Skin Type | Oily Skin
Monday, November 30th, 2009
Oily skin secretes excessive sebum, oils that are excreted by the skin. Some characteristics of oily skin are:
- Oily shine all over the face
- Thicker texture
- Enlarged pores
- Frequent breakouts
- Possible open comedones (blackheads)
- Closed comedones (whiteheads)
- Acne prone skin
Treatment
Proper management of oily skin requires that it’s secretions are balanced. Excess secretions create a favourable environment for bacteria to thrive and multiply, so it is important that bacterial activity is controlled on the skin by the use of appropriate cleansers, toners and treatment products like acne-control spot treatments for example.
Cosmetic products that work at absorbing oil and thereby allowing the skin to appear matte also work well for oily skin. Clay masks, such as those made out of kaolin clay, work well at extracting impurities out of skin’s pores as it dries, and can also give the appearance of tighter firmer skin, and smaller pores. Other cosmetic products include oil absorbing paper products and non-comedogenic, (does not clog pores) oil absorbing powders.
Products that contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, sulphur and salicylic acid for example, are commonly used in the T-Zone area (forehead, nose and chin) to treat breakouts, blackheads and whiteheads .
Deep cleansing cleansers, which are usually foamy, work well for oily skin types. However, just like dry skin, it is important that the skin’s protective barrier isn’t totally stripped by using harsh cleansers, as doing so would only trigger the skin to produce more oils to compensate for it’s protective layer being removed. This is the skin’s only way of balancing itself.
Exfoliation
Oily skin types benefit from chemical exfoliation, the use of acid agents such as salicylic and lactic acid, or enzyme agents such as bromelain, naturally found in pineapples and papain, which is found in papaya (paw paw). The use of scrubs, a form of manual exfoliation, should be limited as this physical stimulation of skin encourages an increase in the skin’s oil production, which is not desirable for skin that is already rich in oils.
Dehydration
It is not uncommon for oily skin types to be dehydrated. When skin lacks water, it compensates for this by producing more oil. You may find that on days where you are not on top of your water intake, your skin appears shiner, and oilier than usual. Keep water intake up, as well as moisturize oil prone skin with fluid-like, water based moisturizers to help prevent against excess oil production.
Aging
As we age, the skin’s production of sebum decreases, and skin gets less oily and more dry. Under the same conditions, skins with an excess production of oil typically age less rapidly than do dry skin types.
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great article!
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Thanks for the feedback!
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