How to Care for Oily Skin

Skin naturally produces oils, but for some, this natural production becomes excessive. Some factors that contribute to excess oil production that you don’t have much control over include heredity, overly-active hormones especially during adolescence, menopause and while being pregnant, and the weather, especially the heat and humidity. Those over which you do have some control include your diet, the products you use on your face and using birth control pills.

Pores that produce an abundance of oil clog more easily and the end result is unsightly pimples. While it’s a natural reaction to want to scrub away every ounce of oil, this isn’t the proper way to care for oily skin and doing so can actually cause more damage than good (and cause the body to create even more oil to compensate for all that is being stripped away). Skin can become irritated or even too dry. Caring for oily skin requires a delicate balance of a good cleaning regimen, a healthy diet and the right moisturizing products and make-up.

Most importantly, oily skin needs to be kept clean. Washing with a mild soap and hot water twice daily will do the trick. Avoid heavy creamed-based cleansers and those containing alcohol. You can also use an antiseptic that contains benzyl peroxide on the T-zone after washing. Periodically use a mud mask to deep clean the pores, too. And finally, carefully choose the other products you use on your face. You’ll find plenty of make-up that’s formulated especially for oily skin.

If you’re prone to oily skin in other areas, especially the back, chest and shoulders, it’s a good idea to treat these areas too. Eating a healthy diet high in proteins and low in excess salts and sugars will certainly help as will drinking lots of water. Caring for oily skin doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, and the results are worth it!