Before you buy that treatment for oily skin you saw on TV, it's best to understand why you have oily skin in the first place.
Experts say that the culprits responsible for your ?shiny aura? are the sebum or oil-producing glands underneath your skin, which are also known as sebaceous glands. Normally, these oil glands produce the needed amount of moisture to protect your skin. But they can be triggered by the DHT hormone to produce unnecessary amounts of oil.
The amount of DHT, or the dihydrotestosterone hormone that triggers the oil glands to create more sebum, is dictated by your genes. Additionally, a hormonal rise occurs during puberty and just before menstrual periods. So if your DHT level increases or is abnormally high, oiliness will soon follow.
Since noticeably oily skin is largely determined by your genes, you cannot really stop the overproduction of oils permanently. What you can do is to control the situation and make your face look less shiny. You can try these several effective kinds of treatment for oily skin:
Benzoyl Peroxide ? This medication attacks the pimple-causing bacteria (P. Acnes) and as a result, the excess oils clogging the pores dry up. Due to its potency, it's possible that you experience side effects such as rashes, blisters, burning sensation, and change in skin color.
AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) - This substance breaks down the excess oil from your face without dehydrating the skin. It also unclogs pores, giving the skin a better texture. A good example is glycolic acid, which can be in a form of cleanser, gel, soap, and other skin care products.
Retinoids ? The efficacy of this treatment for oily skin is guaranteed by many doctors, but some side effects may include irritation, dryness, and redness.
Salicylic Acid ? Similar to glycolic acid, this treatment can strip off excess oils without dehydrating your skin.
DHT Interference ? Since the DHT hormone plays a significant role in excess oil production, medications such as birth pills, Spironolactone, and anti-androgen drugs can help. These substances work by stopping or slowing down the formulation of DHT.
Peels ? These products work by changing the acidic environment of your skin so that the pimple-causing bacteria will not be able to survive. It can also strip off excess oils and exfoliate your skin.
You can also try out these products specifically made for oily skin:
Oil Wipes — Also known as oil blotters, these handy wipes work by absorbing the excess oils on the top layer of the skin.
Clay Masks — Although it takes some effort to use these masks, they are notably good oily skin treatments since they can effectively absorb excess sebum. These soothing treatments can also minimize enlarged pores which are common among people with oily skin.
Astringents — Astringents and toners can be easily applied and they do remove the excess oils. When choosing astringents, select the one that has no harsh chemicals in it since strong astringents might harm your skin.
Cleansers — Keeping your face clean is probably the best oily skin treatment. Choose a mild cleanser that will not dehyrdrate your skin since this will only make the sebum-producing glands produce more grease.
Obviously, it?s fairly easy to determine if you have oily skin and the problem can usually be solved without having to consult your dermatologist. However, if you?re experiencing extra oiliness, you may want to ask your dermatologist to recommend an effective treatment for oily skin. This is probably the best thing you can do to avoid undergoing a ?trial-and-error? acne treatment, or developing unwanted side effects of ineffective or inappropriate treatments.
Take a close look at your problem before seeking an expert's help. Do some research online and ask an esthetician for guidance before spending the big bucks to consult with a dermatologist. For more information on oily skin, visit http://www.acnerecovery.com.
Harvey B. Ong is an in-house writer for an online media company, Intelligraph Corporation. He currently writes articles about acne and its various medications.