Learn the possible reasons behind oily skin
Anyone who is cursed with oily skin knows that it's just that. A curse.
The fact of the matter is that your skin produces oil for beneficial reasons. In fact, some would go so far as to say that oily skin isn't that far removed from healthy skin. The problems come in when your body begins to produce too much oil. That leads to acne and other nasty side effects that not only impact your looks but can cause you to experience some serious stress.
Treating oily skin is most certainly possible, and it can be concealed with a good foundation for oily skin. But it's just as important to understand why you have oily skin in the first place. In order to ensure that your body is only producing a healthy amount of oil, be sure to consider these common oily skin causes and do what you can to avoid them.
A Diet Full of the Wrong Foods
You may already know that your diet can be a major contributor to your oily skin. What you may not know is that a proper diet for treating oily skin isn't just about avoiding foods that are generally bad for you.
It's true that some of the major foods that cause oily skin include fried foods, sugary foods, and salty foods. It's a good idea to avoid such foods as much as possible for both the purposes of a healthy overall diet and to ensure that you cut down on the oil your skin produces.
Did you know, though, that dairy is one of the sneakier causes of oily skin? Even healthy dairy products can naturally cause your body to produce more oil. Either avoid dairy products when possible or consider alternatives such as almond milk and vegan dairy products.
Dehydration
Much like eating a healthy, balanced diet, it's generally important to ensure that you're drinking enough water and other beneficial fluids throughout the day. Those who suffer from oily skin will want to be especially careful when it comes to drinking enough water, though, as dehydration can lead to excess oil production.
If you don't drink enough water, you risk blocking your skin glands which can lead to the inflammation of your pores and the production of more skin oil. Contrarily, those who drink at least two liters of water a day and avoid dehydrating substances as much as possible will likely notice that they'll have gradually healthier skin over time.
All in all, healthy skin is just another great reason to ensure that you're drinking a proper amount of water throughout the day.
The Wrong Cosmetics
The right cosmetics can help not only hide your oily skin but even prevent. Did you know, though, that some cosmetics can actively raise the amount of oil that your skin produces?
In fact, more often than not, that heavy makeup that people use to cover up their oily skin is a contributor to why your skin is so oily in the first place. The problem is that putting on too much heavy makeup can block your pores and force your skin to produce more oil. Using moisturizers designed for dry skin or certain sunscreens can also cause similar problems.
As a general solution, it's a great idea to avoid the heavier, more full-coverage makeup options out there and opt for something a little lighter. Better yet, try to find makeup that is specially designed with oily skin in mind.
Too Much Stress
You've no doubt heard time and time again that too much stress in your life can contribute to a variety of mental and physical health problems. Well, it turns out that too much stress can also cause your skin to be too oily.
Stress produces oily skin much the same way as too much stress can produce sweat. This, in turn, can lead to more acne which probably leads to you being more stressful which...well, you get the picture.
There's no one way to get rid of stress, but it's best to start with natural remedies like exercise, fresh air, socialization, and time away from work and other stressful activities. Beyond that, you may want to consider supplements, but be warned that some supplements can also inadvertently contribute to your oily skin. Check with a doctor before you start taking new stress supplements.
Overdoing Your Daily Treatments
Yes, you should wash your skin every day and even use the right moisturizer. No, you shouldn't wash your skin all of the time to combat oil.
In fact, washing your skin too much or using too many products can damage your skin over time and cause it to produce more oil. Ironically, the fact that your removing so much oil from your skin can cause your body to produce even more.
Realistically, you only need to wash your skin twice a day at most and ensure that you're properly using the right kinds of moisturizer and sunscreen lotion as needed.
And finally, look on the bright side: oily skin isn't always necessarily a bad thing!
Resources — MDAcne, Byrdie, L’Oréal, Science Daily
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