Facial Oil

Facial oil production is a natural phenomenon of our body. The microscopic sebaceous gland on the surface of the skin produces oil called sebum to make the skin waterproof. The oiliest part of our bodies is the scalp and facial skin. When this oil produced is excess, it’s an oily skin problem. Oily skin is just the start of a multitude of other problems like excessive shine, enlarged pores, blemish, blackheads, acne followed by scars. Makeup doesn’t stay for long on an oily face. Oily skin leads to easy accumulation of dust and the need to wash skin often.
The underlying causes behind oily skin are numerous. It’s important to know about some common causes before you start treating it. That helps a lot to decide right treatment for you.
Puberty: having unusually oily skin during puberty is a phenomenon probably all of us are aware of. Due to hormonal fluctuation during puberty, androgen levels in blood increases. This triggers production of a lot of oil by the sebaceous gland.
Genetics: Oily skin is genetically inherited too. Larger sebaceous glands naturally produce more oil and this factor can run across the family.
Sun tan: Tanning dries skin for a while but gradually the sebaceous glands produce more oil to compensate for the loss. The amount being disproportionate, skin becomes oilier.
Using wrong beauty care products: Using oily moisturizer on oily skin, cleansing oily skin with cleansing milk or not using a toner or astringent are common causes of oily skin that we fail to notice.
Weather induced: Excess sweating in humid weather makes the sebaceous gland release more oil into the skin, thus making the skin oily.
Food and drinks: Drinks like alcohol and certain food items like spicy and oily food increase heat index of the body (makes body warmer) thereby producing more oil.
Stress: Stress alters hormonal balance.

Dos and Don’t for oily skin:

• Use cosmetics that are meant for oily skin like an oil-free moisturizer or oil free cleanser.
• Don’t use cleansing milk on oily skin as it makes it oilier.
• Don’t skip moisturizing your skin. Lack of external moisturizer will prompt face to produce more oil for replenishment.
• Use gel based sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. It will stay longer and counterattack the oiliness.
• Wash face only twice a day, one of which must be before going to bed. Washing less often and more often are both problematic for an oily skin.
• Don’t scrub your face for long. It induces more oil secretion by the sebaceous glands.
• Keep a check on the food items you eat. They should cool your body and not make it warmer.
• Never use soap on oily skin, in fact on any skin type. It might reduce oiliness for while but then aggravates the oily skin problem at all.

Home remedies for oily skin:

• Massage tomato pulp on your skin for few minutes and then let it dry. Wash off with cold water.
• Whisk two egg whites and apply on face. Let it dry and wash off for a non-oily and beautiful glow.
• Apply lemon juice overnight on the face. It is the best natural astringent.
• Make a face pack with Fuller’s earth or Multani Mitti and rose water. Let it dry and wash off with cold water.
• Use Apple Cider Vinegar as an astringent. It works wonder.