Oily Skin
What is Oily Skin?
Having a healthy, glowing, blemish-free skin is an asset. A clear and healthy looking skin gives an attractive appearance. In the case of oily skin, there is over-production of oil by the sebaceous glands than is necessary. The pores are enlarged and oil oozes out. It looks shiny, thick and patchy. Chronically oily skin has coarse pores and other embarrassing blemishes. It is prone to acne, blackheads and pimples.
Oily skin can occur at any age, but because of the hormonal changes during adolescence oily skin is more common in teenagers. The only good news about oily skin is that it ages slower and wrinkles appear a lot later than on dry skin.
Symptoms of Oily Skin
A shiny or greasy look is the most obvious symptom of oily skin type. It has a blotchy and coarse appearance. The enlarged pores cause excess oil production. The pores are clearly visible and make the skin look ugly.
Oily skin quite often leads to blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and other skin blemishes. This is because the oil traps dirt, dead skin particles etc. which clog the pores and lead to bacterial infections and inflammation of the skin.
An outbreak of acne is also a major problem with oily skin type. Acne can also appear on the back, shoulders and chest for those who have oily skin.
Ironically, a shiny oil face results in a dull complexion. This may sound contradictory, but is true. People with healthy skin have glowing, rosy skin color. Oily skin collects dead cells, dust and dirt to give that dull look to ones face.
Diagnosis of Oily Skin
A person can generally diagnose oily skin and hair by its appearance. We do not need a doctor to tell an oily skin type.
Causes of Oily Skin
Oily skin is caused by over-active glands, which produce a substance called sebum, a naturally healthy skin lubricant. When the skin produces too much sebum, it becomes thick and heavy in texture. The excess oil on the surface of the skin attracts dirt and dust from the environment. There are various factors that cause oily skin in a person:
1) Heredity: Overly oily skin is a problem that is often handed down through generations within a family. It could be a part of the person’s genetic framework.
2) Dietary habits: If it is not genetic, it would also be caused due to constant consumption of substances like oil, butter, clarified butter, lard, whole fat milk products, French fries, eggs, meat with skin, etc.
3) Hormonal levels: Changes in hormone levels during puberty can cause oily skin in teenagers. Many older women experience a greater level of oiliness in skin around their menstrual cycle and during menopause due to fluctuating levels of a hormone called androgen. The skin may become oilier during pregnancy in some cases.
4) Birth Control Pills: Some types of birth control pills can also increase skin oiliness.
5) Cosmetics: Too much use of moisturizers and creams can also aggravate oiliness of skin.
6) Humidity: Warmth and humidity aggravate oiliness of the skin.
7) Age: The skin grows drier as age advances hence we see more teenagers with oily skin type.
Types of Oily Skin
Some people have an excessively oily skin type. They frequently experience problems like blemishes, acne and pimples, dust accumulation on facial skin due to the stickiness.
Many people have a combination skin which is oily only in certain areas of the face and dry or normal in others. This is not such a severe ailment and just needs the minimum skin care.
Treatment of Oily Skin
There are various forms of treatment for oily skin like natural products, herbs and oils, homeopathic medication, etc. The natural way of keeping skin free of too much oil is the simplest method.
A) Home remedies:
1) Applying cucumber juice on the face, drying it and then applying makeup helps to protect the skin when frequent use of makeup is necessary. Alternatively, use equal parts of lime juice and witch-hazel.
2) Application of a teaspoon of lemon juice (before bathing) or white vinegar (at bedtime) for five minutes is an easy method of removing excess oil.
3) A clay or mud pack mixed with a 1 teaspoon raw honey applied for fifteen minutes is good to control skin oil. This can be repeated once in two weeks for better effect.
4) Application of an astringent also helps to get rid of excess oil, especially in the case of acne. But if the astringent is too strong, it will do more harm than good as it will stimulate production of excess oil.
5) A paste of almonds and honey can be used as a scrub for removing oils and dead skin cells.
