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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