Too much sebum can clog your pores and causepimples.
Oily skin increases significantly in your teenage years as hormones fluctuate and tends to decrease as you get older.
Talk to your dermatologist if conservative strategies don’t seem to help.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Add an extra wash after exercise or on a hot day.
The goal is to removesebum, the oily substance released by glands under the the skin.
Your facial cleanser should also take off dirt, dead and dry skin cells, and sweat.
Gently cleanse twice a day or after sweating.
Cleaning your skin more often or scrubbing your skin hard is not good.
Overdoing your face cleaning can aggravate oily skin and make it worse.
Ifbody breakoutsare a problem, wash your body as well with an appropriate cleanser.
This can help you avoidacne mechanica, pimples on the face or body brought on by sweat.
If you don’t have access to soap after a workout, use pre-moistened cloths instead.
Use an Astringent
An astringent is another good way to control oil.
Astringents, like facialtoners, help remove dirt and make up left behind after cleansing.
Astringents also take off excess oil and tighten your pores.
Witch hazelis a common and effective astringent for oily skin.
To use an astringent, first wash your face.
Apply the liquid astringent to a cotton ball or cotton pad.
Then, wipe your entire face and neck with the cotton.
If needed, you’ve got the option to use an astringent between washings.
It will remove oil and get rid of that shine that sometimes shows up during the day.
Moisturize
After you’ve washed and applied an astringent, you should moisturize your skin.
When skin is dehydrated, water isn’t absorbed into the layers of the skin.
That means your skin will lack elasticity and plumpness.
Without these, skin looks red, inflamed, and wrinkled.
Oil is a natural barrier that locks in moisturizer.
Use it after you wash your face and anytime your face feels dry.
Exfoliate
Exfoliation is when you remove dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin.
This can make you skin appear smoother and healthier.
It can also help with two common problems of oily skin: clogged pores and enlarged pores.
There are many over-the-counter exfoliation products that you might choose from.
Popular types includescrubsand gritty facial creams, which are not recommended for oily skin.
Instead, look for a chemical exfoliant that’s specifically designed for oily types of skin.
Otherwise, you may end up with dark patches on your skin.
However, this can cause your sebaceous glands to overcompensate for the drying effect by producing more sebum.
This will eventually worsen your acne.
Sun exposure can also trigger inflammation and cause reddening and permanent color changes in healing acne lesions.
To use them, gently press against your face for a few seconds.
Don’t rub, since this can spread the oil around instead of absorbing it.
If used incorrectly, blotting papers can contribute to breakouts.
If you use them on dirty skin, for example, they can contribute to clogged pores.
This is especially important for products you leave on your skin like moisturizers, sunscreen, and makeup.
Water-based products are another great option for oily skin.
you could find water-based moisturizing gels, sunscreens, and cosmetics.
Many of these are marketed to people with oily and breakout-prone skin.
If you use topical acne medications, look for water-based options of these as well.
Differin,Retin-A, Onexon, and others all come in a gel form.
Talk to your healthcare provider about different medications that could relieve these and other issues related to oily skin.
Wash your skin twice a day and apply products made for oily skin.
If you’re not successful with your efforts, consider seeking help from a dermatologist.
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