Oily skin is a term commonly used to identify skin that feels ‘oily’ or appears ‘shiny’, especially the skin of the face. Before investigating the cause of your oily skin, it is important to first identify if this ‘oiliness’ is a natural phenomenon or due to poor hygiene and topical applications. Oily skin does occur naturally, often at the time of puberty, due to a change in the sex hormones in the body.
At puberty, testosterone, the main male sex hormone increases within the body, both in males and females, although females have a lower concentration of testosterone than males. A number of precursors to testosterone will also exist in the blood stream and these act upon the skin. The skin contains two types of glands, the oil gland and the sweat gland, and due to the action of hormones like testosterone, the oil gland grows in size. A large gland means greater oil (sebum) production which is then secreted onto the skin. However blockage of these oil ducts, which may occur due to excessive oil buildup (‘oil plugs’), dust and grit or topical applications can lead to comedones (white head or blackhead). This may complicate further or get infected to form a papule (pimple).
Common Causes & Contributing Factors
- Hormonal changes – puberty, menopause, pregnancy, oral contraceptives, fertility drugs and anabolic steroids.
- Topical applications, especially oily creams, lotions, petroleum jelly, cosmetic oils (tissue oil). These applications cause an oily feel and look to the skin but do not increase the size or activity of the oil gland in the skin.
- Hot environments, especially tropical climates with high humidity.
- Make up – especially foundation and base powder that blocks the pores causing a secondary increase in oil production.
- Genetic factors, both racial and familial predisposition, may determine oiliness of skin.
- Certain drugs, particularly those that may affect the sex hormones, as well as antidepressants, corticosteroids and thyroid drugs.
Contrary to popular belief, your diet has a limited effect on the oiliness of the skin. A common myth is that oily foods, especially foods like chocolates and peanut butter, may increase the oil production. Alcohol is often thought to be responsible as well. These foods and drinks may contribute to acne and pimple formation due to other factors but does not usually cause an increase in the oil gland activity. However it is important to note that the the skin, like other organs of the body, is prone to changes in the lifestyle, general health and well being. A balanced diet will always be useful for maintaining healthy skin but does not often impact on the oiliness of the skin, unless there is severe starvation or malnutrition which affects the hormone levels. High quantities of certain herbs that may be consumed as part of a daily diet could affect the hormone levels which may affect the oiliness of the skin but this is rare.
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