Greasy | Oily Skin Care Advice
The teen years are difficult in many ways and having greasy skin is just one of the problems that afflict many teenagers.
But it isn’t confined to teenagers. Many adults also contend with oily skin problems.
Greasy skin makes the face appear shiny and sometimes, shadows are more noticeable than they are on those who don’t have greasy skin.
What causes greasy oily skin?
In a word, hormones.
Next to the hair follicles are sebaceous glands that produce oil to provide a waterproof layer on the skin that helps it to retain moisture.
For women particularly, there are other times in life when excessive amounts of oil are produced.
Some women deal with overly oily skin once a month as part of their menstrual cycles because of the fluctuation of hormones.
It is not unusual for the fluctuating hormones during pregnancy to cause it, too. But some people have greasy skin because it is genetic.
Besides looking shiny, greasy skin is also more prone to blackheads and pimples.
The pores of excessively oily skin tend to be larger and more open.
The oil draws and traps more dirt and grime than non-oily skin does, making it more difficult to keep the skin clean. Bacteria has a perfect breeding ground to cause acne, resulting in a proliferation of blackheads and pimples.
Effectively dealing with greasy skin requires consistency. The first step is to follow a healthy diet and drink plenty of water.
This is a good idea regardless of whether you have greasy skin or not. The second step is to keep your skin as clean as possible.
To do this, cleaning your skin at least three times a day is necessary to cleanse the pores of the dirt they perpetually gather.
It might be helpful to use a sulphur soap. If you wear makeup, it is vital to make sure you remove it thoroughly every day or it will help plug the pores and contribute to acne outbreaks.
Using a mild toner can help to improve the texture of the skin and improve circulation. Exfoliating will help keep the old dead skin cells from plugging the pores and providing the bacteria a good medium for growth.
Though it may be tempting and seem like a good idea, avoid over scrubbing, as this will cause irritation rather than help.
You also want to avoid over drying the skin, too, so use astringents with caution if at all.
There are several ways to help draw out deep down dirt and grime from your skin.
One of the best is using a clay mask regularly. It may result in an increase of pimples at first as the dirt is brought to the surface, but this is temporary.
Another good recipe to help cleanse the pores is to mix a spoonful each of tomato juice, curd, honey, multani mitti and a little bit of kapur, then apply it to your skin.
If you wear makeup, take care in choosing the type you use.
There are makeup products designed for oily skin care and using one of these will give you a better result than using one for other skin types.
Because different people will react differently to the various brands, you may need to try several before you find the one that works best for you.
When applying makeup, remember that less is better, both for your skin’s health and looks. Again, be sure to remove it every night, don’t leave it on overnight.
Greasy skin can be dealt with effectively.
The key is consistent cleansing, not aggressive cleansing. Gently cleanse your skin several times a day and your greasy skin will be much less a problem.
When you grow older your skin will lose its elasticity and your skin will become very thin. There are other factors also that will make the skin worn out. So care for skin is very important no matter what age you are because the sooner you take care of your skin the healthier it will be and the more you will be able to prevent skin problems and wrinkles or fine lines.
Im really worried about my skin. im 12years old coming on 13 soon, its getting greasy on my nose it dosnt look nice and its shinny, i dont no what i should do :S
Hi
Although the skin around your nose has become shiny it is unlikely to be a long term problem. As you reach your teens your body undergoes changes with skin cells being produced at their fastest. The elastin and collagen in the cells that gives the skin its tightness and elasticity will be working at their optimum rate.
The problem arises as the hormones that are kicking in as you approach womanhood also increase the production of oil in the sebaceous glands beneath the skin surface. This can result in blocked ducts to the skin surface causing blackheads, whiteheads or just a shiny skin, usually most obvious on and around the nose.
There is no way of avoiding the hormonal changes but cutting out greasy fried foods such as burgers and substituting plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will help minimize the problem. Drinking plenty of water every day is also a help. Best to avoid any make up for a while as this can also tend to block up the pores and aggravate the problem.
Use a simple moisturiser containing antioxidents night and day to clean and condition your skin.
Anyhow there is no need to worry as you move into your teens the greasiness will gradually disappear and your skin will return to normal. Just be patient.
hey,
im 16 and ive suffered wiv oily/greasy skin since i was 12, i wash my face 3times and day and i also use alovera wipes and it hasnt cleared
what am i doing rong ??
and also is there anything else i can try ??
Hi Ellen
Most teenagers suffer with problem skin, usually spots, due to the hormones racing around their bodies. You are looking after your skin properly. Just make sure you don’t touch your face too often with your fingers in case you spread any infection and only use products designed for greasy skin. Sometimes a little sunbathing can help.
The Made from Earth Green Tea Cleanser not only leaves my face feeling clean (but not dry) it has totally eliminated the mild to moderate breakouts I’d been suffering from for the past year.
I tried the Made from Earth cleanser after reading online reviews, and after only 3 months, have seen major improvement (read: not one zit for over 4 wks) Admittedly it is not an overnight miracle, but it did work eventually.
I use this product 2x per day (a.m and p.m), and for my night ritual I use a disposal exfoliating sponge to help remove my makeup, followed by the Rosehip & Hibiscus face Serum (also by Made from Earth).