There are three different skin types:
- Dry skin
- Oily skin
- Normal skin
However, most people have so-called combination skin, especially on the face, which is made up of several of the skin types. It is also not uncommon to have different skin types in different parts of the body, for example, someone with otherwise dry skin has oily facial skin. Oily skin is characterized by a robust, oily appearance with large, visible pores.
Oily skin is most commonly found on the scalp, forehead and the rest of the face, but it is not uncommon to find oily skin on the chest or back. Oily skin is caused by the sebaceous glands in the skin producing too much body fat, i.e. sebum. Their function is normally to protect the skin by the secreted fat, but if the secretion exceeds the usual 1 to 2 g per day, the skin is too oily.
The oily skin itself is not a disease, but a normal variant or the symptom of another disease. Since common acne (Acne vulgaris) is always accompanied by oily skin and occurs in almost all adolescents during puberty, oily skin is, at least temporarily, one of the most common skin changes there is. The main time in which one suffers from oily skin is around the age of 25. Men and women are affected about equally frequently, although in women it can usually be better controlled by cosmetic measures or even the contraceptive pill.
Causes of oily skin
Oily skin is basically a matter of excessive production by sebaceous glands, which leads to shiny, oily skin. Normally, sebum production is responsible for preventing the skin from drying out and getting moisture. The hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands can now be triggered by various causes.
Oily skin most frequently occurs during puberty, also in combination with acne. In puberty, the cause of oily skin is often hormonal changes. These hormonal changes cause the skin glands to produce more sebum.
This is especially true at the beginning of puberty between the ages of 11 and 14. Towards the end of puberty at the age of 16, the problem of oily skin usually disappears again. Hormonal changes can also lead to oily skin, especially in women, for various reasons.
The problems with hormonal changes are mainly caused by increased male hormones, the androgens. In the following circumstances the hormone changes are particularly strong:
- During pregnancy
- After stopping the pill or other hormonal contraceptive methods
- One month before the onset of menstruation
- After delivery
There are also other causes that generally favour the development of oily skin:
- Disorders of ovarian function
- A high humidity and a warm climate
- Malnutrition
- Alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Disturbance of the adrenal cortex function
- Drugs
- Family predisposition
- Parkinson’s disease
- Disorders of the nervous system
- In seborrhoeic eczema: this is a skin rash (eczema) which occurs preferentially on skin areas rich in sebaceous glands. Seborrhoeic means that the sebaceous glands are overproduced, so in principle it is an oily skin.
It is therefore more common on the face and scalp. Seborrheic eczema is usually chronic or relapsing. The cause of the rash is still unclear.
However, it is suspected that the disease is triggered by a skin fungus called Malassezia furfur.
An impure, oily looking skin can not only be caused by hormonal changes or a lot of stress, but also nutrition has a considerable influence on the health of the skin. Therefore, with an appropriate diet, a large part of the reasons for oily skin can possibly be eliminated. For a healthy appearance, the skin needs the right pH value and sufficient fluid.
It is recommended to drink at least two liters of water a day to ensure that the skin is adequately moistened. With food, special attention should be paid to the fat content.In fast food there are many unhealthy trans fats and saturated fatty acids, which do not provide the skin with nourishing substances, but rather promote the oily skin texture. Therefore fast food and food with a high portion of saturated fatty acids should be rather renounced with the tendency to greasy skin.
Also too large quantities of raw meat cause constipation in the intestine, so that important nutrients cannot be sufficiently absorbed there. This leads to the fact that also the skin is malnourished and attains an unhealthy appearance. White sugar from sweets and wheat flour should also only be taken in moderation, as they have similar effects on the intestines and thus on the skin.
There are foods that are known to raise blood sugar levels quickly after a meal and to lower them again quickly so that one feels hungry again. White flour and sugar are examples of this. These have a high glycemic index and play a role in the development of skin impurities.
Especially people who have problems with acne in addition to oily skin are recommended to switch to products with a low glycemic index. Foods with a low index include whole grain products and legumes such as lentils or peas. These reduce the skin’s susceptibility to inflammation, improve the appearance of the skin and prevent ravenous attacks in which harmful sugar products are then consumed.
A diet suitable for people with rapidly oily skin contains above all many fresh products. Fresh fruit and raw vegetables contain many important vitamins and nutrients for the body. Vitamin A in particular plays an important role in supplying the skin.
It strengthens the connective tissue and the structure of the skin. This vitamin is mainly found in carrots, lamb’s lettuce, chard, celery, but fruit such as peaches and oranges also contain a lot of vitamin A. In general, a varied and balanced diet is important, which should contain many high-quality nutrients and where attention should be paid to the sugar and fat content.
In oily skin, the uppermost layer of the skin (horny layer) is thickened (hyperkeratosis). This causes the pores of the skin to dilate. These widened pores tend to become clogged, especially in the so-called T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and in the décolleté, on the shoulders and back.
The typical symptoms are pimples and (inflammatory or non-inflammatory) blackheads (comedones). In addition, the skin is shiny, oily and often poorly supplied with blood and therefore pale; there are few lines and wrinkles in the skin. The seborrhoeic eczema (an inflammatory skin disease), which is caused by the fact that certain fungi can multiply particularly well and quickly in oily skin regions rich in sebaceous glands, is characterized by petal-shaped yellowish-red foci covered with scales.
Particularly if the scalp is also affected, affected persons also tend to have quickly greasy hair. The diagnosis of oily skin is usually a gaze diagnosis, which is not difficult based on the appearance. Oily skin between 10 and 18 years of age with many pimples and blackheads strongly indicates acne.
If the diagnosis is inconclusive, a thorough physical examination should be performed, especially to rule out any other disease or metabolic disorder. If pimples or pustules are present, a smear can be taken from them to possibly detect pathogens. Further, subsequent examinations can be: are.
- Blood tests
- An ultrasound of the ovaries
- A magnetic resonance tomography
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