Oily Skin

MY OILY SKIN

WHAT CAN I DO?

Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands make to much sebum.  This waxy, oily substance protects and hydrates the skin.

The ironic thing here is that you need sebum to maintain healthy skin.  As with most things in life too much sebum is not good for you.  This can cause clogged pores and acne.  To manage oily skin it is recommended that you follow a skincare process. 

Let talk about oily skin.  What does it look like? How can you treat it?  What are some ways to prevent it? 

INDICATIONS

Oily skin often affects the face, but can affect any area of the skin.  Signs and indicators of oily skin consist of:

 a glossy or oleaginous presence

* Huge pores on the skin

* Sporadic or persistent pimples

* Congested pores and blackheads

* Skin looks thick and coarse

TREATMENT

I want to give you 6 tips that will diminish the symptoms of oily skin if it is problematic for you.

1. Wash regularly                                 

Washing regularly can reduce how much oil is on the skin.  This is my recommendation on how to properly was your oily skin.

* Use  a gentle soap and warm water.  Gel cleanser works best on oily skin.

* Avoid soaps with harsh chemicals, as they may dry or irritate the skin causing more sebum to be produced.
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* Avoid loofahs and rough washcloths, as friction may cause the skin to make more oil

If your skin is still problematic try some medicated acne products which contain acid that can tackle oily skin.  You want products that have these acids:

*salicylic acid
* glycolic acid
*beta-hydroxy acid

These acids may be irritating to the skin, try one product at a time on a small area to see if your body can tolerated it.  

The right cleaner is oh so important.  There have been studies that recommend facial cleaners that are made with sodium laureth carboxylate and alkyl carboxylates is most effective for moderate facial acne.

Oily skin without the presence of acne, I would suggest, a fragrance free glycerin soap and hot water to diminish the oil.  

Here are a range of facial cleaners that are  available for purchase thru my e-store.

2. Use a toner

Astringent toner that contain alcohol may or may not work, because they have a drying effect.  You may want to try a natural astringent such as witch hazel, it will produce soothing effect.
Witch hazel has a high tannin content which makes it a natural astringent and anti-inflammatory.  This makes it a great choice for people with oily skin.  If will minimize the pores and remove make up.  Toners do not work for everyone all test productin in a small area to see how you react.  

I have toners available on my e-store

3. Pat face dry

After your face is washed  take care in how you dry it.  I suggest a gentle pat with a soft cloth.  Pulling or rubbing with a rough wash cloth is not advised, it may cause the production of sebum.  

Soft cloths are available on line for purchase

4.  Use blotting papers and medicated pads

Many companies have blotting papers.  These papers do not treat but they are used to lift oil from the skin. 

You can also try cloth pads that are medicated.  This will also help remove excess oil and cleanse the pores.

Medicated pads and blotting paper are available online. 

5. Use a facial mask

CLAY- These masks contain smectite and bentonite, minerals that absorb oil and reduce sebum levels without irritating the skin.  Use occasionally to prevent excessive dryness.  Also make sure to apply a gentle moisturizer afterward.  


HONEY- Studies report that natural raw honey has antibacterial and antiseptic qualities.  A honey mask may reduce acne and oily skin while softening the skin.


OATMEAL- Oatmeal mask help to cleanse the skin.  It brings a soothing effect, because it is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Facial masks  for oily skin are available in my e-store

6. Apply moisturizers

You would think with oily skin it would be wise to stay away from moisturizers, but that is NOT the case.  The correct moisturizer will keep the  skin moist and protected.  

Aloe is great for moisturizing oily and acne prone skin,  The compounds in aloe have a naturally soothing effect on the skin.  Products must have 10% or more of aloe to effective on oily skin. 
Using pure aloe could pose a problem, because of  the hidden ingredients, such as denatured alcohol which could cause dryness and irritation.  

Prevention

Oily skin caused by genetics and hormones cant be prevented and is can be very difficult to control.  


Prevention is found in a skincare routine that is consistently put to use.  When oily skin arises it is unwise to cover it with makeup.  Most make up is oil based.  This will worsen things by clogging your pores.  Water based make up or no make up at all are your best options.  

Your diet is also an important part of prevention.  It is important to stay hydrated and eat a well rounded diet of whole foods.  Please avoid greasy foods and trans fats. 


I can recommend a skincare routine  from my e-store

Summary 

What's best for you will be based on your personal experience.  Once you find a routine that works be consistent.  
The best course of action my turn out to be consulting with a dermatologist.  You may need to work  on looking at daily activities  and other factors to better understand what is causing the oily skin and  how to prevent