Prevent Oily Skin - Causes and Smart Responses

If you want to prevent oily skin, you need to understand two things: 1) what is causing your skin to produce excess sebum (oil), and 2) what are the things you need to do to prevent oily skin given your particular skin condition and circumstances.

Let’s look at the first factor you need to consider: what is causing your oil skin condition? Once you understand this, you will be better equipped to address the problem.

There are a number of possible causes for your oily skin condition. Here are the major causes, followed by a plan of action to prevent oily skin:

Cause: Genetics are a biggie. You can be the kind of person who does everything right to make your skin healthy and beautiful, but general  good skin care practices may not be enough to prevent oily skin. Don’t blame Mom or Dad. They inherited the condition from their parents, who inherited it from their parents, who… Well, blaming others for our oily skin is counter-productive.

Response: The idea here is to correct the imbalance in your skin’s pH level to reduce the excess production of oil. Check out our article on Oily Skin Care.

Cause: Hormone fluctuations can do crazy things to your skin, disrupting your biochemical integrity. Birth control pills, for example, can make skin more oily or more dry, depending on the person. Pregnancy can lead to temporary oily skin in some women.

Response: Always be aware of any changes to your skin condition, especially if you begin taking any new kinds of supplements or medications. If the reaction of your skin to the new compound is more than you bargained for, stop taking it and look for an alternative, if necessary. If your skin becomes oily during pregnancy, it’s probably just a temporary condition. Common sense good skin care practices may not help to completely prevent oily skin, but will help minimize, to some degree, the production of sebum.

Cause: Diet, what you choose to eat and drink, can contribute to the production of excess sebum.

Response: Again, be aware of what you put into your body and how it changes the condition of your skin. To prevent oily skin when diet is the cause is really just a matter of avoiding the foods that cause your skin to become oily. In general, stay away from greasy foods, and eat lots of antioxidant-rich foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

Cause: Certain cosmetics and skin care products contain ingredients that may do more harm than good to your skin. Allergic reactions, rashes, irritations, excess drying, or increase in oiliness are all possible effects.

Response: If your goal is to prevent oily skin rather than worsen the condition of your skin, then you absolutely learn to distinguish the good cosmetics and skin care products from the bad. Also, keep in mind that any one cosmetic or skin care product may work beautifully for one person but have devastating effects for another. Please read 9 Must Know Make Up and Skin Care Tips for some valuable information regarding products applied to your skin.

Cause: High heat and humidity can stimulate the production of sebum in some people.

Response:  Avoid the heat and humidity, stay hydrated by drinking lots of fresh water, and practice daily good skin care. Treat yourself to an easy and refreshing facial: squeeze a lemon over a bowl of cold water, then dip your face in the bowl. Massage your cheeks, forehead, temples, and chin gently for a few minutes. Then splash fresh tepid water over your face to feel your skin delightfully renewed and refreshed.

Please remember to always make sure you are not allergic to anything you put on your skin. To prevent oily skin, determine the cause of your condition, and respond appropriately.