is the case, the problem goes away by age 30. Oily skin in women also depends on the period of the menstrual cycle; a hormonal surge occurs in the body during pregnancy. The skin becomes oily or dry depending on testosterone levels. In men, the functioning of the sebaceous glands is stimulated by androgens.

2. Poor nutrition often leads to oily skin. If a person has an unbalanced diet, his diet is dominated by spicy, sweet, fatty foods, he abuses coffee, alcohol, often eats on the go and dry food, the skin takes revenge for this attitude towards the body.

3. Metabolic disorders, excess weight, diseases of internal organs and the endocrine system, debilitating stress, abnormalities in the central nervous system and psyche are also causes of oily skin. It is also caused by a long course of treatment with certain drugs and infections.

4. Incorrect use of cosmetics. Abuse of alcohol-based lotions, scrubs, and frequent peeling dry out oily skin and force the sebaceous glands to work even more actively. Passion for certain salon procedures that injure the skin provokes intense fat production.

5. Climatic and weather conditions are another factor that causes oiliness.

The culprits of pathology can be permanent or temporary. Once you find the root, you can combat oily skin with proper care and lifestyle.

Symptoms and causes of seborrhea

When very oily facial skin suddenly appears, it is most likely seborrhea - an unsightly appearance of the skin caused by internal reasons. Some dermatologists consider it a chronic disease, while others consider it a temporary condition.

1. oily skin not only on the face, but also on the central part of the back, chest, head, armpits, navel and other so-called seborrheic areas;
2. small pimples have appeared, these could be comedones, blackheads, acne and other troubles that accompany seborrhea;
3. the skin acquires an unhealthy oily sheen;
4. if the face peels, it looks like dry seborrhea;
5. Dandruff appears on the head.

Seborrhea occurs in men and women. Teenagers are most susceptible to the disease, as it is most often associated with hormonal levels. Dermatologists also consider poor nutrition, stress, the influence of external factors, metabolic disorders and endocrine diseases as provocateurs of the condition. Heredity cannot be ruled out.

Oily skin is a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms. When the ducts of the sebaceous glands become blocked, blackheads or white pimples form. Both are called comedones. Acne accompanying seborrhea requires additional treatment.

Every tenth case of the disease becomes chronic - seborrheic dermatitis. Inflammation worsens during certain periods.

What to do and how to deal with this? Treatment options

Before starting therapy, it is necessary to identify the cause of excessive oily skin. If it lies in heredity, there is no point in fighting, you just need to take proper care of it. But if the fat content increases sharply, while the face peels and becomes covered with acne, there is a reason to visit a dermatologist and cosmetologist. They will help you create a strategy for caring for problem skin.

After examining the condition of the skin, the doctor will order tests and determine further treatment. Procedures that will correct the functioning of the sebaceous glands will permanently rid the face of oily shine and help stop flaking. These include:

1. vaporization - steaming the face before cleansing;
2. facial cleansing – ultrasonic or mechanical;
3. cryotherapy (based on liquid nitrogen);
4. mesotherapy – saturation of problem areas of the skin with vitamins and microelements;
5. darsonvalization - exposure to alternating current on the face;
6. biorevitalization – saturation of skin fibers with moisture;
7. healing massage.

The procedures are carried out in a clinic and are not cheap. The fat content disappears for a while, after which the glands begin to produce sebum with renewed vigor. Along with such radical methods, therapy is used in a beauty salon.

2. Cosmetological recommendations.

After a dermatologist determines the source of oily skin, you should consult a cosmetologist. In addition to the procedures, he will give the following recommendations.

1. Water for washing a face prone to oiliness should be at room temperature. Hot food promotes increased fat production in the future.
2. Alcohol tinctures and soap produce a similar effect.
3. Carefully study the components of decorative cosmetics. It is better to choose a foundation based on kaolin clay. It would be good if it contained zinc oxide.
4. Do not use liquid shadows and blush.
5. The powder has a dense texture and is best applied with a sponge. This will help remove oily shine.
6. Cosmetics should not provoke the appearance of comedones. It is advisable to pay attention to the “non-comedogenic” label.
7. Peeling should be done very carefully, preferably at home with a soft brush. Only then will your face stop peeling. Chemical procedures activate the sebaceous glands.
8. Take care of the problem face using disinfectant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Creams, masks, milk, tonic should be marked “for oily skin.”

What products will help remove fat?

In addition to cosmetic products, you can use natural products. This is the most affordable way. To make your face attractive, traditional medicine recommends homemade scrubs.

1. Mix half a coffee spoon of salt and coffee, apply to a damp face, massage for a few minutes.
2. 2 tsp. mix brown sugar with 3 tsp. milk, make massaging movements for 3-4 minutes.

