! Are you ready to get educated on exactly what causes oily skin & acne, so you can wage an all-out attack on this complexion destroyer?
It all starts when sebaceous glands (small pockets in the dermis that produce skin oil) respond to the male hormone testosterone, which is a member of the androgen family. In women, androgens are secreted from the ovaries and adrenal glands. In men, they are secreted from the adrenal glands and male reproductive organs.
When testosterone combines with an enzyme called 5a reductase (an enzyme that metabolizes naturally occurring steroids), a new byproduct called di-hydrotestosterone is produced. Di-hydrotestosterone is responsible for enlarging sebaceous glands and causing them to produce more sebum (skin oil). This is where acne breakouts begin.
What causes acne and how does a zit form under the skin, learn how blackheads turn into breakouts and scientific information on acne
Excess oil becomes lodged in hair follicles, combining with shed cells of keratin. This results in clogged pores that can produce comedomes, otherwise known as blackheads.
As this mixture of sebum and keratin sits in the pore, sebum provides food for the acne bacteria called Propionibacterium Acnes (or “P.acnes” for short). As the bacteria begins to flourish, acne breakouts occur.
Every human produces the P.Acnes bacterium in their hair follicles, but people who are susceptible to acne produce more than average. The increased presence of the P.acnes bacteria leads to an inflammation response that causes acne, cysts, and pustules.
In the chart below, you can see the initial cause & stages of an acne blemish:
How to prevent clogged pores and hair follicles what causes acne breakouts and how to kill acne bacteria and heal a zit fast
Why is Oily Skin Different from Other Skin Types?
Sebum production is intended to be beneficial, by preventing dry skin. When sebaceous glands are of average size, the amount of oil released is perfect to keep skin lubricated, without causing an oily buildup. This skin type is considered “normal”. Skin that has extraordinarily small pores and sebaceous glands that do not produce enough oil becomes moisture-deprived. This skin type is labeled as “dry”, and often develops flakiness and wrinkles.
Those with “oily” skin types usually have extra large sebaceous glands, large hair follicles, and large pores. Since their sebaceous glands are bigger, they hold extra oil, and also produce extra oil – so when it overflows out of the gland, the “oil spill”, so to speak, is of epic proportions. Those with oily skin have shiny complexions, and must use a plethora of products in attempt to control oily buildup. When this excess oil settles into pores, trapping dead keratin cells and bacteria, acne breakouts result.
Problems caused by oily skin
Those of us who have oily skin recognize it as a high-maintenance plague that follows us day and night. We cannot go anywhere without an arsenal of products to prevent unsightly oily build-up. Women with oily skin are forever scampering to every bathroom mirror, surveying the latest damage to carefully placed makeup, as the overflow of oil causes streaked eye liner, sticky foundation, and acne breakouts – quite the challenge for any makeup routine. Men have to act a bit more covert about their oil control solutions, keeping oil blot sheets carefully hidden in pockets to wick away excess shine on the down-low, without being spotted by their peers.
Acne caused by excess oil triggers even more issues. Blemishes are notoriously difficult to conceal for women, but at least they can use cosmetics to assist. Sadly, men are often berated for using any type of makeup that hides acne. Then, even once a blemish heals, scars often stay for life. These give the epidermis an uneven, disfigured look, and often can only be removed with specialized treatments.
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In addition to basic cosmetic issues caused by oily skin, it can also be horribly damaging to self esteem – especially when it contributes to acne breakouts. In a world where the standard of beauty is flawless skin with microscopic pores, anyone with excess oil & acne can be made to feel like an outcast by society. Lack of confidence often forces people with this affliction to hide from the world, in order to deter off-putting comments from others.
People without skin problems may not understand just how devastating of an impact oily skin and acne can have on one’s life. Having bad skin can cause one to avoid eye contact, become fearful of ridicule, and can contribute to an overall feeling of social awkwardness.
Women & men alike wage war on oily skin every day. It’s a war that chips away at their time, their pocket books and their self images, day in and day out. This website is dedicated to finding solutions in the form of medical treatments, diet, natural remedies, makeup, and the best products for oily skin.