Oily Skin – Causes and Solutions

Oily skin is a problem unto itself. It can be shiny and uncomfortable and generally difficult to deal with. Even worse, people with oily skin tend to be more prone to acne. People with oily skin are more susceptible because of an overproduction of sebum, oil produced by the sebaceous glands that surround the hair follicles in the pores of your skin. Sebum, as it happens is one of the main products, along with dirt, oil and acne causing bacteria, in acne. Therefore, more oil in the skin usually means more acne, especially on the nose.

Oily Skin and Acne for Teenagers

Oily skin and sebum is also a major reason why acne is so common among teenagers. The hormones that are activated during the teenage years also activate the sebaceous glands and increase sebum production. If you are a teenager and are suddenly seeing acne outbreaks, you are in a position that is not uncommon, but can still be unpleasant and embarrassing. You will want to take steps to control your acne as soon as possible. It is impossible to know how long your acne will last; acne affects different skin types in different ways. However if you act quickly to control your acne, you can often minimize its impact on your life.

What to Do About Oily Skin and Acne

Now that you understand the relationship between oily skin and sebum, the question is what can be done about it? If you have oily skin, you should treat your acne the way anyone of any skin type should treat acne, but you should be especially conscious of the need to cleanse and remove excess dirt and oil from the skin. You should wash your skin regularly to remove that excess dirt and oil. Even though it is actually acne causing bacteria that create the acne, pimples and blackheads are caused by the combination of these bacteria with sebum and other products that block the pores. If pores are unclogged, oxygen can get in and kill the bacteria. Avoid using oil based makeup or alcohol based lotions or creams. It can also help to cut oily and fried foods out of your diet, or at least reduce their consumption.

General Acne Treatment

Beyond washing your skin regularly (but not over washing, as this may dry out the skin), one of the most effective acne treatments available for problem skin is probably benzoyl peroxide. Specifically, consider using a full acne care system that incorporates benzoyl peroxide. Such an acne care system will generally include a series of creams or solutions that you will apply as directed in the morning and at night. In addition to benzoyl peroxide, it should include humectants to moisturize and hydrate skin, a sunscreen to protect the skin from UV ray damage, and other ingredients that cleanse and rejuvenate the skin. Using such a system consistently can help reduce the instances of acne outbreaks, produce less severe outbreaks, and help fade current acne lesions more rapidly.