Getting rid of oily skin

We all have sebaceous glands that secrete some amount of oil to keep our skin smooth. But due to various reasons the oil production in some people is more than the others. The oil makes the skin look greasy and coarse due to open pores. Oily skin often leads to problems like blackheads, acne, pimples and blemishes. There are various reasons for skin to become oily. Reasons like heredity, diet with oily and fried food, pregnancy, birth control pills, humidity and hot weather, hormones and also cosmetics. You can easily achieve oil-free skin if you wash your face twice or thrice a day with warm water as it's good solvent of grease, avoid fried food, drink at least 8-10 glasses of water, avoid heavy cleansing cream and use a toner that will tighten the pores and keep dirt out.

Caring for oily skin is not cumbersome at all and can give you very pleasing results if followed diligently. Tomato has astringent quality and is a good toning agent. Apply it on the face in pureed or juice form, leave it for 20 minutes and wash off with water to reduce the pore size. You can also mix it with lemon juice or sandalwood to control sebum production. A mix of wheat flour or gram flour with turmeric, milk, rose water, honey and lemon makes for an excellent face pack. Apply all over the face leaving the eye area and wash it off after 20 minutes. You'll find that your skin is oil free. It may seem like oily skin doesn't need moisturizing but it does just like dry skin. You'd have to be very careful while choosing a cream or lotion. Why not opt for honey instead? It's a good moisturizer that doesn't make skin look oily. Apply a thin layer all over the face and wash it off after 15 minutes with lukewarm water. Honey also takes care of blemishes and lightens skin. You need to cleanse your oily skin as oil can make dirt stick to the skin and lead to blackheads. Milk is a great natural cleanser. Wash your face with milk several times a day to keep the pores clear of sebum or oil. Crab apple is a rich source of AHA (alpha hydroxyl acids) that is responsible for toning, softening and moisturizing skin. Apply its paste on the face and neck. Wash it off with tepid water after 20 minutes.

answered by G M

Treatment

Oily skin has hyperactive sebaceous glands, which produce more oil than what is required by the skin. This often results in open and swollen pores, pimples, irregular skin texture, and blemishes. Oily skin is often dull looking and prone to blackheads. There can be many reasons for oily skin. During adolescence, there are hormonal shifts that increase the chances of getting oily skin. This decreases with age, as the skin gets drier as we grow older. Sebaceous glands also become active during pregnancy and menopause. This is again due to hormonal imbalance. Heredity, climate and use of cosmetics are also some of the causes.

The following are some simple home remedies for skin care that should help you:

• Clean your skin with warm water and soap three times a day. Do not wash more than three times a day as this will increase the production of oil.
• Avoid usage of harsh cosmetics as it will dehydrate the skin.
• Use oil-free moisturizer and water-based products.
• Puree a fresh tomato and apply it over your face for 10 minutes. Repeat this on alternate days to reduce oil secretion.
• Make a face mask using tomato, cucumber, and oats. Apply it once in three days to draw out excess oil.
• Increase your water intake. Drink 2 to 3 liters of water for a healthy skin.
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid sugar, oily and junk food.
• Use a mud or a clay pack to reduce oil production.

answered by G R