August 16, 2021
Oily skin – causes, care and tips
by JUNGLÜCK Redaktion
Do you have oily skin and are wondering why your skin gets greasy so quickly and how you can bring it into balance? Then this article is for you!
Has your skin been oily since puberty? Or has it only been visibly getting oily for a certain period of time? There are many reasons for this skin condition, as well as many ways you can help your skin to regain its balance. From individual care for your oily skin to many tips to make your everyday life more skin-friendly:
- Causes of oily skin
- Hormones as a cause of oily skin
- How are stress and oily skin related?
- Diet and lifestyle as a cause of oily skin?
- The microbiome and the skin
- Care for oily skin
- Dos & Don'ts for oily skin
Causes of oily skin
Our skin type is something we are born with. Whether your skin tends to be dry, oily or normal, or whether you have combination skin, is genetic. The first time your skin changes is when you reach puberty. Why? Of course, because the hormones wake up and start to interfere more with our body processes! For example, the sebaceous glands are activated. Pores enlarge and where there are particularly many sebaceous glands, the skin shines more and feels greasy. A puberty glow that is usually rather undesirable, but completely normal!
Annoying side effects such as blackheads and pimples also often form with oily skin, especially along the T-zone, i.e. forehead, nose and chin, as well as on the décolleté and back. After puberty, when the hormonal chaos has settled down, the skin changes again. Ideally, it balances out, but shows a tendency towards the respective skin type. Then it becomes clear whether the oily skin will stay with you for a long time or whether it will disappear when you leave your teenage years.
Characteristics of oily skin:
- Shiny skin areas, especially along the T-zone
- Enlarged pores
- The skin may look thick and pale
- Tendency to form pimples and blackheads
Genetics alone is not everything. External and internal influences also affect your skin. For example, oily skin can have dry patches due to habits such as long, hot showers or aggressive cleaning products. But medications and hormones can also be a cause of oily skin.
Hormones as a cause of oily skin
Especially when there is an increased production of the male sex hormone androgen, the glands work hard to produce sebum. Sometimes a little too eagerly. The result: oily skin. Seborrhoea is the name given to the overproduction of sebum, which is actually important for skin health.If there is also a keratinization disorder, the skin tends to develop impurities because the sebum cannot drain away and builds up in the pores. Certain bacteria love this environment. If they settle there, inflammation can develop - et voilà, a blackhead becomes a pimple.
If, in addition to your oily skin, you also notice irregular cycles and/or excessive hair growth on your face or body, you should consider having hormone diagnostics and a comprehensive examination carried out in order to rule out and treat hormonal disorders such as PCOS or a disorder of the adrenal cortex.
How are stress and oily skin related?
Looking at hormonal disorders or skin problems holistically can be very helpful for long-term success. This is because body, mind and lifestyle go hand in hand. Many complex processes in our organism are closely linked.
That's why your life, your physical and mental health and - very importantly - your diet should also be taken into account. If only the symptom is addressed with medication or cosmetic products, the problem will most likely reappear without these remedies. So let's get to the root cause!
Numerous studies have long since shown that the mind and the body should not be viewed separately. Body-Mind Medicine, developed at the renowned Harvard University, is a method that is still relatively unknown in this country and that includes stress factors that cause illness in the therapy plan.
Stress, especially when it is chronic, causes stress hormones to be released and not broken down sufficiently. The skin is also affected by long periods of stress: the hormone corticotropin, for example, influences the activity of the sebaceous glands and thus also oily skin.
If you are stressed, your skin is too.
A little excursion beforehand: What happens in the body when we are stressed? We take a look at our autonomic nervous system, i.e. where unconscious body functions such as breathing and heartbeat are regulated. While the sympathetic nervous system is activated in stressful situations and stress-related body functions are boosted, the parasympathetic nervous system regulates the hormone balance when we relax and reduces the body's reactions.
In concrete terms, this means that if you are constantly stressed, your sebaceous glands will also be affected. So make sure you take time out and plan activities that will calm you down and relax you. Just be offline for a while. This will help to reduce stress hormones and keep your unbalanced skin in balance.
Did you know that just looking at greenery activates the part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for our relaxation? Even better, of course, is a walk through the park or the forest to activate relaxation mode. Cuddling has also been proven to relax. And most importantly: get enough sleep!
Diet and lifestyle as a cause of oily skin?
A lot has happened here. It has long been known that simple carbohydrates, for example from white flour products or sweets, cause blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. This releases a lot of insulin into the blood, which in turn stimulates androgen production. And as you learned above, they stimulate the sebaceous glands - a cycle!If you have oily, greasy skin or acne, make sure your diet does not cause your blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. Choose foods with a low glycemic load. These include:
- nuts
- legumes
- Vegetables
- whole grain products
The right diet for oily skin can reduce sebaceous glands
A low-glycemic diet can even shrink the sebaceous glands and reduce skin inflammation, as researchers discovered in a 2012 study.
It may also be good for your skin if you avoid dairy products for a while. If your skin condition improves after a few weeks, eliminating dairy products permanently could be a good option for you and your skin will be happy about it.
