Why Is My Face So Oily?

When you have oily skin, controlling the shine on your face can feel like fighting a losing battle. No matter how many times you wash your face and use blotting papers to soak up extra oil, it seems to come back with a vengeance in just a few short hours.

Oil isn’t always a bad thing, though. Your face needs some natural oils to keep it moisturized, healthy and youthful. Even so, you’re probably wondering why the oil on your face seems to have kicked into overdrive. Is it all genetics? Or is there something else at play?

Here are three things you should know about identifying and treating your oily face:

1. Oily skin on the face is more common in guys because of their higher testosterone levels.
2. While genetics play a role in oily skin, additional factors such as environment and stress can also influence the oil on your face.
3. A regular skin care regimen is essential to controlling the oil production on your face.

Genetics

Did either of your parents struggle to control their oily skin at your age? If so, it could be that oily skin runs in your family.

We also know that gender can influence how oily our skin is. Guys in general are more likely to have oily skin compared to women due to their higher testosterone levels.

This was observed in a 1993 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, which found that men with an androgen insensitivity were associated with lower levels of sebum production (see claim: “The lack of demonstrable sebum in androgen-insensitive subjects clearly demonstrates the absolute androgen control of sebum production.”)

While it may seem like guys have the short end of the stick, keep in mind that oil can help keep skin youthful. You just need to find the sweet spot with your skin care regimen to achieve a healthy, youthful complexion.

Over-Washing

Although it may seem counterintuitive, washing your face too much can make your oily face worse. When you over-wash your face, it strips away the natural oils on your skin and causes your oil glands to overcompensate.

The result is often a nasty acne breakout, which leaves most guys feeling extremely frustrated. To achieve a happy balance, stick to using your daily face wash no more than twice a day, followed by a high-quality moisturizer that won’t clog your pores.

Environment

Does your oily face appear to worsen during a specific season? If so, your oily face may be influenced by the climate.

During the spring and summer, your oily face may appear worse due to sweat and excess moisture accumulating on your skin. In the winter, the cold air can zap moisture from the skin, causing your face to overcompensate by producing more oil.

Although it can be a tough balancing act at first, you’ll eventually learn to adjust your skin care routine based on Mother Nature. For example, you may find it beneficial to rely more on your acne system during the summer months to help keep pores clear of dirt and debris.

Stress

Feeling stressed out lately? Sorry guys, but this is doing your oily skin no favors. Stress has been shown to have a significant impact on your skin’s oil production, resulting in a shiny complexion and acne flare-ups.

According to a 2017 study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, researchers in Saudi Arabia found a strong association between the stress severity and an increase in acne severity (see claim: “Subjects with higher stress scores, determined using the PSS, had higher acne severity…”)

Of course, we know that reducing stress is easier said than done. Meditating, exercising and seeing a therapist can do wonders not only for your oily face, but also your overall health and well-being.

Diet

These days, it’s not uncommon for dermatologists to recommend cutting certain foods from your diet to achieve a clear complexion. This is because there is growing evidence that diet plays a significant role in skin health and oil production.

It’s long been suspected that dairy might be a trigger for acne breakouts.  However, there is now more focus on foods containing a high-glycemic index (think pasta, white bread and potatoes.)

While scientists still aren’t certain of the exact mechanisms, they do know that increases of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) can influence acne breakouts. According to a 2007 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating a low-glycemic load diet was shown to improve acne symptoms in young males (see claim: “At 12 wk, mean (+/-SEM) total lesion counts had decreased more (P=0.03) in the low-glycemic-load group (-23.5 +/- 3.9) than in the control group (-12.0 +/- 3.5).”)

Your Secret Weapon for Controlling Oily Skin

Every guy needs some oil on his face to keep it moisturized and healthy. The real problem is when the oil glands on your face pump out too much, making your face appear slick and greasy.

There is a way to achieve a healthy balance of oil on your face. With a regular skin care routine, you can tame overactive oil glands to keep your skin handsome and shine-free.

Have you tried one of Tiege Hanley’s Skin Care Systems yet? Give it a shot and let us know what you think!