Masks at home:

1. Mix low-fat cream with lemon juice in a 1:1 ratio. Apply for 15-25 minutes.
2. 3 tbsp. l. Mix oatmeal ground in a coffee grinder with egg white. Apply to skin after cleansing with scrub.

1. 1 tbsp. l. crushed mint, pour 50 ml of boiling water, leave and strain. Wipe twice a day after washing.
2. Soak the grapefruit peel in cold water overnight. In the morning, the infusion will turn into an effective means for caring for a face prone to oiliness.

Even using the most expensive creams, doing newfangled procedures, the problem of oily skin will not disappear if its cause is not discovered. Do not rush to a beauty salon without visiting a dermatologist. The doctor will help you understand the source of the disease and adjust your lifestyle: adjust your diet, daily routine, and avoid stress. If necessary, the patient will be referred to other specialists - a nutritionist, psychologist, endocrinologist.

Anyone can understand why the skin on their face has become oily. The strategy for caring for your face depends only on whether it is important for a woman to look attractive, what means she has and how much time she is willing to devote to her appearance.

With oily skin, the sebaceous glands are overactive, and the skin itself becomes shiny, looks unhealthy and rough. Its owners are well acquainted with the problems of enlarged pores, acne and comedones, seborrhea and sebaceous gland cysts. But why did the skin on my face become oily if it was normal or dry before? There can be many reasons, and they need to be correctly identified in order to prescribe further effective treatment.

Characteristic

Oily skin is most often localized in the T-zone (forehead, bridge of the nose, chin). Outwardly, it gives the impression of being rough, unkempt, shiny and dull, with a grayish tint and oiliness. It is often characterized by an uneven surface; makeup cannot be applied to such skin perfectly (it does not adhere well). It is possible to disguise oily shine with powder or foundation only temporarily.

Spider veins often appear on oily skin. The problem occurs not only on the face, but also on the body (in the back and chest). Most often, oily hair is an accompanying symptom.

Such skin cannot always be perfectly cleaned of excess fat. Subsequently, this sebaceous secretion clogs the pores, and dust, dirt, and dead particles of the epidermis also get there. As a result, the pores expand in a funnel-shaped manner, the skin becomes porous and looks like an orange peel. In addition, acne often occurs on it, black plugs called comedones and whiteheads (milia) form.

CAREFULLY! If sebum not only begins to be intensively produced, but also its structural composition changes, then the problem of oily skin degenerates into a pathological painful condition called seborrhea.

Advantages

Despite the unsightly characteristics described above, oily skin has some advantages over other types:

1. it retains moisture better, as a result of which it is not so sensitive and is better protected from the effects of adverse atmospheric factors (sun, wind, frost);
2. retains its elasticity longer;
3. less susceptible to aging;
4. and most importantly, age-related wrinkles on oily skin appear much later than on dry or normal skin.

Hormonal disbalance

There are many negative factors that provoke a change in skin type to oily, but more often this occurs as a result of hormonal imbalance. When and why hormonal levels in the body are disrupted:

1. The first time this happens is during puberty of a teenage girl. During this period, hormones are still extremely unstable and can go astray.
2. The next strongest surge of hormones occurs during pregnancy and childbirth.
3. A sharp change in hormonal levels is observed during menopause.

It is at these moments that a woman’s skin undergoes the greatest shocks - it was dry and suddenly became oily, and acne suddenly appeared. This is due to the fact that the active activity of the sebaceous glands is stimulated by the hormone testosterone.A hormonal surge leads to more testosterone being produced, which means that the sebaceous glands work even more actively and secrete sebum more intensely.

With such rapid and increased production of sebum, self-cleansing no longer helps. The pores become clogged, the skin does not breathe normally, and the results instantly appear on the face - acne, pimples and blackheads.

IMPORTANT! Such pimples cannot be squeezed out and constantly masked with decorative cosmetics. If you cover them with powder or foundation, the skin will not breathe at all, and the number of acne will increase. And the result of squeezing will be inflammation and swelling.

First, you need to determine what the causes of hormonal surges, increased testosterone levels and the appearance of acne are, and only then choose methods to combat them.

Risk Factors Causing Hormonal Imbalance

To normalize hormonal balance, you need to determine what led to a sharp jump in testosterone. The most likely reasons are:

1. physical fatigue;
2. unstable emotional background – stress, psychological problems, depression;
3. wrong lifestyle;
4. poor nutrition;
5. irregular sex life.

A woman can eliminate all of these factors on her own. But when puberty, pregnancy or menopause occurs, you cannot do without consulting a specialist. Only he will prescribe the correct drug therapy to restore hormonal levels and improve the woman’s condition.

Non-hormonal reasons

In addition to hormonal imbalances, there are other reasons why the skin suddenly becomes oily.

