Why our skin needs to produce oil…

Why does our skin produce oil?

Our skins need to produce oil which they do from tiny sebaceous glands hidden in the skin. Part of the job of this sebum that is produced is to maintain the protective acid mantle of the skin. The acid mantle refers to the sebum which is a complex blend of various lipids or fatty like substances, sweat and cellular debris that collects on the surface of the skin and hairs. The acid mantle has acid in the name as the pH typically ranges between 4.5 – 5.5.

The acid mantle is part of the skin’s defence system as the acidity helps to prevent bacteria invading the skin. The acid mantle forces the epidermal and the skin hairs to lie flat in a structured way to look a little like scales on a fish.

• Without an acid mantle the skin cells would pull apart leading to dehydration.
• Loss of the acidic protection would mean bacteria are more able to enter the skin.
• Hair would become more brittle and break more easily.
• With no acid mantle to protect it the skin would become more prone to irritation and sensitivity.

When we purchase products to wash and cleanse our oily skin we should not use harsh skin care products that strip away our natural oils. We need to use gentle but effective skin care that protects the acid mantle of the skin such as skinsaviour skincare products.

Skinsaviour skincare products are carefully formulated to gently and effectively cleanse the skin without stripping natural oils effecting sebum production.

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Oily skin and genetics

What do genetics have to do with oily skin?

Anyone who suffers from oily skin and finds it a real problem to deal with will wonder why they have oily skin in the first place. Our skin needs to produce oil to maintain the lipid barrier for protection and to give suppleness to the skin. DHT or dihyrotestosterone which is a metabolite of testosterone is the hormone responsible for triggering the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. If you have higher than normal levels of this hormone or your sebum glands are more sensitive than normal to this hormone you may end up with very oily skin.

What do hormones have to do with oily skin?

Around the time that you reach puberty for both girls and boys, the hormone DHT first appears. The menstrual cycle has an effect on DHT levels. Increasing amounts of progesterone and ultimately the increase in levels of DHT effects the sebum production. This is why we can often find women’s skin becomes oilier and prone to skin blemishes such as acne and pimples just before the menstrual cycle. Hormones also play a part in acne outbreaks and excess oil later in life.

What can we do?

• Accept the genetics that you have and try to work with them.
• Accept the fact that you can’t cure oily skin overnight but you can make a difference over a period of time.
• Eliminating oily skin is best done with products that are effective yet are gentle.
• Harsh products with soaps and detergents will only strip the skin of natural oils it needs.
• Use facial blotters to gently pat away excess oil during the day.
• Use skin care and cosmetic products that are not oil based and non comodegenic, that is, they will not block the pores.

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Why does our skin produce oil?

Why does our skin produce oil?

When you have oily skin and struggle with a greasy, shiny face you may wonder why the skin produces oil at all. Normal skin needs oil to lubricate the skin and keep it feeling soft and supple. Oil produced by the glands in the skin also plays a role in protecting it from environmental factors such as dirt and pollution by forming a lipid barrier to prevent their absorption into the skin. This barrier also is designed to prevent excessive water loss so our skin stays hydrated and retains its suppleness and glow.

How does our skin produce oil?

The sebaceous glands lie beneath the surface of the skin and have a connection with the base of the hair shafts. Oil or sebum produced by these sebaceous glands which travels via the pores to the skin is a complex mixture of different lipids which are fatty substances. If our glands don’t produce enough oil we get a drier skin and of course too much sebum causes that greasy, shiny face those with oily skin suffer with. What we need to try to achieve is a less greasy, more matt skin. However, we also need to ensure that we don’t strip the skin of its’ protective barrier.

• The only part of our bodies that do not have these oil producing glands is the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet.
• The classic oily T zone of the forehead, nose and chin are the areas that have the most sebaceous glands.

Do we need to moisturise?

• Oily skin needs to preserve the integrity of the skin barrier; therefore we do not want to use products that will strip away the natural oils.
• Use a gentle but effective cleanser to wash away excess oil.
• Use a moisturiser that is non-comodegenic, that is it will not block the pores but will help look after the natural barrier of the skin and help the area under the eyes that has few sebaceous glands.

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Oily skin and diet

What we eat has a direct effect on the look and health of our skin. Too many late nights, stress, over indulgence in alcohol all contribute to us not looking our best. Following some of the suggestions below will definitely help the look and feel of oily skin although the changes will be gradual. The good news is your overall health will improve as well as that of your skin.

Things to avoid helping prevent oily skin:

• Smoking is not helpful to improving any skin problem as it decreases circulation which impacts on the health of the skin.
• Too many late nights and not enough sleep will show up on the skin.
• Reduce the amount of alcohol; try to have alcohol free days.
• Reduce oily, fatty and greasy foods.
• Avoid too much sugar and soft drinks.
• Reduce the amount of highly processed and refined foods.

Things to do to boost the overall health of the skin:

• Regular exercise helps the overall health of the skin, boosting circulation and blood flow, helping to clear toxins.
• Deficiency in B2 is thought to be connected to oily skin – good sources of Vitamin B2 are whole grains, wheat germ, beans and nuts.
• Increase fresh vegetables and fruit
• Use a non-comodegenic moisturiser lightly to hydrate but not block the pores.
• Drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrates and flush toxins.

The entire content of Oily Skinsaviour is for information purposes only.
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