Caring for Oily Skin and Acne

For someone with oily skin, the best thing to do is to take measures to keep pores from getting clogged and forming acne lesions.

There is no way to completely prevent oily skin from occurring; hopefully these tips will help keep the oil and acne under control:

• Dirt and oil on the surface of the skin may exacerbate the clogging of pore openings, so proper washing is often a good way to keep the situation from becoming worse. Washing with very hot water, harsh soaps or cleansers will not improve existing acne or prevent future flare-ups. In fact, these methods can dry and irritate the skin. Most topical acne medications have a drying effect on oily skin.
• Try a mild cleanser that cleanses without drying.
• Do not use any oil-based cosmetics, which will only aggravate oily skin and create further blemishes.
• Use water-based, non-comedogenic cosmetics.
• Always remove your makeup before going to bed, but avoid cold creams and lotions, which may leave a greasy film on your skin.
• Watch diet. It is believed that an increased consumption of iodine aggravates acne, and it is suggested a reduction or elimination of fish and iodized salt.
• Relax. Studies have shown that the body produces more androgens when a person is under stress. The increase may trigger acne flare-ups by stimulating the sebaceous glands to pump out more sebum. Even physical stresses, such as colds, allergies, surgery, or menstruation, can trigger break-outs.

Topical Treatments for Acne

First of all, there are the topical acne medications that most people with oily skin or acne have tried. Here is a brief description

This medication works in two ways. First, it targets bacteria, which are crucial in the development of acne. Without bacteria, the sebum trapped under the skin would not become the fatty acids that cause all the swelling and inflammation in and around acne blemishes. Second, some studies show that benzoyl peroxide may also peel the dead skin cells from inside your hair follicles, to keep plugs from forming.

These older medications tend to work mostly on the surface of the skin to help heal existing blemishes by unclogging pores. Salicylic acid is particularly effective on blackheads.

These medicines are used to treat certain kinds of acne, such as postules and papules, but they may not be strong enough to have an effect on larger cysts. Topical antibiotics work by attacking the bacteria that are strongly linked with acne problems. Like other topical treatments, these tend to dry and irritate the skin, so be sure to use proper cleansing and moisturizing.

Also known as Retin-A. Retinoic acid works by peeling skin cells from the hair follicles so that plugs do not form. Be warned that at first it may aggravate your acne, and that it can take two to three months before any real improvement.

When people complain of oily skin, they are most often referring to the skin on their face. Oily skin is also the largest contributor towards acne.

The oil is produced by the sebaceous glands; these glands are bigger and more active in the region of the nose than any other areas of the face. This is why the nose tends to be a trouble area for even those with normal skin. The pores in this area are also larger, in order to accommodate the large flow of oil produced. Other areas on the body where sebaceous glands are most heavily concentrated are the neck, chest, and back areas where body acne can be common.

The amount of oil that an individual makes is determined by genetics. The oil gland is considered an end organ because it is acted upon by hormones. Many people have the same level of hormones, yet produce a different amount of oil because their oil glands respond differently. During adolescence, a surge in the level of sex hormones, known as androgens, sometimes creates oily skin problem where previously there was none. The reason is that androgens enlarge and stimulate the sebaceous glands, causing them to produce more sebum. Sebum also carries with it dead skin cells shedding from hair follicle walls.

Acne usually isn't a serious medical condition. But you may want to seek medical treatment for persistent pimples or inflamed cysts to avoid scarring or other damage to your skin. If acne or the scars it may have left are affecting your social relationships or self-esteem, you may also want to ask a doctor if your acne can be controlled or if your scars can be diminished.

Hormones likely play a role in the development of acne, making the condition most common in teenagers. But people of all ages can get acne. Some adult women experience mild to moderate acne due to hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, their menstrual cycles, or starting or stopping birth control pills.

It is important to maintain a regular skin care routine to keep the skin from becoming too irritated or too dry during acne treatments.

Ask your doctor at Pinewood Natural Health Centre for a diagnostic screening to find out the internal factors causing oily skin and acne and approach it from inside out.

Come to Pinewood Natural Health Centre and experience what oily skin and acne treatments we have that can help improve your skin, and maintain your youthful face -areas surrounding: Mississauga, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Markham, call our Toronto Clinic: (416) 656-8100, for Pickering, Whitby, or Oshawa,call our Ajax Clinic: (905) 427-0057.