Oily skin

What is oily skin?

Oily skin is characterised by a thick, shiny appearance with visibly large pores. The skin becomes too oily because the sebaceous glands produce an increased amount of lipids on the skin’s surface. This makes the skin prone to blackheads, blemishes, acne, and other skin imperfections. Oily skin occurs in men more than women and can significantly affect younger persons, specifically adolescents. Since more active oil glands are in the T-zone, the nose, forehead, cheeks, chin, neck and even the chest tend to be affected the most.

During puberty, there is a surge in androgen levels, which are male hormones, present in both sexes. This signals the skin’s sebaceous glands to mature. During this time, the body starts producing more skin oil. To get from the glands to your skin, the secreted oil flows into nearby pores and eventually works its way out to the skin’s surface.

For some people, the sebaceous glands go into overdrive, resulting in an oily and greasy look. This oily appearance usually resolves on its own after puberty, but can persist into adulthood. The good news is that according to experts, oily skin can delay the effects of aging as the oil absorbs some of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, and the sebum also helps moisturise the skin.