Oily skin
Causes and care tips
Many people have oily skin.
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Powder once please! Oily skin has an oily sheen and is also prone to breakouts. GALA explains how oily skin develops and what actually helps against it.
You’ve just washed your face or applied make-up, but your forehead is already shining again: Oily skin causes problems for many people. Because it is also often accompanied by skin impurities such as blackheads and pimples – which is why those affected usually feel uncomfortable for aesthetic reasons. However, you can treat them and improve your skin’s appearance. GALA explains the causes of oily skin and gives you helpful care tips.
Oily skin: symptoms
Oily skin has a different appearance than other skin types. It has the following characteristics:
- enlarged pores
- oily and shiny skin surface
- thick and impure skin
- pale complexion
Especially the T zone (forehead, nose, chin) is affected by oily skin because there are more sebaceous glands underneath than on the rest of the face. People with combination skin also have problems with the T-zone. In addition, oily skin often appears pale and sallow because blood circulation is usually poorer than with normal skin.
However, there is also good news: Oily skin is generally more resistant to environmental influences such as cold or sun, which have a strong effect on dry skin, for example. and she stays taut longerwhich is why wrinkles form much later than on normal or dry skin.
Causes of oily skin
The skin is not only our largest organ, but also our protector. the top layer of skinthe epidermis, consists of horn-forming cells and functions as a Protective barrier against damaging external influences such as germs.
Below it lies the dermis (dermis in medical terms), which contains hair follicles, vessels, nerves and muscle cells as well as the sebaceous and sweat glands. Since the epidermis has no vessels, it is the task of the dermis to supply it with nutrients. the Sebaceous glands produce skin fat or tallow (medical sebum) to to keep the tissue of the epidermis supple.
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But sometimes too much sebum is producedWhat oily skin result. As a result, skin blemishes often occur because the sebum glands become clogged with overproduction and the excess sebum does not drain away can.
The accumulation of skin fat is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that trigger inflammation, which manifests itself in the form of blackheads and pimples show – that can too acne to lead. But what tempts the glands to produce too much sebum in the first place? Excessive sebum production (medically seborrhea) can have the following causes, among others:
- hormone fluctuations: They occur, for example, during puberty or during pregnancy. The reason for this is the distribution male sex hormones (medical androgens), which the female body also produces, stimulate sebum production and often cause oily skin and acne.
- Unhealthy diet: Too much fat and sugar can boost sebum production and promote impure skin on the face.
- disposition: Hereditary factors also play a role in seborrhea.
- alcohol consumption: alcohol dries out the skin, causing the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. The result: impure skin.
- Psychological factors: For example, stress can cause seborrhea.
Oily skin: the right diet
Whether dry skin, combination skin, sensitive skin or oily skin – the Diet has a major impact on the complexion every skin type. What food we eat reflects on our face in a positive or negative way. If you have oily skin, you should observe the following nutritional tips:
- Watch out for one vitamin-rich diet! Particularly Vitamin A has a positive effect on oily skin and can improve the complexion. A lack of vitamin A often leads to thickening or cornification of the skin. So make sure you get enough vitamin A with your food. Kale, carrots, broccoli, peppers, spinach, grapefruit, sweet potatoes and eggs are suppliers of the valuable substance.
- Consume healthy fats. Your body needs omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, found in things like avocado, salmon, mackerel, nuts, and cold-pressed oils, to transport fat-soluble vitamin A.
- Eat zinc-rich foods. Zinc is an important trace element in the fight against oily skin as it can help inhibit sebum production. Oatmeal, lentils, cashew nuts, cheese, sunflower and pumpkin seeds provide you with zinc.
- Eat an iron-rich diet. Iron improves the oxygen supply, which in turn plays a key role in the skin’s ability to regenerate. Iron-rich foods include legumes, wheat bran, whole grains, and nuts.
- Drink a lot of water! This promotes blood circulation, oxygen supply and metabolism.You can get beautiful skin by using two liters of water or unsweetened teadrink per day.
- Eat as little unhealthy fat (saturated fat) and sugar as possible. They further stimulate the production of skin fat. That doesn’t mean you should never eat another candy bar – just enjoy sweet and high-fat temptations in moderation.
- Only consume animal products in moderate amounts. This is because foods such as sausage, red meat, butter or lard contain a great deal of saturated fatty acids.
If you are not (always) able to implement the nutrition tips, you can also help food supplements help.
The right care for oily skin
From the outside, you can treat oily skin with the right skin care routine.
Important instructions: It is true that oily skin is generally more resilient than dry skin, for example. However, it is a common misconception that oily skin must always be cleaned or cared for with aggressive products that contain a lot of alcohol. The supposed “pure feeling”, the tingling sensation that an alcohol-based tonic produces, for example, is a sign that the skin is irritated. Even Fragrances cause skin irritationwhich are just as stressful for oily and impure skin as they are for sensitive skin.
Added to that Alcohol dries the skin severely. In general, you should naturally remove excess sebum from oily skin. However, be sure to Not to degrease your skin too much: As a result, more skin fat is produced and this is what you ultimately want to avoid. Oily skin also needs moisture. Use Productsthe especially for oily skin types are suitable. These are sebum absorbing and regulate the fat-moisture content of the skin.
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Care tips for oily skin:
- Facial cleansing is particularly important for oily skin. Use a mild and pH-neutral washing gel and rinse it off with lukewarm wateraway.
- Use a facial toner. An alcohol-free one is best facial tonic with antibacterial effect.
- Choose the appropriate one day care! For skin care, you should never apply greasy or moisturizing creams. Instead, resort to lotions with a light texture. As a day care you can use oneuse moisturizing cream with light UV protection.
- Use a night cream. A regenerating and moisturizing gel is recommended.
- Exfoliate regularly! This way you can rid your skin of dead skin cells and reduce clogged pores. Exfoliate once or twice a week. By the way, you can make your own peeling with natural ingredients.
- Do one regularly steam bath with chamomile. It cleans the pores, leaves the sebum drain better and has a calming to anti-inflammatory effect. Treat your skin to a chamomile steam bath once a week. That’s how it’s done:
- In a saucepan or heatproof bowl, pour about 1.5 liters of boiling water over two tablespoons of chamomile flowers (alternatively tea bags).
- Let it steep for five minutes.
- Cover your head with a towel and hold this position for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Then rinse your face briefly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply face masks! Especially after a steam bath, the pores are open and care products can be better absorbed. A clarifying one clay mask is an option, for example. If you don’t have these on hand, but have quark and cucumber in the fridge, you can make your own face masks.
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Sources used:gesundheit-portal.com, netdoktor.de/netdoktor.at, ratgeber-hautgesundheit.de