Oily Skin Care Continued
Likewise, pregnant women, whose hormones often undergo drastic changes, can have the production of sebum affected to the point of having oily skin problems. (Ironically, the hormone-altering effects of birth control pills can have the same effect.) And the hormone imbalance in women in the throes of menopause can also cause the oil glands to overproduce sebum and result in oily skin problems.
Stress is another factor that may cause the glands to overwork and produce too much oil.
And diet may play a major role. There are differing opinions on which foods may add to the problem of oily skin but there is some agreement that fried foods and other foods which contain high amounts of fat should be avoided in order to aid in keeping oil production in the skin glands down. Some authorities also point the finger of blame at chocolate and other sweets while others think that the consumption of too much iodine (in fish primarily) is a more important cause.
Preventative Actions
Keeping the skin clean and moisturized is a good way of helping to cleanse pores and reduce the amount of oil produced. Skin should be washed with lukewarm water (hot water will only cause dry skin) and gentle cleansers. The skin should be kept clean but, paradoxically, it shouldn't be cleansed excessively as that may only stimulate the glands to produce more oils to replace those washed away by the act of cleaning.
Avoiding oil-based cosmetics is another important step to take.
Topical treatments, such as acne or pimple creams, may help reverse an outbreak but there is no “cure” for oily skin.
By Michael Willis
|
|
