Topical treatments for oily skin

Oily skin is a very common skin complaint that everyone will experience at one point or another. But what causes oily skin and what are the effective topical treatments for oily skin?

What are the causes of oily skin?

There are a range of different causes for oily skin and these include:

Hormones – Hormones can be a key factor for oily skin, particularly during puberty when both men and women produce more testosterone. This increases serum production in the sebaceous glands which makes the skin much oiler.

Stress – when we are stressed more of the hormone cortisol is produced which also increases the oiliness of the skin.

Environmental factors – environmental factors like weather and pollution can both contribute to the oiliness of the skin. Warm weather and humid climates for example can increase sebum production.

Diet – some of the food we eat can lead to the skin becoming more oily. Increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables eaten can help to reduce this.

Cosmetics – skin care products or cosmetics can be oil based, adding extra oil to the skin and even blocking pores.

Over cleaning – using too many exfoliating products or scrubbing the skin too hard can remove the skin’s natural moisture which then triggers the glands into producing more sebum, making the skin oilier.

What are the signs of oily skin?

Oily skin is something that affects everyone at some point and there are a number of signs of oily skin. These include:

Shiny skin – with the increased production of sebum and the increase in surface level oil the skin will look shinier than usual.

Acne breakouts and pimples as well as blackheads – blackheads, pimples and acne can all be made worse by an increase in sebum production and oily skin. This is because the oil will block the pores, causing buildup under the surface of the skin. Blackheads are directly caused by excess sebum at the base of the hair follicles. Once this sebum touches the air it will oxidise and turn black, creating blackheads.

Enlarged pores – in addition, oily skin can result in enlarged pores that are more noticeable. This is because of the sebum clogging pores.

What are the effective topical treatments for oily skin?

There are a number of effective options for treating oily skin, including topical treatments. These can make use of a number of different and effective ingredients including:

Retinoids – often derived from vitamin A, retinoids can help to tighten pores, and reduce the size of the pores, which means that they will produce less sebum, reducing the oiliness of the skin.

Salicylic acid – this is a beta hydroxy acid that can remove excess sebum and dead skin cells from clogged pores, as well as make up and dirt. This can rescue skin oiliness and can be useful to treat acne breakouts too.

Choose The Skin and Wellbeing Clinic

Here at the Skin and Wellbeing Clinic we are approved retailers for SkinCeuticals and as a result we can provide a range of highly effective topical treatments for oily skin. These include:

Silymarin CF Vitamin C Antioxidant Serum for Oily, Blemish-Prone Skin – this combines salicylic acid with Ferulic Acid and Silymarin to reduce oil levels and oxidisation which can cause blocked pores. These effects have been clinically proven.

Oil Shield UV Defense SPF 50 – this is a broad spectrum UV protection option that has mattifying properties to reduce oiliness. This provides a high level of skin protection while reducing skin oil levels.

Why not get in touch today to find out more?