Causes of oily skin: Is it just genetics to blame?
What are the causes of oily skin? And what do you need to know about the factors that play a role in making the oily skin? Important information in this article.
In the following, we will discuss the most important causes of oily skin and the factors that may play a role in stimulating the appearance of features of this type of skin in some people:
What is oily skin?
The skin naturally contains sebaceous glands, and these glands regularly produce a waxy substance called sebum. Sebum is supposed to moisturize and protect both skin and hair and prevent dryness when it is secreted in moderation, but when the sebum glands start to overproduce it, this leads to the appearance of oily skin.
Excess sebum can cause things like:
- Clogged skin pores .
- The surface of the skin acquires a shiny and oily appearance.
- The emergence of some skin problems, such as acne .
Oily skin is one of the common and normal skin types, but it may require special care measures to meet its needs and combat its problems in an appropriate way.
Causes of oily skin
The causes of oily skin are many and are not limited to genes as some might think. Let's get to know the most prominent of them:
1. Enlarged skin pores
Some factors may cause a difference in the size of the pores of the skin, to become wider with the passage of time, such as the following factors:
- Some changes and fluctuations in body weight .
- getting old.
With the enlargement of the pores, the sebaceous glands in the skin may begin to produce increased amounts of sebum, which may lead to a naturally oily complexion.
2. Hormonal factors
Oily skin can appear as a result of some hormonal fluctuations and changes, especially the hormones estrogen , progesterone, and testosterone.
Here are some factors that may play a role in hormonal fluctuations:
- Take birth control pills .
- Going through a certain stage may be accompanied by hormonal fluctuations, such as: pregnancy, menopause, and adolescence.
- Stress and poor psychological state, as some bad conditions may stimulate feelings of stress and anxiety, and when a person feels stressed, cortisol levels may rise in his body, which may stimulate excessive sebum production.
3. Genes and heredity
In many cases, the cause of oily skin may be purely genetic, that is, if you come from a family in which your parents, grandparents, or family members in general suffer from oily skin and its problems, this may mean that the characteristics of oily skin may haunt you.
Inheriting the genes responsible for oily skin may make you more likely to show the characteristics and characteristics of oily skin at some point.
4. The followed diet
The causes of oily skin may sometimes be nutritional, such as:
- Eating foods with a high glycemic index that may stimulate insulin sensitivity, which in turn may lead to increased sebum production, such as the following foods: sugars, processed flour, fast or canned food, and soft drinks.
- Low levels of some nutrients, such as: vitamin A , vitamin B, and vitamin C.
- Eat the following foods: milk and its products, and red meat.
- Other nutritional reasons, such as: taking nutritional supplements such as B12 supplements, and not drinking enough water .
5. Adopt an unhealthy skincare routine
Possible causes of oily skin include unhealthy skin behaviors, such as:
- Using products and lotions that are heavy on the skin and are not suitable for its nature, which may stimulate the skin to retain larger quantities of oils, which may cause clogging of skin pores and the appearance of pimples .
- Excessive washing of the skin, which may cause an adverse reaction in the skin, in turn, to secrete more oils.
- Not applying the appropriate skin moisturizer to the skin regularly.
- Applying large amounts of makeup to the skin.
6. Weather factors
The disturbing characteristics of oily skin may start to appear with stimulation from the surrounding weather factors, as weather factors may affect the way the sebaceous glands work, causing them to stimulate the secretion of more sebum.
Therefore, some people may notice the appearance of oily skin specifications and problems, especially during dry, hot or humid weather.
7. Other causes of oily skin
These are some other possible causes of oily skin:
- Age, as the skin of adolescents and young adults usually tends to be highly oily, but with the passage of age and years, some people may notice that their skin has become less oily than before.
- Factors related to mattresses, bed covers , and pillows, such as: the use of covers made of unnatural fabrics, and the use of harmful chemicals when washing these covers.
Characteristics of oily skin
After we got to know the causes of oily skin, these are some specifications of oily skin that may help you know if your skin is oily or not:
- A greasy and shiny appearance of the face, especially concentrated in the nose, forehead and chin area.
- The emergence of some oily skin problems, such as: acne, and ziwan .
- Clear enlargement of the skin pores.
- Roughness and thickness of the skin.