Oily Skin & why it’s not a bad thing.
Do you suffer from oily skin? It’s likely that you see it as a bad thing and try to dry your skin out. But do you hear people with dry skin complaining about theirs and then trying to make it oilier? Oh yes, we always want what we can’t have.
What you may not realise, is that with breakouts or not, having oily skin is actually the better skin type to have.
Why is that the case? Read on to find out.
Why is oily skin a good skin type to have?
Oily skin can come with breakouts, which is probably why many people are under the assumption that oily skin is bad.
What many people don’t realise though, is that oily skins won’t age or wrinkle as fast as a dry skin will and are usually much healthier to look at, the older we get. And if cared for correctly, will be a lustrous, smooth looking skin well into our later years. However, with the assumption that oily skin is bad, most people do the wrong thing and try to dry it out – this is unnecessary and often leads to negative results.
Why is oil good for your skin?
All skins are normally covered by a protective film, which is composed of water the NMF (Natural Moisturising Factor) and an oily component made up of oil (sebum) and epidermal lipids.
The function of this film is to preserve the skin’s hydration, limiting excessive evaporation of water and providing defence from the outside, thanks to its acidic pH and to the antibacterial substances produced by the fatty acids of the oil.
Is oily skin ever bad?
Oil, which is essential for the beauty and balance of the skin, can turn from being an ally to the skin, to becoming a problem for the skin.
This can occur when its composition is altered or the activity of the sebaceous glands is not balanced. What does this mean? Basically, over-activity of your sebaceous glands (which secrete the oily, waxy substance called sebum) can cause pimples.
How do you know if you have oily skin?
This excess secretion of oil that I just mentioned, defines the skin condition known as “oily skin”.
So, how do you know if you have oily skin?
Your skin will have the following:
A shiny appearance
Dilated pores
Blackheads and blemishes
Is oily and slippery to the touch, especially in the T zone (forehead, nose and chin)
The presence of sebum can also be felt in front of and behind the ears, at the temples, on the décolleté and between the scapula (shoulder blades)
Another interesting fact and how you will be able to tell if you have oily skin, is that sebaceous secretion follows a precise rhythm and reaches its maximum at 10.30am.
People who say they feel oily later in the day (say around lunchtime), don’t realise it’s usually the heat of the body pushing a moisturiser or oily makeup to the surface, so we only appear oily. In these cases, it’s not an oily skin problem and is actually a very good thing. Why? Because it means our moisturiser is doing its job protecting the surface of the skin!
Another fun fact: Oily skin is more common in men than in women, and occurs more often in adolescents, rather than adults (hence pimples are more common in adolescents).
What are the different types of oily skin?
Oily skin can be classified in three ways, according to the different composition of sebum:
1. Oily Skin
The oil is particularly abundant and liquid. The skin looks shiny and has large, dilated pores.
2. Asphyctic Skin (lacking oxygen)
The sebum is waxy, dense and trapped within the follicle.
The excessive production of sebum obstructs the follicular duct and therefore the sebum, cellular waste products, and bacteria become trapped within. This occlusion gives rise to comedones, which can be closed and deep down (whiteheads) or more superficial and open (blackheads).
Asphyctic skin sometimes appears as not having excessive sebum production, in which case it appears dry and rough to the touch, due to the presence of comedones. This condition is often characterised by hyperkeratosis, which is the thickening of the outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum.
3. Impure Skin
The bacteria trapped in the follicles cause inflammatory reactions and produce serious and painful lesions, finally provoking pustules and acne. Impure skin is also subject to redness and is easily influenced by changes in temperature.
This type of skin condition affects a high percentage of adolescents, but can also affect young adults within the 25-30 age group
Want to find out more about oily skin, the common causes and how to manage it? Look out for the ‘Part 2 of the Beauty at Ab Fab Oily Skin’ Blog in the coming weeks.
Still not sure if you have oily skin and want to find out? Book an appointment for a detailed skin analysis by a skin professional today.
At Beauty at Ab Fab in Maylands, East of Perth, I can provide you with a detailed skin analysis, along with recommend the right treatments and products for your skin type.
Contact me to find out more today.