Oily Skin and Acne

Oily skin is when the sebaceous gland produces too much oil, called sebum. The production of sebum is the most important function of the sebaceous gland. It is vital to the structure and function of the skin. It provides 90% of its surface lipids.

Sebum production is important for maintaining skin balance. It helps to seal in moisture and prevents moisture from leaving the skin.

The sebaceous glands are generally attached to hair follicles. They deposit sebum on the hairs and bring it to the skin surface along the hair shaft.

When the follicles are full, sebum spreads over the skin. This gives skin an oily appearance. When the process does not work , skin can become dry or oily.

Oily skin can lead to blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.

What is acne? Why are people with oily skin more prone to acne?

It is a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles. Acne is a condition that takes place when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells.

Causes of acne

• Excess oil (sebum) production
• Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
• Bacteria
• Inflammation
• Genetics

Things that can make acne worse

• Certain medication
• Cosmetics that can clog pores
• Ingrown hairs
• Stress
• Picking at acne
• Diets high in sugar

Why teenagers usually get acne

Their hormones- androgens- become active during puberty. Androgens increase in boys and girls during this stage of their lives. It makes the skin’s oil glands get larger and make more sebum. Androgens can also increase because of hormonal changes. This can happen due to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills. Acne can affect any age group, male or female and all races.

Types of acne

Noninflammatory acne

• Whiteheads- These are white dots that appear on the skin. They are also known as closed comedones. Whiteheads occur when your pores become clogged and the skin closes over them.
• Blackheads- They look like black dots on the skin. Blackheads are also called open comedones. They appear on the skin when the clogged pore remains open and gets exposed to air, causing it to darken.

Inflammatory acne

• Papular acne- Small raised reddish bumps on the skin
• Nodules- Hard, inflamed lumps located deep in the skin. They are a severe form of acne blemish and can cause skin complications such as dark spots or scarring. It develops when clogged pores become infected, and swell beneath the skin’s surface.
• Cysts: They are the most severe form of acne. They are very large, painful, red or white lumps situated deep in the skin. Cysts fill up with pus and are generally soft to the touch.

Treatment of Noninflammatory acne

This type of acne can be treated over the counter with products containing:

• Salicylic acid
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Sulfur
• Retinoids
• Azelaic acid
• Niacinamide.
• Eating a balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Treatment of inflammatory acne

• Visit a dermatologist to prescribe oral medication
• Retinoids
• Azelaic acid
• Salicylic acid
• Niacinamide

Oily skin and oils to treat acne

• Hemp seed oil- it can moisturize without clogging your pores. It can also help to balance out oily skin, hydrating it and regulating the skin’s oil production. It contains omega-6 fatty acids. This acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also encourages skin growth and new cell generation. Hemp seed oil also helps hydrate and soothe inflamed skin. The oil is suitable for all skin types.
• Tamanu oil. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This boosts the healing power of the skin to ensure that any active blemishes get reduced in size.
• Jojoba oil- It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antiaging, wound-healing and moisturizing.

What you can do if you have oily and acne prone skin

• Get into a good skincare routine
• Wash your face twice a day with gentle products that will not irritate your skin.
• Remove make-up before bedtime
• Try over the counter products like those recommended above if your acne is not serious
• Use hot or cold compresses to ease pain and discomfort
• Do not use harsh scrubs
• Do not touch your skin all the time because this can spread the bacteria, leading to more acne
• Use products with hydrating ingredients

Takeaways

Noninflammatory acne can be treated with over the counter medication or skincare products. But, if you have inflammatory acne, you should visit your dermatologist who will treat it from the inside. Do not pick on blackheads and whiteheads.

If you do, this could lead to infection and pimples.

Acne can lead to dark marks and scarring if not treated. This can be emotionally devastating for some people and can also affect their self-esteem.

https://www.healthline.com/health/oily-skin-causes#:~:text=Oily%20skin%20is%20the%20result,your%20hair%20 shiny%20and%20healthy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499819/

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/teenage-acne

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322322#inflammatory-acne-types

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/jojoba-oil-for-face#acne