Oily Skin and Hormones
April 8, 2009 by admin
Oily skin is often associated with the teenage years and dry skin with older skin, but for some oily skin is a lifelong issue to deal with. While you may have inherited your oily skin in part from your parents, oily skin has also to do with our hormone production. When our hormones are stimulated into action their levels can fluctuate and cause more oil to be produced. This is why oily skin becomes worse in teenage years and for some during pregnancy and during their menstrual cycle as hormone production surges.
Stress can cause oil production to be increased as hormones are also produced when we experience strong emotion. Although stress does not cause pimple outbreaks, people often find it makes existing outbreaks of pimples or acne worse. When we become extremely stressed or have high stress for long periods of time the adrenal glands produce a substance called cortisol which is released into the bloodstream. Part of this chemical chain reaction that is caused by the initial stress is an increase in sebum production.
Male hormones are responsible for the start of sebum production and are found in both males and females at puberty, but in differing quantities.
What we can do
- Oil production is one of nature’s responses to irritation – gentle cleansing will reduce irritation and therefore oil production.
- Avoid soap – squeaky clean is not what we want for oily skin.
- Stripping away natural oils will cause more to be produced.
- Don’t over wash – Morning and night is sufficient for even the oiliest skin.
- Clay masks may help soaking up excess oil. It can leave the skin looking fresher and less oily for some hours after.
- Use a moisturiser that is non-comodegenic.
- Reducing stress will reduce the production of hormones that signal oil production.
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