I’m a skincare guru – here’s 5 reasons why your skin is so oily and how to fix it
SKIN shinier than an oil slick?
When you’re hot and sweaty it might make sense to have a face that shimmers, but it can get pretty frustrating when morning till night, you’re dealing with greasy-looking skin.
Izabela Pawlitka is a skin specialist at London’s Dr. David Jack Clinic.
She says that oil, which goes by the technical term ‘sebum’, is a “necessary component of healthy skin”.
Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands, which are microscopic glands found in your hair follicles.
“Sebum is a complex mixture of fatty acids, sugars, waxes, and other natural chemicals that form a protective barrier against water evaporation,” explains Izabela.
She says we need sebum as it “moisturises and protects the surface of almost your entire body”.
That oil helps preserve the skin, and people with oily skin tend to have thicker skin and fewer wrinkles.
On the flip side though, oily skin can clog pores and lead to acne breakouts.
As for why some people are more oily than others, Izabela says everybody is different, however “it is possible to have too much or too little sebum”.
She says: “If you have very oily skin, your body may be producing an excess amount of the mixture of lipids (fat-like molecules) that make up sebum.”
1. Your hormones are out of whack
We all have hormones coursing through our body, and there is a strong link between some of these hormones and the amount of oil on our face.
Izabela says androgens are the hormones responsible for regulating your overall sebum production.
“Very active androgens, like testosterone, are produced by your adrenal glands and your ovaries or testes.
“These glands are regulated by your brain’s pituitary gland. Your pituitary gland is in charge of your body’s entire endocrine (hormonal) system,” she explains.
A fluctuation of these sebum-regulating hormones can lead to more oil.
Ever found that your skin seems oily in the run up to your period? You’re not imagining it.
Izabela says hormone fluctuations leading to more oil can occur right before a woman’s period, during pregnancy, menopause and puberty.
“In addition, although the hormone progesterone isn’t an androgen, it does appear to have an effect on sebum production.”
2. You’re eating an inflammatory diet
“What you eat has a massive effect on not only your health and overall mood, but also your skin, hair, and nails,” says Izabela.
“While it’s totally normal to have oily skin, it might be worth looking at your diet if you’re producing excess oil, as certain foods can trigger oil production and lead to more sebum being produced, causing breakouts.”
Cut down on inflammatory foods such as crisps, pastries, deep fried foods, breakfast cereals, fizzy drinks and processed meats.
Instead, Izabela recommends an anti-inflammatory diet, rich in antioxidants, fibre, good fats and proteins.
Oily fish, fruits and vegetables and olive oil are all good anti-inflammatory foods to include in your diet.
“Keeping your body hydrated is essential for your skin too,” says Izabela.
The NHS recommends at least six to eight glasses of water per day, however if you’re active, or during warmer weather, you might want to consider knocking back more.
3. You’re not sleeping enough
“Getting the right amount of rest each night is important to holistic health, and it also can significantly affect the look and appearance of the skin,” says Izabela.
“Sleep deprivation can result in insulin resistance. Increases in insulin can result in the creation of IGF-1, a hormone that stimulates an increase in the production of sebum.”
Getting to bed at a time that allows you to clock up at least seven hours of sleep won’t just help avoid oily skin, but it will do wonders for your overall health and wellbeing.
Ensure you wind down before bed to allow yourself the best chance of a restful night; avoid screens, dim lighting and jot down anything stressful that might be clogging up your mind.
This way, it’s out on paper and out of your head.
4. You’re stressed and not exercising enough
“Try to manage your stress, as it has been connected to insulin resistance and worsened breakouts in numerous studies,” warns Izabela.
She recommends staying active as a means of overcoming stress, while also caring for skin.
“Physical activity reduces cortisol so it may help you achieve a clearer complexion.
“All physical activity helps because it improves circulation, increases oxygen uptake, and moderates blood sugar levels, which is beneficial to skin,” explains Izabela.
After exercising however, it’s important to shower, remove sportswear and use a cleanser to wash your face to prevent acne.
5. Your skin care products aren’t working for you
Certain ingredients can really help to balance and combat oily skin,
Izabela says ingredients to look for in your skincare products include salicylic acid, azelaic acid, retinol and niacinamide.
However, do be careful of overwashing your face.
This can strip away too much oil, to the point where your sebaceous glands urgently produce more.
Izabela also recommends wearing SPF 50 every day no matter your skin type.