For example, cosmetics are selected and applied incorrectly. This is one of the most common reasons. There are women who constantly and in large quantities apply decorative cosmetics, without leaving the skin the slightest chance to rest and breathe. The pores are clogged, metabolic processes are disrupted, and as a result, the skin becomes inflamed and acne occurs.

IMPORTANT! Give your skin a break sometimes, leaving it absolutely clean.

Sometimes the skin situation is like a swing - back and forth. Either it is so dry that it peels, then suddenly it suddenly becomes oily. And this happens periodically. In this case, poor nutrition is to blame, especially if periods of dieting and overeating alternate. Balance your daily diet. To do this, completely eliminate alcoholic drinks, fatty, spicy and smoked foods. And after a while, your face will shine with health.

High fat content may be caused by taking certain medications.

Video about the causes of oily skin

Skin type can be inherited through the female line. But a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and regular facial care will help cope with this genetic factor.

Oily skin – a type of skin caused by excessive activity of the sebaceous glands and characterized by a rough texture, unhealthy color and shine. Those with oily skin face enlarged pores, comedones, sebaceous gland cysts, acne, and manifestations of seborrhea. Oily skin requires increased attention to existing problems, a certain diet, proper home and professional care (cleansing, masks, peelings, mesotherapy), and competent selection of cosmetics. To find out the causes of oily skin, consultations with a cosmetologist, dermatologist, and endocrinologist are necessary.

General information

Oily skin is one of the types of problem skin, characterized by increased greasiness and a shiny appearance. Depending on the secretory activity of the sebaceous glands, in cosmetology and dermatology it is customary to distinguish 4 types of skin: normal, dry, oily, combination (mixed). It should be noted that each skin type in itself is a variant of the norm and cannot be considered a disease. At the same time, different types of skin have their own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and therefore require a differentiated approach. Typically, skin type changes with age; In addition, the constant use of various cosmetics and makeup can create a false impression of the true characteristics of the skin. Oily facial skin is one of the most common types and is more prone to various dermatological problems than others. That is why oily skin needs special daily hygienic and competent professional care.

Causes of oily skin

Most often, oily skin occurs in adolescence and young adulthood and by the age of 25-30 it turns into another type (usually combination). Only 5-8% of people remain with oily skin throughout their lives. The direct cause of increased oily skin is the increased work of the sebaceous glands, which in turn can be caused by hereditary characteristics, hormonal imbalance, gastrointestinal disorders, poor nutrition, and improper skin care.

The presence of oily skin can be genetically determined - in this case, skin type does not change with age. In such a situation, the main efforts should be aimed at ensuring proper daily care and rational selection of cosmetics. Endocrine causes are associated primarily with puberty, during which the amount of testosterone increases, which increases the size of the sebaceous glands and increases the production of sebum. Other hormones also influence the function of the sebaceous glands, for example, adrenaline, the level of which in the blood increases in people experiencing stress. In women, increased skin oiliness may occur with prolonged or uncontrolled use of hormonal contraceptives, polycystic ovary syndrome, and less commonly during pregnancy or menopause. Oily facial skin combined with general dry skin is characteristic of hypothyroidism.

Among the nutritional reasons that contribute to the appearance of oily skin, one should highlight the abuse of fatty or spicy foods, as well as flour products, sweets, fast food, carbonated drinks, and alcohol. Quite often, people with oily skin suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (cholecystitis, colitis, constipation, etc.). Long stays and work in polluted and dusty rooms have a negative impact on the condition of the skin.

A typical mistake of those with oily skin is overly active and aggressive cleansing of the skin using alcohol-containing cosmetics and scrubs. Regular degreasing of problem areas of the skin with tonics and lotions only leads to aggravation of the problem: in response to the removal of the surface lipid layer, the epidermis reacts by increasing the secretion of glandular secretions. Frequent mechanical cleansing and peeling of the face causes microtrauma to the epidermis and intense sebum production. Using inappropriate creams and skin care products can also increase the problem of oily skin.

Characteristics of oily skin

Most often, oily skin is localized in the so-called T-zone, which includes the forehead, nose and chin. Externally, oily skin appears shiny, oily, unkempt, thick, and rough, and often has an uneven surface, dull color, and a grayish tint. Makeup does not apply well to oily skin; Foundations and powders remove oily shine only temporarily. Areas of problem skin are also found on the body, usually in the chest and back; Oily skin of the face and body is often combined with oily hair.

Insufficient cleansing of the skin from excess sebum leads to the fact that the sebaceous secretion, along with dead skin flakes and dust, clogs the pores and contributes to their funnel-shaped expansion. Often, oily, porous skin looks like an orange peel. In addition to excessive shine and enlarged pores, oily skin is prone to the formation of comedones (black plugs in the openings of the sebaceous glands) and milia (whiteheads), and acne. Spider veins (telangiectasia) are more often visible on it. If, against the background of increased sebum production, its qualitative composition also changes, a pathological condition such as seborrhea occurs.