6) For an oil-removing home facial you can make a chilled paste of mashed raw apple with 1 egg white and apply for fifteen minutes before bathing.
B) Essential Oils: 
There are various Essential Oils like Geranium, Lavender, Juniper and Sage which also help in keeping the skin free of excess oils and thus prevent other related skin problems.
C) Herbs:
Applications containing Witch hazel, Aloe Vera, Burdock root, Chamomile, Thyme, Lavender, Lemongrass, Licorice root, and Rosebuds are good for oily skin. These products can be easily made at home as well instead of purchasing commercial products. Simmer a couple of tablespoons of powdered fresh herbs (any one of them) in two cups of water for fifteen minutes. Let it remain in the pot for another fifteen. Then strain and apply this juice. Keep for twenty minutes and rinse with cold water.
D) Homeopathic medication:
Skin problems are caused due to general imbalances in the body. Homeopathic treatment would treat this main imbalance with oral medication to correct the skin problem. Medicines like Mercurius and Natrum-mur are useful for a person with an oily, shiny face. These medications will treat the root cause of the excessive oiliness of the skin rather than the resultant problems of pimples, acne, etc. Hence, homeopathic treatment is a more effective and longer-lasting method of treatment.
E) Surgical treatment:
1) The Fraxel laser treatment is a popular treatment to remove blemishes from the face. It also tightens the pores thus giving the skin a youthful and radiant look. The Fraxel laser heats the skin cells. The cells regain elasticity and eliminate any dermal blemishes.
2) Photorejuvenation, also known as Intense Pulsed light, is an alternative treatment for dermal blemishes.
Living with Oily Skin
There are no serious, life-threatening problems due to oily skin. But it spoils the appearance of a person due to problems like acne, prominent pores, blemishes, dull appearance, etc. Persistent and severe skin problems would lower the self-esteem of a person and cause other psychological disorders. Oily skin and hair are not contagious and pose no risk to others.
Prevention of Oily Skin
Extreme oiliness of the skin can be prevented by external means as well as by the intake of suitable diet.
A) External methods as preventives:
1) Avoid over-use of skincare products.
2) Use oil-free moisturizers to maintain a shine-free complexion.
3) Keep your skin very clean but limit washing your face to two or three times a day.
4) Greasy cleansing creams must be avoided. Instead use antibacterial cleansing lotions.
5) Scented soaps are harsh for the skin and must be avoided. Use of pure soaps without additives is advisable.
6) Alcohol-based lotions or cleansers should be avoided.
7) Use hot water when washing your face as hot water dissolves skin oil better than lukewarm or cold water.
Choose cosmetic and facial care products specifically designed for oily skin.
9) The use of an antiseptic cream before the use of makeup diminishes sebaceous secretions.
B) Diet for preventing Oily Skin
1) Maintain a protein-rich and sugar-free diet.
2) Consume plenty of fluids and salt.
3) Consumption of plenty of leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits will help to keep the skin naturally healthy.
4) A diet containing wheat germ, organ meats, whole grains, beans, nuts and organic rice are an excellent source of iron and multivitamins which rejuvenate the skin.
5) Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins.
6) Reduce the amount of fatty foods and processed foods in your diet.
7) Use minimum cooking oil.
Avoid soft drinks and alcohol.
C) Other preventive measures:
1) The skin’s cellular-repair activity is at its peak during sleep so sufficient sleep is very necessary to keep skin healthy. Avoid late nights and midnight snacks at all costs.
2) Quit smoking as it enlarges the pores and aggravates oiliness of skin.
3) Regular exercise nourishes and cleanses the skin from within because it boosts blood circulation and the body toxins are released in the sweat.
The Center for Skin, Dallas, Texas is one of the world’s leading institutes dealing in skin treatment and surgeries. They undertake Fraxel surgery and Photorejuvenation techniques to permanently cure skin blemishes and acne caused by excessively oily skin.
