Sebum or skin oil is the skin's natural moisturizer that lubricates the hair and keeps our skin from dehydration. It is secreted by the sebaceous glands which are located just beneath the surface of the skin. Oily skin occurs due to hyper-activity of the sebaceous gland that is caused by many different factors like, change in hormone levels due to pregnancy, puberty, menstruation, diet, drugs like birth-control pills.
Hot and humid weather and some cosmetic products are also linked to over-activity of the sebaceous glands. Physical illness and stress are also contributing factors. Genetic or hereditary factor may also predispose a particular person to oily skin but generally, men are more prone to oily skin than women as the sebaceous gland is more active among men due to androgen, the male hormone that stimulates sebaceous gland activity.
Healthy Lifestyle: The Natural Approach to Treatment
Compared to dry or normal skins, oily skin can be an advantage because the abundant supply of skin's natural moisture delays ageing of the skin. However, oil-laden skin accumulates dirt easily and it impedes proper skin exfoliation. This predisposes the skin to acne problems once the skin pores that are clogged up with dirt and becomes infected. Therefore, in order to come up with a win-win solution for the problem, a safe approach is to avoid infection as much as possible while maintaining the skin's natural balance of moisture.
Proper Hygiene -- Contrary to what you may think, too much dryness of the skin may actually worsen the problem because it will stimulate the sebaceous gland to produce more sebum. So, when treating oily skin, avoid using products that contain strong chemicals hat dry the skin. Likewise, avoid anything that contains butter extracts and mineral oils or added moisturizers. A good choice of soap is the one that contains either Triclosan, beta hydroxyl acid (BHA), or alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA), these are known to be effective in fighting bacteria that cause infections.
Right Diet -- Avoid too much sweets and starchy foods. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is far better than eating processed or greasy junk foods. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day is also good for the skin. Skip soda and alcoholic drinks, and choose fruit and vegetable juice instead. Your goal is to keep a right diet that will not stimulate sebaceous gland activity, so seeking advice from a nutrition expert is invaluable to keep you on the right track.
Regular Exercise and Adequate Rest -- You may have heard about the benefits of regular exercise since ages but recent studies have discovered a correlation between exercise and mental health specifically our resistance to emotional stress. Fear, worries, anger, and other forms of negative emotions affect your lifestyle and cause hormonal imbalances that are manifested by physical maladies like oily skin. So, it is important to develop resistance to stress naturally by indulging in physical activities like walking, biking, or jogging. Getting enough sleep on a regular basis is equally important as well as having a positive outlook in life.
There are many factors that cause hyper-activity of the sebaceous glands which leads to oily face; this means there are also many different methods to control them. What we've mentioned here are simple steps and practical approach to help minimize its occurrence and prevent skin infections. They are intended only for common cases of oily skin we consider as minor problem. For severe cases, particularly those accompanied with severe acne, it is always advised to personally consult a dermatologist to acquire a more appropriate treatment.
Hot and humid weather and some cosmetic products are also linked to over-activity of the sebaceous glands. Physical illness and stress are also contributing factors. Genetic or hereditary factor may also predispose a particular person to oily skin but generally, men are more prone to oily skin than women as the sebaceous gland is more active among men due to androgen, the male hormone that stimulates sebaceous gland activity.
Healthy Lifestyle: The Natural Approach to Treatment
Compared to dry or normal skins, oily skin can be an advantage because the abundant supply of skin's natural moisture delays ageing of the skin. However, oil-laden skin accumulates dirt easily and it impedes proper skin exfoliation. This predisposes the skin to acne problems once the skin pores that are clogged up with dirt and becomes infected. Therefore, in order to come up with a win-win solution for the problem, a safe approach is to avoid infection as much as possible while maintaining the skin's natural balance of moisture.
Proper Hygiene -- Contrary to what you may think, too much dryness of the skin may actually worsen the problem because it will stimulate the sebaceous gland to produce more sebum. So, when treating oily skin, avoid using products that contain strong chemicals hat dry the skin. Likewise, avoid anything that contains butter extracts and mineral oils or added moisturizers. A good choice of soap is the one that contains either Triclosan, beta hydroxyl acid (BHA), or alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA), these are known to be effective in fighting bacteria that cause infections.
Right Diet -- Avoid too much sweets and starchy foods. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is far better than eating processed or greasy junk foods. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day is also good for the skin. Skip soda and alcoholic drinks, and choose fruit and vegetable juice instead. Your goal is to keep a right diet that will not stimulate sebaceous gland activity, so seeking advice from a nutrition expert is invaluable to keep you on the right track.
Regular Exercise and Adequate Rest -- You may have heard about the benefits of regular exercise since ages but recent studies have discovered a correlation between exercise and mental health specifically our resistance to emotional stress. Fear, worries, anger, and other forms of negative emotions affect your lifestyle and cause hormonal imbalances that are manifested by physical maladies like oily skin. So, it is important to develop resistance to stress naturally by indulging in physical activities like walking, biking, or jogging. Getting enough sleep on a regular basis is equally important as well as having a positive outlook in life.
There are many factors that cause hyper-activity of the sebaceous glands which leads to oily face; this means there are also many different methods to control them. What we've mentioned here are simple steps and practical approach to help minimize its occurrence and prevent skin infections. They are intended only for common cases of oily skin we consider as minor problem. For severe cases, particularly those accompanied with severe acne, it is always advised to personally consult a dermatologist to acquire a more appropriate treatment.
