UNDERSTANDING OILY & ACNE-PRONE SKIN

Your skin is covered in pores, tiny openings in the skin that are found all over the body except palms and soles. Each pore is simply the opening of a hair follicles and each follicle has the ability to grow one shaft of hair, whether that hair is visible or not.

Sebaceous glands are usually attached to hair follicles and release a fatty, waxy substance called sebum into the follicular duct and on to the surface of the skin. Sebum helps lubricate our skin and keep the skin healthy and moisturized.

Sebaceous glands are present all over our body (except the soles of the feet and palms) and are most abundant on the face and scalp.

It is a common misconception that people with oily skin are automatically prone to acne breakouts. You can have beautifully smooth oily skin or dry skin that is acne-prone. While it’s true that natural excess oil, called sebum, can clog pores and cause acne, all skin types have the potential to be acne-prone.

Oily skin, which often looks shiny and feels slick to the touch, is the result of excessive secretions of sebum, an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands. Oily skin tends to attract more dirt and dust than dry skin and may be prone to blackheads and acne.

Acne, a condition that affects the skin’s oil glands, begins with a clogged pore. It is often caused by hormonal changes and bacterial infections in pores. As old skin cells die, they are normally sloughed off every month. If your skin is acne-prone, instead of sloughing off, the dead cell clog pores, trapping oil and bacteria inside. As the bacteria grow they can cause inflammation of the skin, leading to pimples.

Soaps with Citrus Oils have been traditionally recommended for oily skin. They work by balancing skin oils, not by drying out your skin.