OILY SKIN OVERVIEW

OILY SKIN CAUSES

People with oily skin often wonder what they're doing to cause the problem. They may blame it on the greasy pizza they ate last night, but the truth is they should probably blame their genes. Diet can aggravate acne, but it doesn't cause oily skin [source: WebMD].

Oily skin is hereditary -- you can change your diet or change your lifestyle, but if your mom or dad has oily skin, chances are you will, too. However, if your oily skin comes and goes, it may have less to do with genes and more to do with hormonal shifts in your body.

Androgens are the hormones largely responsible for oil production, and sometimes they can get kicked up a notch -- particularly during puberty [source: Bouchez]. You go through a growth spurt, your voice changes, you start getting hair in weird places and, to top it all off, your body produces excess oil that clogs your pores. Similarly, androgen levels tend to increase in women just before a menstrual period, during pregnancy and during menopause [source: Poirot].

In a few cases, oily skin can be the result of your lifestyle. Taking oral contraceptives, for example, can alter hormone levels and increase oil production, and oily skin is one of several side effects associated with taking steroids [source: Reader's Digest]. Stress can also cause oily skin -- when you're tense, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, which can increase skin's oil production [source: WebMD].

OILY SKIN AND PORES

Your pores do two basic things: They allow you to sweat and they secrete oil. Neither one may sound appealing, but they're both important. Sweating allows you to maintain a healthy body temperature, and oil protects your skin [source: Bouchez].

Oil, or sebum, is produced by sebaceous glands and secreted through pores. When this process goes smoothly, sebum not only lubricates your skin, but it also removes dead skin cells and other irritants from your pores. However, when your body produces excess sebum, it clogs your pores, and this can lead to blackheads and blemishes [source: Gordon].

If you have large pores, you probably also have oily skin -- studies show that bigger pores often secrete larger amounts of sebum onto the skin [source: Roh]. You can't change the size of your pores, but you can make them less noticeable, and there are ways you can control your oily skin [source: Vinakmens].

OILY SKIN CARE

You can't prevent your sebaceous glands from producing oil, but that doesn't mean you have to walk around with a shiny face either. Oily skin can be controlled -- you just have to learn how to do it. By making a few small changes to your daily skin care routine and avoiding some common mistakes, you can take control of your oily skin.

If you have oily skin, it may seem like a good idea to wash your face more often, but this could just make matters worse. When your skin is irritated, your body's natural reaction is to produce more oil, so if you start washing too much, your skin will dry out and your sebaceous glands will go into overdrive [source: Bouchez].

The same thing can occur if you use harsh cleansers that strip oil from your skin, so use a mild oil-free cleanser and gently wash your face no more than twice a day[source: Lehrer]. After cleansing, use an astringent or toner that contains alcohol to help remove excess oil [source: Bouchez].

If over-the-counter cleansers and toners aren't giving you the desired results, talk to you dermatologist. Prescription treatments for oily skin come in the form of topical solutions and oral drugs, and Retin A, Differin and Accutane are some of the most commonly prescribed medications [source: Bouchez].