Oily Skin

Oily skin is the most common skin type.

It is characterized by greater sebaceous secretion, the model is the skin of adolescents and young adults, in fact at puberty we go from normal skin (like that of a child) to more or less oily skin. This occurs in most people (both male and female) due to increased production of male hormones.

The increase in sebum secretion varies from individual to individual . This is due to a genetic (and familial) predisposition: a greater or lesser sensitivity of the male hormone receptors located on the pilosebaceous follicle. This is why we have varying degrees of oily skin (and acne).

In all cases, this type of skin tends to form comedones (black and whiteheads) and, sometimes, pimples, oily skin is always acne-prone skin.

When examining the skin it is characterized as follows.

Subjective feeling:

• Itching present occasionally

Touch test:

• Smooth
• Robust
• Elastic
• Unctuous

Visual exam:

• Sometimes uneven complexion
• Enlarged pores, comedones (blackheads and whiteheads)
• Lucid

Oily skin also has a big advantage: it generally doesn't need to be moisturized . The sebum present in greater quantities on its surface reduces the loss of water through the epidermis, maintaining a high level of skin hydration.

However, if we use hydrating cosmetic products on oily skin we cause excessive hydration: the horny cells around the skin pores swell, and this can lead to a worsening of the occlusion of the pores themselves and the consequent appearance (even after weeks) of blackheads and then pimples.

How are comedones formed? Comedogenesis is determined by increased sebaceous secretion and ductal hyperkeratosis, i.e. the thickening of the stratum corneum (accumulation of dead cells) around the outlets of the follicles. This leads to clogging of the pores. The formation of comedones can also be caused or aggravated by the wrong cosmetics. There are many comedogenic cosmetic ingredients but the individual substance is not as important as the cosmetic formulation as a whole. This is why it is necessary to choose suitable cosmetics, even for make-up.

Furthermore, oily skin, as we have seen, has a shiny appearance and a more or less greasy surface to the touch: this can cause a certain difficulty in applying make-up and in keeping the make-up itself, therefore, it is necessary to choose suitable products that do not contribute to worsening greasiness.