Sebum: Not Just Oily Skin

For individuals suffering from acne, an effective fight against the problem begins with a deeper understanding of the disorder. Most people are under interesting assumptions about the development of acne, including everything from chocolate to hygiene to heredity to hormones. While there are several biological factors that may play a role in the development of acne, it’s actually three components that cause the development of every pimple on the body, whether whitehead, blackhead or cystic. All it takes is the combination of dead skin cells, the P-Acne bacteria and sebum clogging a follicle, and acne will develop.

While many people are familiar with dead skin cells, the skin’s process of growth and regeneration and the fact that acne is caused by small amounts of bacteria, fewer are familiar with sebum and the purpose it serves. Ultimately, sebum is naturally produced skin oil that is secreted by the sebaceous gland. Each hair follicle possesses a sebaceous gland, and the sebum it produces is incredibly important for the growth and health of the skin and the body.

Sebum is an oily and sometimes waxy substance that offers the skin and the hair lubrication. It is one of the factors that help to make the skin waterproof, and within the eyelids a variant of sebum is even produced as tears. Within the human body, sebum is made up of wax monoesters, triglycerides, fatty acids and squalene. Because of its chemical make-up, it is possible to affect its consistency through diet and proper hydration levels.

Sebum and Acne

Sebum becomes a problem in the acne equation when it combines with dead skin cells and bacteria within a hair follicle. Because the face and the scalp possess more follicles, they obviously possess more sebaceous glands and produce more sebum. This makes the face the most common area for acne development simply based on quantity of potential.

When the three components clog a follicle and pore, they will develop a whitehead, blackhead or if the infection finds its way deeper into the skin, cystic acne. Sebum is odorless, but when broken down by bacteria it can produce an unpleasant odor. The production of sebum increases during the adolescent phase. As facial hair begins to become more prominent in men, it can often become problem, being produced in excess.

Managing Sebum and Acne

A simple skin care regimen will generally do the trick when dealing with excess levels of sebum. One of the easiest things that can be done to combat a thick, waxy texture to sebum is to increase water intake. This is something that anyone can do to improve the overall health of the skin.

In terms of a skin care regimen, cleansing the skin 2 or 3 times per day is adequate for hygiene. Excessive face-washing will actually cue the skin to produce more sebum to fight the subsequent dryness.

A skin care regimen that includes a daily exfoliation, the use of a toner and an application with an acne cream such as benzoyl peroxide will help to control excess levels of sebum, while working to prevent outbreaks of acne.