What Causes Oily Skin and Can it be Prevented?

You look in the mirror and see the shine, you touch your skin and you can feel the oiliness on the surface. Oily skin can be a minor problem or it can be a major problem. Where does it come from though? What causes it…and can it be prevented?

1. Inconsistent Cleansing

To remove excess oils and dirt, you need to have a good and consistent skin care routine in place. Washing your face carefully and regularly needs to be part of a daily routine.

2. Everyday Activities

Contaminants in the air and sweat are some of the causes of oily skin. This can’t be avoided but eating healthy will help your body become more resistant to these kind of factors. Choose skincare products which include antioxidants.

3. Heat and Humidity

If the area where you live has hot and humid weather, this could be one of the causes of oily skin for you. You will be sweating more and this will certainly contribute to the problem.

4. Hormones
Hormones are essential for our well being, however overactive hormones, or hormonal changes throughout our lives, have a direct impact on the appearance and condition of our skin. When you have an increase in hormonal activity within your body, it can certainly become one of the big contributing factors in the causes of oily skin.

5. Irritation

Many people think they are cleaning their face really well when they scrub as hard as they can. In fact, this is not necessarily the case. Harsh scrubbing can cause irritation to the skin and can affect and increase the production of oil.

6. Poor Diet

What you put in your mouth and digest will always come out on the skin in one way or another. Some effects may not be noticeable, however a poor diet is also one of the causes of oily skin.

7. Fatigue

We all know that getting enough sleep and rest can cure many of our problems, and it is also the cause of many problems. One of the side effects from not getting enough sleep and rest is oily skin!

8. Stress and Anxiety

Stress, anxiety and mental tension cause the overproduction of sebum, which in turn, is one of the major causes of oily skin for many people. Stress is can be managed with techniques such as yoga and meditation.

9. Puberty

Puberty is one of the causes of oily skin due to the changes that are occurring within the body during this time.

10. Genetics

The genes we are born with could see us with a healthy and happy life, or they could be one of the causes of oily skin that you are experiencing. Through your genetics, you could be predisposed to having oilier than normal skin, or a high chance of having extremely oily skin as you pass through various stages in your life.

11. Makeup

Makeup can clog pores and contribute to your oily skin condition. Makeup often contains oils, even natural ones, and when you already have an oily skin problem, adding layers of makeup is not going to help you in any way.

12. Pregnancy

Being pregnant is a wonderful experience however it can cause havoc with your skin. Hormones will be changing and this can cause the sebaceous glands to go into overdrive, producing far more oil that what you would like.

13. Medications

Birth control pills and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) are common medications that are also causes of oily skin in some people. The chemicals alter the hormones within the body and this can increase oil production which appears on the surface of the skin.

14. Drugs

Smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs can all have a negative impact on the skin, including an increase in oil production. When your insides are not healthy, it will most certainly show on the surface of your skin.

15. Diseases and Illnesses

There are a number of diseases, illnesses and conditions that can cause oily skin. Oily skin is often a side-effect or symptom of the illness you are experiencing. Some illnesses that can cause oily skin include diabetes.

16. Creams and Lotions

If you have oily skin, it is crucial that you use the right moisturizer. Some say that moisturizers should be avoided when you have oily skin, but in reality they help your skin get back to normal.

To find products which can help control and even eliminate your oily skin see our OILY SKIN SECTION.