What is the largest organ of the body? Skin, that’s what.
“Skin serves many important functions, including regulating body temperature, maintaining water and electrolyte balance, and sensing painful and pleasant stimuli,” notes The Merck Manual of Medical Information.
“The skin keeps dangerous substances from entering the body and provides a shield from the sun’s harmful effects. In addition, skin color, texture, and folds help mark people as individuals. Anything that goes wrong with skin functions or appearance can have important consequences for physical and mental health,” the Merck manual adds.
Like other organs of the body, skin is susceptible to damage. Oils produced by the body help keep skin healthy. But too much of a good thing can leave your face looking oily, which no one wants. Excess oil can also lead to blemishes and acne flare-ups.
“Changes in hormone levels, such as those that occur during the teen years and early 20s, can cause skin to become oily and trigger outbreaks of acne,” editors of Consumer Guide claim.
But it’s not just a problem for teenagers and young adults. Pregnant women sometimes notice an increase in skin oil as hormonal activity changes. Many women notice oily skin problems around the time of their menstrual periods, during pregnancy, or at menopause. Some types of birth control pills can also increase skin oiliness.
Oily skin, however, is more common among teenagers. “Younger skins are thicker and oilier with a larger number of active sebaceous glands,” explains Dr. Chua Jun Jin, a rejuvenative cosmetic and laser surgeon at the MountElizabeth Medical Center in Singapore .
Oily skin often leads to pimples, blackheads and other blemishes, but as yet there is no easy cure. “Fortunately, there are definitely plenty of ways to cut down on oiliness,” says Dr. Andrea Cambio, medical director of Cambio Dermatology in Cape Coral, Florida.
Here are some options:
Make mine mud. Clay or mud masks can be hydrating (like clay mint masks) or deep cleansing (such as those with fruit acids). “Hydrating masks infuse the dry skin with moisture and make the skin plump, firm, soft, supple and hydrated,” says Dr. Chua. “The effects, however, is temporary. Repeat use is recommended.”
Splash on the hot suds. “Hot water is a good solvent,” says Dr. Hillard H. Pearlstein, a private practitioner and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. For that reason, he recommends that oily skin be washed in very warm water, with plenty of soap. “How water plus soap will dissolve skin oil better than cold water and soap,” he says, “because more things dissolve in hot than cold, and that includes soap and the grit and grime you’re trying to get rid of on your skin.”
Choose cleansers carefully. Soap is one of the many options available for the face. “Beauty soaps have a more neutral pH, less acidity, less fragrance, and less detergent effects,” says Dr. Chua. “Soap cleans sufficiently but not too much.”
However, most soaps these days are dehydrating and may strips the skin clean of its essential oils and reduce the all-important skin barrier, thus allowing for infections and extrinsic damage. “Soap substitutes are ubiquitous now – gentle, effective and clean,” Dr. Chua says.
“I normally recommend soap-free cleansers for face,” says Dr. Ivor Lim, a plastic cosmetic surgeon at the Camden Medical Center in Singapore. “They cleanse the debris accumulated without stripping the skin excessively.” How many times? “Twice a day is enough,” Dr. Lim suggests.
Avoid astringents. “Astringents have no science studies to support their widespread use,” Dr. Chua declares. “They claim to be effective in cleaning and closing the pores. Alcohols in astringents are harsh on skins and bring about a transient tightening that can be potentially damaging.”
“The effect of strong astringents is the same as that of strong soaps and excessive stripping of skin oil is not the answer,” says Dr. Lim. “Instead, I recommend toners with antioxidants such as vitamin C.”
Select cosmetics with care. “No one brand of make-up is suitable for everyone, despite claims of 100-percent allergy or skin testing,” says Dr. Chua. “Oil-based make-ups wear better and last longer but have the disadvantage of producing acne. Water-based products are lighter and may need repeat applications and freshening.”
Oily skin may have the following problems: too much shine (use suitable oil-free products), blackheads (use a scrub to gently remove them), and acne (use acne-specific products like benzoyl peroxides, antibiotic lotions, fruit acids, and retinoids).
Don’t take a powder. Baby powder, that is. It is a good camouflage, but it does not reduce the oil output in the skin per se. “Powder will absorb the oils and keep them on the face,” explains Dr. Chua. “It is ineffective, uncomfortable, and unsightly.”
On the other side of the coin is dry skin. Many beauty books and glamour magazines recommend drinking “at least seven or eight glass of water per day” to keep the skin hydrated and prevent dryness. Is it fact or myth?
“If you’re totally dehydrated, your skin will become dry,” says Dr. Kenneth Neldner, chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Medicine. “But if you are normally hydrated, you cannot possibly counteract or correct dry skin by drinking water.”
Here’s what you can do, according to The Doctors Book of Home Remedies:
Put water where it counts. “The best way to get water to the skin is by soaking in it,” says Dr. Pearlstein. He recommends a 15-minute soak in lukewarm water, not hot water. And forget the notion that you should bathe every day. The rule of thumb for dry skin is: Bathe less and use cooler water.
Lubricate the skin. “Follow each bathe with a moisturizer,” says Dr. Pearlstein. “The tendency is for all the moisture that soaked into the skin to evaporate. If you bathe frequently, a moisturizer is doubly important. The moisturizer is what holds the water in.
Dry yourself damp – then stop. “It’s much more effective to apply moisturizer to damp skin immediately after bathing to put it on totally dry skin,” says Dr. Neldner.
Aging process cannot be stopped, but skin experts believe that there are many things you can do to delay and slow down aging. In his book, Stay Younger, Live Healthier, Dr. Willie T. Ong and his wife, Dr. Liza Ong, shares the following tips:
Avoid the sun. Sunlight is the primary cause of wrinkles and aging. Thus, you should avoid the sun from 10 AM to 4 PM. Use a sunscreen daily that has at least an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30. When going outside, wear a hat or bring an umbrella.
Stop smoking and avoid alcohol. Constant puffing causes wrinkles to form around the mouth area. Heavy drinking can result in puffy and wrinkled skin, giving your skin a dull and lifeless look.
Get enough sleep. Sleeping and resting are the easiest way to boost your energies. At night, try to go for eight hours of sleep. This will help your body heal and give you a vibrant-looking skin.
Eat wisely. Eat lots of colorful fruits, vegetables and salads. Choose high-fiber foods. Foods with vitamins A, C, and E are beneficial for the skin. Vitamin A repairs skin tissues. Vitamin C is used for collagen production and keeps the skin firm.
