Oily Skin Care

By Suzi Sorenson

Alot of skin care products offer alternative products depending on your skin type, however, very often there exists little difference between the formulas for combination or oily skin and their dry skin alterntives.

Hormonal shifts that occur as we reach puberty very commonly result in us having an oily skin type at this age. For most of us, the skin usually drys out as we get older, sebum production naturally reaches its peak in our teens and then slowly decreases with age. Good news maybe for anyone suffering with excessively oily skin.Pregnancy and the menopause can trigger hormonal imbalances which sometimes results in an increase in the production of sebum oil, leaving parts of the skin more oily.

Many people have skin that is dry, or normal, in some facial areas, and oily in others, generally the area we refer to as the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). This skin is referred to as a combination skin type.

Oily and combination skin types are mainly influenced by: Skin care products and cosmetics Hormone levels Pregnancy and brith control pills Heredity Humidity and hot weather

Effective cleansing for Oily Skin Avoid clean creams since they are often too heavy on the skin, instead, try a lightly medicated lotion or a lightly medicated soap. Oil-based products are quite effective in removing excess sebum although it may seem counter-productive to use an oil-based product on what is already oily skin.

Cleanse oily skin carefully with warm water and, mentioned above, avoid harsh products that strip your skin of oil since this can cause a reaction known as reactive seborrhoea, where the sebaceous glands produce more oil in response to the loss of natural oils. Avoid alcohol-based products since these again strip too much oil and limit the number of times you wash each day since this can cause reactive seborrhoea. Products that leave oily skin feeling dry can be detrimental to oily skin strangely enough, since it sometimes causes the upper layers of the skin to shrink, restricting oil flow through the pores which can exacerbate pore blockage.

Treatment for oily skin When you are cleansing your face, massage with your fingertips, using an outward and upward motion, taking care not to rub soap into the skin since this can cause clogging. If your skin is also scaly, you may wish to try a deep-cleaning exfoliant every other day. Use a clarifying mask one or two times a week and a light antiseptic night cream from time to time if you wish. The latter should be used sparingly however. Choose a moisturizer for oily skin that is oil-free to help maintain a shine-free complexion.

Before applying makeup, use an antiseptic day cream with active ingredients that diminish sebaceous secretions. Look for benzyl peroxide in the list of active ingredients. Choose cosmetic and oily skin care products specifically designed for oily skin, such as foundation for oily skin. - 30525

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