Got Oily Skin? - Here Are Your Daily Maintenance Guidelines

They say too much of a good thing can be bad, that’s so true when we are talking about oily skin. Normally oils produced by the body help keep our skin healthy, but excess oil can also lead to blemishes and acne flare-ups. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to manage oiliness. Clear complexion strategies range from over-the-counter cleansers to prescription lotions and cosmetic treatments.

Cleansers: Most effective way to manage oily skin is to cleanse your face both morning and night. Look for a mild cleanser or one that includes an acid such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or beta-hydroxy acid.

Wash with warm water, not hot, because temperature extremes can irritate skin.

Toners: Using a toner on the T-zone helps to remove excess oils and also balances the PH of the skin. Use once daily and always finish up with applying an oil free moisturizer to make sure skin doesn’t end up being over dry.  

Moisturizers: People who have oily skin often steer clear of moisturizers, worrying that they’ll make their skin look even shinier. That’s a bad idea. Even oily skin needs to be moisturized to look its best. To avoid an oily sheen, choose an oil-free moisturizer. Vary the amount you apply depending on whether the area tends to be dry or oily.  

Exfoliaters: Using a exfoliation scrub once a week helps keep pores clear and retards sebum retention in the pores (black & white heads).

Professional Acne Treatment: If over-the-counter products aren’t enough to help you manage oily skin, talk to your dermatologist. Lasers and chemical peels can help reduce oiliness and improve the overall look of your skin. Creams laced with tretinoin, adapalene, or tazarotene can also help by altering pores and reducing oiliness. Since these products can be irritating, it’s best to use them only on oily areas and only as often as you really need.  

Adapt Your Facial Regimen: How oily your skin appears can vary season by season, week by week, even day by day. Oil production is influenced by hormones, by mood, even by the weather. For example, some people have problems with oily skin only in the summer when they’re sweating. It’s important to be aware of how your skin varies so that you can adjust your regimen accordingly. You may need cleanser with glycolic acid or beta-hydroxy acid every day during the summer but only now and then during the winter. That’s important to know since overusing these products can cause skin to dry out.

It’s also worth remembering that oil production is a normal part of healthy skin. People with naturally oily skin tend to have fewer wrinkles and healthier looking skin. So don’t go overboard in your efforts. Remove excess oiliness when you need to look your best, but be careful to preserve your skin’s natural anti-aging mechanism.