And another big plus: our planet, our dairy cows and male calves are happy about every new plant-based fan. Incidentally, the good intestinal bacteria are also happy with a balanced diet with lots of unprocessed, plant-based foods and fiber.
The microbiome and the skin
While we're on the subject... The intestinal microbiome, i.e. the individual bacterial composition, is becoming more and more of a focus. This is where a large part of our immune cells are located. If the intestinal flora is out of balance, this can manifest itself in a variety of ways.Skin problems or very oily skin can also indicate a disturbed microbiome in the intestine. In order to identify the intestinal flora as a possible cause of your oily skin, a stool test must be carried out - and depending on the result, a subsequent change in diet may be necessary.
Not all questions about the microbiome have been answered yet. However, it is suspected that the intestines and skin communicate via the gut-brain-skin axis. The somewhat trite-sounding "you are what you eat" is definitely not far-fetched when it comes to your health and your skin. Quite the opposite! Feed the microbiome with plenty of fresh organic food every day so that the good bacteria do not atrophy and can work for you and your skin. If you are more interested in this topic, then take a look at our article: MICROBIOME - THE (ECO-)SYSTEM-RELEVANT BALANCE OF YOUR BODY
Care for oily skin
But now to the point: What can you do about oily skin? The skin also has its own microbiome. It fends off harmful substances and pathogens from the outside. It doesn't like aggressive cosmetic products at all. Skin care is therefore also part of the holistic approach. Although special care for oily skin doesn't change the cause of your skin type, care tailored to your skin's needs will help you bring your skin back into balance.So what helps with oily skin on the face? Moisturizing care! Oily skin doesn't need a rich cream, it needs fresh and pore-clearing products that provide a lot of moisture. What you should definitely avoid are drying products like a heavily foaming cleansing gel or a facial toner with a lot of alcohol. Oily skin then reacts according to the motto "now more than ever" and produces even more sebum to restore balance.
This skincare routine might appeal to oily skin:
Cleanse your skin morning and evening with our cleansing oil . Yes, oil! It is actually wonderful for cleansing oily and greasy skin because it does not dry out and leaves the skin's protective barrier intact. It is important that you wash it off thoroughly.
If you can't get used to the consistency or aren't really happy with the application, you can just as easily use our cleansing gel . It doesn't dry out your skin either and helps balance your oily skin.
To clarify, spray the Apply zinc facial toner to your face and let it work. The toner has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating effect.
Now your skin is ready for good active ingredients like our Niacinamide Serum . It has a calming effect and stimulates the production of collagen and the skin's own ceramides, which tightens the skin and strengthens the skin's protective barrier. Due to its regulating effect on sebum production, it soothes the skin and can even refine the pores.
For a light freshness boost, you can also spray on our Aloe Vera Spray . Put it in the fridge for extra cooling in the summer - you'll love it!
And now: even more moisture! The light hyaluronic concentrate allows moisture to reach the deeper layers of the skin. Soothing aloe vera also floods your cells and ensures a healthy glow.
If your skin only has oily patches due to your cycle or during stressful phases, you can also use the Hyaluron Cream Light on days when your skin is not so oily.
To remove excess sebum from the pores, apply our BHA peeling two to three times a week in the evening after cleansing your face. The salicylic acid it contains loves fat and works against unnecessary sebum buildup in the pores. The gentle, non-mechanical peeling is definitely the better alternative to squeezing blackheads! But give your skin some time to get used to the active ingredient. If you are sensitive to salicylic acid, please do not use it.
For a lovely self-care ritual that is good for your skin and soul, I recommend our clay mask . It frees your skin of excess sebum and dead skin cells, has an anti-inflammatory effect and regulates your skin's sebum production.
Dos & Don'ts for oily skin
Now all this information summarized at a glance:- Eat a wholesome, balanced diet with plenty of fresh, plant-based foods.
- Try to reduce or even avoid sugar and white flour products and perhaps dairy products.
- Drink plenty of water or unsweetened herbal teas.
- Certain medicinal herbs, such as chasteberry, can have a positive effect on the female hormone balance. It is best to check your hormone levels with your doctor or alternative practitioner.
- Exercise a lot and regularly and immerse yourself in nature more often to reduce stress. Plan fixed breaks in which you can come to yourself and breathe.
- The skin also wants to perform its protective function without stress. Therefore, treat oily skin with mild products without irritating substances.
- Cleanse your skin thoroughly but gently in the morning and evening. Peeling brushes and other aggressive tools do not belong in your skincare repertoire.
- Instead of a cream for oily skin, apply a fresh serum or gel.
- Clear clogged pores regularly with the BHA peeling.
Last but not least, I would like to share with you something I heard many years ago during a conversation with a dermatologist: "People with oily skin don't get dry wrinkles as quickly." Boom! Not that I think wrinkles are bad. But hand on heart: I think delaying their formation is a pretty good thing.
Treat yourself and give your skin time to adjust to the new care, diet and a less stressful lifestyle.
Your Lena