Oily Skin Problems

People with oily skin are faced with problems and frustrations that are unique to their skin type. Often these conditions can be controlled or reduced with proper care. If you have oily skin, you should recognize what potential problems that you may potentially have to contend with.

• Clogged Pores - One of the biggest problems that oily skin causes is clogged pores. It's when this occurs that numerous visible problems arise. Pores are the opening from which your hair follicles emerge from the skin. Under normal circumstances, your sebaceous glands produce sebum, which makes its way up the hair follicles and out of your pores. When there is an excessive amount of sebum production, it is more than the hair follicle can expel. The additional oil can build up and combine with dead skin cells, dirt and other pollutants to create a plug that clogs the pores. This blocked state is often one of the reasons that skin appears to have enlarged pores.


• Comedones - Comedones are formed as a result of the blocked hair follicles. Because sebum continues to be produced beneath the blockage, the buildup can result in a comedone. There are two types of comedones that form, whiteheads and blackheads. Whiteheads are comedones that form below the surface of the skin. When they form on the surface, the exposure to air causes them to darken. This type of comedone is called a blackhead.


• Cysts and Pimples - Bacteria can cause inflammation or infection which occurs within the blocked hair follicles. As a result pimples may develop. These will generally look like raised red areas on the skin that are white towards the center. Cysts are another problem that occurs as a result of clogged pores, or hair follicles. These are lumps which occur when the inflammation occurs deep inside the follicle


• Shiny Skin - People with oily skin often complain that their face has a shiny appearance from the excess oil. This can be countered by use of oil absorbing tissue such as rice paper and face powder. However, this can be problematic for women who are wearing certain types of makeup, which may have a tendency to slide off as a result of the slick, greasy condition of the skin.