Despite all the disadvantages of oily skin, it also has certain advantages. Thus, it retains moisture better, and, therefore, is more protected and less sensitive to the effects of various adverse atmospheric factors (wind, sunlight, low temperatures). Thanks to this, this skin type is less susceptible to photoaging, retains its elasticity longer, and age-related wrinkles appear later in women with oily skin than in women with other skin types.

If inflammation persists on oily skin for a long time, you should consult a dermatologist to rule out demodicosis. To find out the causes of increased oily skin, consultation and examination of a dermatologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, or gynecologist-endocrinologist may be required.

Features of oily skin care

The main tasks of caring for oily skin are removing excess sebum, opening pores, and reducing the activity of the sebaceous glands. First of all, it is necessary to minimize or completely eliminate the negative impact on the skin (refuse to use alcohol-containing lotions, fatty creams, frequent skin scrubbing, etc.). It is strictly unacceptable to leave decorative cosmetics on the skin overnight. The basis of the diet of the owner of oily skin should be lean meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, bran, cereals; Spices, smoked meats, baked goods and baked goods, and sweets should be limited as much as possible. Food should be rich in vitamins, especially group B.

It is advisable to divide the actual care for oily skin into home and professional care. Daily self-care for oily skin involves cleansing, moisturizing and nourishing procedures. First of all, you need to wash your face twice a day using a special foam, gel and mousse for oily skin. As a rule, such products have an anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating effect, but do not dry out the skin. When washing, you should not use a washcloth or sponge, or hot water, as these products will further stimulate the secretion of sebum. It is preferable to lather the skin with a cotton pad or fingertips, and rinse off the cleanser with warm or cool water. Traditional medicine recommends for oily skin washing and steam baths with herbal decoctions (chamomile, linden blossom, horsetail, mint, nettle) while taking these infusions orally.

More thorough cleansing of oily skin through cosmetic peeling can be done once or maximum twice a week. In addition to the scrub, you can use peeling-gommage to deep cleanse the skin: such film masks effectively remove dead horn cells, dust particles and excess sebum without damaging the skin. Once a week it is useful to make clay masks that have an adsorbing effect, or fruit masks that have the effect of tightening pores.

After washing your face, you need to blot it with a soft towel or napkin and wipe it with a tonic for oily skin - such products contain disinfecting, sebum-regulating and pore-tightening components. The finishing touch to daily care for oily skin is the application of a cream designed for this skin type. Typically, creams, emulsions or hydrogels for oily skin have a liquid consistency and are quickly absorbed without leaving a shiny shine.

When choosing decorative cosmetics for daytime makeup, you need to pay attention to the quality, composition of the product and recommendations for use from the manufacturers. For oily skin, it is better to choose light foundations, foundations and powders with a mattifying effect that eliminate excess shine. You should avoid using cream blush, eye shadow, and liquid eyeliner - otherwise, cosmetics may “float” on your face within a couple of hours after application.

Comprehensive professional care for oily skin in a salon usually includes the following steps:

1. make-up remover using bactericidal emulsions
2. cleansing and toning
3. elimination of hyperkeratosis, deep cleansing (vaporization, enzyme peeling, atraumatic, ultrasonic, chemical or instrumental facial cleansing, etc.)
4. applying ampoules and serums
5. facial massage using a therapeutic concentrate (lymphatic drainage, Jacquet massage)
6. applying a cosmetic mask (clay, creamy, pasty with filler, etc.) with a cleansing, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, keratolytic, sebum-regulating, immunomodulating effect
7. applying finishing cream for oily skin.

A special place in oily skin care is occupied by peelings (AHA peeling, glycolic peeling, TCA peeling, dry ice peeling, ultrasonic peeling), hardware methods (disincrustation, darsonvalization, ultraphonophoresis, chromotherapy). The necessary hydration and nutrition for oily skin can be obtained through biorevitalization procedures and mesotherapy (including needle-free). At your appointment, the cosmetologist will definitely give advice on caring for oily skin at home and recommend a professional cosmetic/cosmeceutical line.

Recommendations for caring for oily body skin are similar to those for problematic facial skin. To normalize the secretion of the skin glands, general baths with sea salt, plant extracts (coniferous, herbal), cryomassage, and mud applications are recommended. To prevent pustular skin diseases (pyoderma), the choice of underwear and clothing made from natural fabrics is important.

Proper care for oily skin will help maintain its good condition for many years. Otherwise, a violation of sebum secretion will inevitably lead to a weakening of the respiratory and protective properties of the skin and a decrease in local immunity.