Top 8 Causes of Oily Skin and Excess Sebum You Need to Know

We all desire skin that appears naturally radiant and glowing. However, when you find that the glow on your skin is really just oily grease due to excessive sebum production, that is nothing short of a nightmare.

Beauty woes are often associated with oily, greasy skin. And as a result of this, you may always have an urge to wash your face or powder it up after every two hours, in the hope your face appears a bit less greasy or oily. Sounds exhausting, right? So, unless you are highlighting your cheekbones with a potent highlighter, greasy skin is a big NO!

However, the thing about having oily skin is that there is not one specific cause for the excess layer of oil on your face. Many factors lead to excessive sebum production, many of which you might not be aware of. Additionally, you may also experience frequent breakouts because sebum combines with dead skin cells and lodges in your pores, resulting in acne.

Even though dealing with oily skin can be exhausting, you can achieve the perfect balance with the help of a discrete skincare routine and the correct combination of skincare products. While you can't necessarily get rid of oily skin , you can take measures to make your skin less oily. The trick is to determine the root causes of oily skin.

The article outlines several reasons for oily skin and how to take care of it.

How Do I Know If I Have Oily Skin?

If your skin often gets shiny or greasy soon after washing your face or applying face moisturiser, then there is a possibility that you have oily skin. However, having oily skin only around the T-zone area (forehead, nose, and chin) and dry skin on the rest of your face, does not necessarily mean you have oily skin. This means you have a combination skin type of both oily and dry skin.

Some of the common factors that indicate you have oily skin include frequent breakouts, visible pores, greasy sensation across the face, and excessive shine on the T-zone. As oily skin naturally produces excessive sebum or oil on the face, gel-based and oil-free skin care products work best balancing oil and making your skin appear healthy and radiant.

Causes for Oily Skin

1. Stress:

Your body and your skin can suffer greatly from stress. The stress hormone, cortisol, rises in your body while you are under stress. As a result of this, your skin's natural oil production may then rise making your skin excrete excessive oil. Well, managing stress at times can be challenging, but it is always best to seek help or take a mini break from your hectic schedule.

2. Living environment:

The humidity in your environment may be a reason behind oily skin. Oil and sebum are secreted more frequently in environments with higher humidity. This can cause increased sebum production, particularly in the t-zone, which can contribute to an oily nose. Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen like POND'S Sun Miracle SPF 55 PA+++ Light Sunscreen With Niacinamide can help protect your skin from harmful UV rays and environmental stressors from attacking your skin and worsening your existing skin problems.

3. Changing hormones:

Your sebaceous glands may begin to overproduce oil as a result of the fluctuating hormone levels. As a result, this modification may probably clog pores, which could lead to sudden outbreaks.

4. Genetics:

Another key reason for an oily face is genetics. Frequently, having oily skin may run in your family and be a genetic trait that you inherited. As a result, there is a good probability that you have oily skin if either of your parents or siblings have the same. This is because oily skin is typically caused by overactive sebaceous glands.

5. Poor diet:

Although improper topical skin care product application can be one of the causes of excess oily skin, improper diet can also cause oily skin. Your skin may become oily as a result of consuming foods that are high in sugar and fat, such as white bread and red meat. Eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables to maintain your body and skin in good condition.

6. Over-cleansing:

Yes, it is possible that you might over-cleanse your skin and wouldn't even know that. Typically, the ideal frequency of cleansing should be twice a day, plus an extra wash after any workout. When it comes to maintaining oily skin, you should avoid using harsh face wash or scrub. Your skin can get oilier if washed too frequently, since it easily strips off its natural oil and tries to compensate by overproducing sebum.

7. Lack of moisturiser:

It makes sense that the last thing you'll want to do is moisturise when your face always looks a bit like a grease ball. Regardless of your skin type, moisturising is essential and skipping moisturiser can be a reason behind your excessive oily or greasy skin. It might fool your skin into creating too much oil if you don't provide your skin with enough moisture. Applying a small amount of lightweight and oil-free moisturiser like POND'S Super Light Gel Oil-Free Moisturiser With Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E will make all the difference in balancing the oil production and leaving your skin looking glowing and soft all day long.

8. Leaving out sunscreen:

You sure may have an intricate skincare routine, but your skin will cry for help if you forget to use the sunscreen. The truth is your skin needs sunscreen to avoid UV damage and the early signs of ageing. It is one of the main reasons for oily skin since missing sunscreen dries out your skin and prompts your body to manufacture more oil to compensate. Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face and never forget to nourish the rest of your body with hydrating body lotion like POND'S Hydra Miracle Body Lotion With 1% Hya-Nia Complex to hydrate and nourish your skin.

If you are travelling outdoors, opt for POND'S Sun Miracle SPF 30 PA+++ Sunscreen Body Lotion with Niacinamide for optimum care and sun protection that lasts for an entire day!

Conclusion

Although having an oily skin is unavoidable, maintaining an oily skincare routine is not! Following a proper skincare routine allows your skin to actively control and lower the amount of oil and sebum production. You might not see any significant improvements for a month or two. But your efforts will reap good results if you stay consistent with it!

FAQs

1. What is sebum on the face?

Sebum is a naturally occurring oily substance produced by the sebaceous gland in the skin. Sebum helps increase moisture in the skin and protect it from external elements. While it is essential for healthy skin, excessive sebum products can clog pores and result in acne-related problems.

2. How to prevent oil on the face?

While preventing sebum production or oil on your face can be impossible, you can always follow a skincare routine to control them like using a gentle face wash, effective face serum, hydrating moisturiser, and wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

3. How do you tell if your skin is dry or oily?

One of the simplest and most effective ways to discover whether you have oily or dry skin is by using a face wash. Cleanse your skin with your regular face wash and avoid layering with any moisturising creams or other skincare products. If your skin feels tight after a while, then you have dry skin or if it gets greasy, you probably have an oily skin type.

4. How to control oily skin?

Regularly follow an effective skincare routine, opt for oil-free and gel-based skincare products, drink sufficient water, and get enough sleep to control excessive greasy or oily appearance on your skin.

Disclaimer: POND'S products do not intend to treat any skin disorders. Please seek a dermatologist's advice to address any conditions or needs specific to your skin.