When it comes to oily skin, there are a ton of valid questions like: Is oily skin bad for you? What causes oily skin in males? What hormone causes oily skin? And can oily skin be tackled with good-quality face care? Before we get into the nitty gritty details about oily skin and its related worries, it’s important to know that everyone has some natural oils on their skin. But if you deal with too much oil, there are ways to tame it to lessen its impact on your everyday life.
To discover the answer to the inquiry of “Is oily skin bad for you?” and to learn more about how to manage this skin concern, keep reading:
What Is Oily Skin?
Your skin produces natural oils, which are vital to keeping your appearance fresh, young, and smooth. If you’ve noticed excess oils on your skin and wondered “Do I have oily skin?” or “Is oily skin bad for you?” then you may be part of the 45% of adults that deal with this condition daily.
An oily skin type is usually characterized by excess oil (sebum) on the face that gives a shiny or greasy look. If oily skin goes untreated – pores could become clogged and enlarged, causing dead skin cells to accumulate and sprout blackheads, pimples, and other kinds of acne.
The Science: You have things called sebaceous glands in your skin, which excrete a substance known as sebum. This oil, along with sweat, leaks through your pores. When this process runs smoothly, sebum lubricates your skin, while also removing dead skin cells and other irritants.
However, when your sebaceous glands run wild and free (AKA they’re over-active and produce heaps of sebum), they can cause your skin to look shiny and/or greasy. When this happens, your pores will likely become clogged, resulting in skin issues like acne and inflammation.
What Causes Oily Skin in Males?
Sebum is needed for optimal skin health, but there are a lot of factors that can cause an abnormal increase in its production. So what causes oily skin in males? Here’s the deal:
Dry or Dehydrated Skin
Are you thinking something like: “If sebum is a natural moisturizer, then why would people with oily skin have to worry about dry skin, too?” Truth is, flaky, dry skin and oily skin are intertwined. Basically, you’re always shedding dead skin cells as part of your skin’s regeneration process. When too many dead cells accumulate, though, it can make your skin appear dry, while also producing more sebum (causing your skin to switch from being really dry to really oily).
Many men resort to using harsh bar soaps or cleansers to buff the excess sebum away, but these products can cause symptoms to worsen.
Different Climates
Did you know the weather can be really taxing on your skin, especially if you don’t use good-quality face care? For example, if you live in a place with an arid climate, your skin may dry out, which as we mentioned before, can increase your sebum production. On the other side of the spectrum – more humid places can cause you to sweat, also resulting in more oil.
If you’ve recently moved and have noticed that the new climate may be taking a toll on your skin, try to use mild face wash and rinse with lukewarm water. If your skin is more on the dry side, opt for a moisturizer that’s able to pump your skin full of nutrients, while preventing it from making too much sebum.
Genetics and Exposure to UV Rays
Have you ever noticed your mom, dad, or even grandma with oily skin? If you’ve gotten bit by the oily skin monster and eyed a family member with the same issue, you can likely attribute this to genetics. After all, having larger sebaceous glands can be hereditary and passed down through your family tree.
The sun has a lot of pros, but when it comes to your skin – it also has a lot of cons. For example, the sun’s harmful UV rays can age skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. Not only this, but the sun can boost your skin’s oil production by making it temporarily feel dry.
Over-Washing, Using the Wrong Face Care Products, and Taking Certain Medication
Ever asked the mirror, “Hey, is oily skin bad for you?” while washing your face and trying to scrub away the excess sebum? The answer is pretty close to home as your oily skin woes may be connected to over-washing and/or scrubbing your skin too harshly. Often, doing this while using not-so-good face care can cause your glands to produce even more oil.
It’s vital to learn your skin type and how to feed and exercise your skin using high-quality, result-driven products that are noncomedogenic (won’t clog your pores). If over-washing and face care aren’t causing your oily skin then it could be your medication. Certain meds like oral contraceptives and hormone replacements can cause dehydration and an overhaul of sebum.
What Hormone Causes Oily Skin?
Curious as to what hormone causes oily skin? While high testosterone is great news for your muscles and energy levels, it’s not such a good thing for your skin. Having high levels of testosterone can cause inflammation in your sebaceous glands, kicking them into overdrive thus producing heaps of sebum.
To keep your testosterone levels balanced, try these MOX-approved tips:
- Exercise daily
- Get seven to nine hours of good-quality sleep every night
- Limit carbs
- Reduce and manage stress through self-care for men
Oily Skin Features and Oily Skin Photos
Some oily skin features and symptoms are:
- Shiny skin with regular breakouts
- Thicker feeling complexion
- Less noticeable wrinkles
- Visible and enlarged-looking pores
- MOX TIP: Can be seen at any age
Pictured: Enlarged Pores and Acne | Source: Quora
Pictured: Enlarged Pores and Oily Skin | Source: iStock
Pictured: Enlarged Pores and Oily Skin | Source: Adobe
Pictured: Enlarged Pores | Source: SLMD
Pictured: Enlarged Pores and Acne | Source: Vedix
How to Manage and Combat Men’s Oily Skin
So – is oily skin bad for you? While that question is a bit tricky to answer as every skin type comes with advantages and drawbacks, there are ways to manage and combat men’s oily skin. Here’s how:
- Use lukewarm water in your shower
- Avoid scrubbing your face too harshly
- Eat foods (and use face care) abundant in vitamin C
- Use a toner after washing your face
- Opt for lipid-rich skincare products, like this serum
- Make sure to always moisturize, even if your skin is feeling oily that day
- Blotting papers aren’t just for women, so give them a go while hitting the trails
- Wash your face twice daily with a cleanser that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils
Let MOX Put Your Oily Skin in Check
At MOX, we know that taking care of your skin with good-quality face care is crucial to a non-greasy, young-looking appearance. Our products are formulated by Pharmacist and Nutritionist Ben Fuchs, who uses his expertise to infuse each MOX product with vitamins, minerals, and other good-for-you ingredients to feed and exercise your skin from within while kicking excess sebum to the curb.
The MOX Daily Face Care Kit, which is brimming with five-star reviews, features the Multi Nutrient Serum and Peppermint Cleanser. Our Multi Nutrient Serum is clinically proven to build collagen, improve strength, and increase moisture (not oil!), while the Peppermint Cleanser removes surface dirt without disturbing your skin’s good-for-you natural oils, hydrates your skin, and doubles as an awesome shaving cream.
No more asking “Is oily skin bad for you?” Grab the MOX Daily Face Care Kit here to conquer men’s oily skin once and for all.
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