Oily Skin Care Tips

Learn how to care and treat oily skin using natural facial care products and herbs.
Oily skins are skins whose sebaceous glands are overactive and thus produce more oil than required. Therefore, oily skin becomes thick, shiny and coarse. Some may even develop pimples. It is also prone to blackheads. Hereditary, hormone levels and diet are common causes of oily skin apart from cosmetics and weather conditions. For teenagers, oily skin is a common problem because of the hormonal shifts and growth in these years. Even during pregnancy, hormonal imbalances can lead to oily skin.

Oily skin care needs special treatment and cleansing with lot of hot water and soap to prevent the pores from being clogged. Cosmetic products that are chemical based which create flakiness in the skin should be strictly avoided. These products react with the oil glands and extract the natural essential oil from the skin. Some of the skin products restrict oil flow through the pores resulting in pore blockage and pimple breakout.

Facial care products specifically designed for oily skin should be used. The moisturizer that an oily skin requires is one that is completely oil-free. This helps the skin to maintain a shine free complexion. Oil-based products should be used to dissolve sebum effectively. It is very important to keep the skin clean. Washing the face three to four times in a day helps to get rid of the excess oil on the surface of the skin. However too much washing should be avoided as it will stimulate the skin to produce more oil.

The bathing soap that one uses should also be pure with no artificial additives. Antibacterial cleansing lotion can work against the pimples created by oily skin. Try to avoid cleansers or lotions that contain alcohol. Using hot water while washing the face can work wonders for an oily skin as it dissolves the excess skin oil. A deep cleansing exfoliant massage can help a scaly oily skin become smooth. A lime and cucumber mix juice can be applied to the face to treat oily skin. A few drops of eau de cologne also helps keep oiliness away. It refines the pores of the skin by acting as an astringent and thus prevents the resulting acne.

Acetone is also known to dissolve oil and thus can be used for oily skin. A diet that is rich in proteins should be taken. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables should be consumed. Even a slight deficiency in vitamin B2 can cause oily skin. Hence, foods like whole grains and nuts that are rich sources of vitamin B2 are absolutely essential. Drinking eight to ten glasses of water helps to keep the skin hydrated. It also helps out to flush toxins. Sugar, chocolate and junk food should be avoided. The amount of fat in the diet also needs to be restricted. Cooking oil should be used to its minimum as it is one of reasons for skin to turn oily.

Herbs like Aloe Vera, Lavender, Chamomile, etc have excellent healing properties for the skin. A facial or an herbal sauna using lemongrass, hazel, licorice root, and rosebuds is good for oily skin. Proper sound sleep and regular exercise are necessary to keep the skin healthy and fresh.

More information on herbs for skincare visit Herbal.co.in

By Rajni Sheth
Published: 12/20/2007

 
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