1. Pores of the skin are larger in size than normal skin and clearly visible.

2. The skin appears to be thicker and firmer than normal skin.

3. Skin, especially on the forehead, nose and chin has a shiny, oily sheen to it.

4. Blemishes including blackheads, whiteheads and acne occur frequently.

5. If you cleanse the skin and leave it bare for an hour then blot the skin with a tissue you will seee an oily residue left on the tissue.

6. Skin becomes oily only hours after it has been thoroughly cleansed.

7. Oil on the face after waking in the morning.

8. Can be olive in colour rather than fair and tan easily.

9. Makeup tends to ‘slide’  hours after it has been applied.

10. Fine lines and wrinkles are slow to show on the face.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What we want to do:

When oily skin us a problem for us, we want to reduce the amount of oil on the skin and also to reduce the possibility of blemishes such as pimples and blackheads forming as oily skin is more susceptible to these. Skin treatments can be expensive to buy and these are easily made at home and it can be fun to try out different combinations.  There are no overnight miracle cures here, but regular use will help oily skin to be more under control.

If your skin is sensitive it would be wise to patch test any skin treatments on the inside of the wrist to see whether there is a reaction before using it on your face.

Oily skin mask recipe

• You will need a bottle of Milk of Magnesia which you apply a thin coating to the face on all the areas that are oily.  This can be bought at a chemist store and is in expensive and lasts for ages
• Let this dry and set on the skin which should take 10-20 mins.
• Rinse off with luke warm water and gently pat dry.

A mask for oily skin and a great pick up treatment for tired looking skin before you go out.

• Separate an egg.
• Whip the egg white with a beater until it is soft white foam.
• Apply to face and throat and let dry – 10-15 minutes, you will feel some tightening to the skin.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat gently dry.

Oily skin – What can we do?

With a skin care regime specifically designed for an oily skin we can improve our skin condition but attention also needs to be paid to our diet and lifestyle habits. For women, the makeup we use also has a part to play and how diligent we are in removing it. Following some of the steps below will result in a less oily looking skin so although you may still have an oily skin type it will be more manageable. However the process will be a gradual one so a little patience and perseverance will be needed.

Things to try:

• Remove the excess sebum but don’t dry the skin by using a cleanser that is gentle and has no soaps or detergents in it.
• Use a cleanser that easily rinses away so a film is not left on the skin.
• Do not scrub at your face to try to remove oil.  Pat dry gently rather than rubbing.
• Use lukewarm water not hot.
• Don’t use strong astringents or alcohol based toners as they will over dry the skin.
• Use non oil based makeup and sunscreen products.
• Try to eat a balanced diet, rich in vegetables, fruits and grains. Avoid fatty , fried or foods with high sugar content.
• Cleanse the skin morning and night and after exercise to keep the pores clean.
• Use a moisturiser that is formulated to be non comodegenic which means it will not clog the pores.
• Using a tissue or facial blotting paper to remove excess oil during the day.
• If over a period of time this doesn’t help, a visit to a dermatologist may be in order to look at underlying physical causes.
  

The oily mixture in the pores or hair follicle opening mixes with air and reacts chemically with melanin in the skin. The surface or head then turns black, giving rise to the name blackhead.  Unlike a pimple, a blackhead does not form above the skin but is flush with the skin’s surface.

What can we do about blackheads?

If you have numerous blackheads or have tried to remove them yourself and have had no success, a beauty therapist or dermatologist may be the best person to manually remove them. A good skincare regime is essential to help treat blackheads and to prevent them from forming again.

Removing blackheads:

• Cleanse the skin thoroughly but gently – you can’t remove blackheads by scrubbing at the skin and it will only damage it.
• Use warm but not hot water or try to remove then after a shower as the pores will open and it will  be easier to remove the blackheads.
• Gently exfoliate to again avoid damaging the skin but to remove dead skin cells on the surface – a washcloth will do the job.
• With clean fingers gently squeeze the skin to the sides of the blackhead to allow the head to ‘pop’ and the rest of what is in the blocked poor to be pushed out.
• Pore strips can be bought – these are adhesive strips you can apply to the affected area and when they are quickly pulled off should remove the blackhead with them.
• Large areas of blackheads can be difficult and painful to try to remove yourself – you may need to get some expert help from a beauty therapist or dermatologist.

How to prevent blackheads:

• Gently cleanse the skin daily, preferably morning and night to prevent build up of dirt and sebum.
• All makeup should be thoroughly removed at the end of the day.
• Sunscreen, especially waterproof should be cleansed from the skin before sleeping.
• Apply the cleanser with a damp facecloth to gently exfoliate skin cells that have been shed.
• Use lukewarm water  to rinse away the cleanser.
• Use a moisturiser that is non –comodegenic – that means it is formulated not to block skin pores.

Do I have oily skin?

If you look in the mirror you will probably see a greasy, shiny look to the skin, often with a coarse texture and large pores which can sometimes have an orange peel texture. Your skin may look dull and sallow and you may have blackheads and pimples. Women may find that makeup will not last long or stay in place with obvious shiny patches. You may have combination skin which will mean you have oily areas to deal with as well as dry patches. You may like to have your skin type diagnosed by a professional or take the simple tissue test and see what results you get.

Tissue skin type test:

• Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water.
• Do not moisturise afterwards.
• Wait for 30 mins.
• Place a tissue over the entire face and pat all over the face keeping the tissue in one place.
• Look at the tissue – if you can see oily patches on the tissue you have oily skin.
• If the oily patches are only on the chin, nose and forehead only, you may have combination skin so only the oily areas will need to be treated as an oily skin type.

What do I do if I have an oily skin?

• Treat it gently – harsh treatment and product can cause increased oil production.
• Don’t try to dry up the skin with ingredients containing alcohol and harsh astringents as this can also cause more oil to be produced.
• Avoid cleansers with harsh soaps and detergents, they can worsen the problem in the long term.
• Blot the excess during the day with blotting tissues or plain tissues, this will gently remove the excess shine.