Definition
What is oily skin?
Blackheads, pimples, greasy appearance and large pores are just some of the distinctive features of oily skin. It is a very common beauty problem, so felt by the population that it is considered a real insult to beauty.
Features
At the sight, oily skin appears shiny and oily, sometimes even dehydrated. Its color is rather dull and, to the touch, it is irregular in the plot, unctuous and rough. In this type of skin the hydro-lipid film becomes thicker and waxy, so as to hinder transpiration and promote the activity of the micro-organisms responsible for inflammation and odors. As if this were not enough, oily skin tends to have pores evidently dilated and scars left by acne; moreover, a seborrheic skin is much more subject to redness than a dry or normal skin.
The events described above would in themselves suffice to justify the disappointment of those who suffer them daily; unfortunately, however, the problems do not end there: those with oily skin, in fact, are more susceptible to acne, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff and androgenetic alopecia.
Classification
How many types of oily skin exist?
The enhanced activity of the sebaceous glands is a fundamental prerequisite for the problem of oily skin. Based on the extent of the phenomenon, it is possible to distinguish several types of oily skin:
- OILY SKIN: The sebum - whose production is relevant but not extraordinary - is particularly fluid. At the sight, an oily skin appears evidently shiny, with very dilated pores.
- SEBORRHEIC FAT SKIN: The activity of the sebaceous glands is so abundant that it even degenerates into the pathological. When it is produced in excess, the sebum dilates the walls of the follicles (commonly called "skin pores"), which take on a characteristic appearance, commonly known as "orange peel skin".
- ASPHITTIC FAT SKIN: The sebum is waxy, dense and trapped in the follicles. Exaggerated sebaceous production obstructs the follicular lumen; as a result, sebum, cellular debris and bacteria remain trapped inside. In turn, the occlusion of the follicular ostium gives rise to the so-called comedone, which can appear closed (white dot) or open (black dot). Since the sebum is not poured outside, the skin does not appear greasy and greasy, but tends to be dry and rough to the touch (a roughness given by the presence of blackheads). Similar situations are sustained - in addition to excess sebum - also by hyperkeratosis (thickening of the superficial layer of the epidermis).
- IMPURE LEATHER AND ACNEIC TREND: this variant of oily skin differs from the previous ones in the formation of papules and pustules. The direct responsible for these skin imperfections are the bacteria that, at the follicular level, induce inflammatory reactions such as to generate lesions often serious and deterrent. An acne-prone oily skin is also prone to redness and is affected by temperature changes. This type of oily skin involves a fairly large percentage of adolescents but, in some cases, it can also affect young adults up to the age of 25-30.
- MIXED SKIN: it is a particular variant of oily skin that differs from all the described forms because it is characterized by the simultaneous presence of very fat and acneic areas, and of other extremely arid and dry areas. In a mixed skin coexist (and alternate) therefore traits of dry skin and seborrheic skin.
Causes
As mentioned, at the origin of the problem "oily skin", we find the hyperfunctionality of the sebaceous glands.
deepening
The function of the sebaceous glands is to produce sebum. Under physiological conditions, sebum is associated with epidermal lipids produced by keratinocytes and is emulsified with the liquid fraction of sweat: together, these three components form the hydrolipidic film. In a healthy skin, this sort of film on the epidermis protects the skin from impurities and bacteria, keeping it at the same time elastic, soft and hydrated.
The main factors triggering oily skin are many: there are causes of an extrinsic and intrinsic nature. Let's look at them in detail.
CAUSES OF INTRINSIC ORIGIN
Genetic predisposition, constitutional factors and hormonal alterations are the main causes responsible for the onset of oily skin. Not surprisingly, fatty skin is a common problem among members of the same family.
At the level of hair follicles, a hyper-concentration of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase causes an exaggerated (and unregulated) production of sebum, which translates precisely into oily skin.
Did you know that ...
The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, is also involved in the appearance of acne, hirsutism and androgenetic baldness.
On the hormonal level, then, oily skin also appears to be favored by an excess of adrenal corticosteroids, by cortisol, by progesterone; otherwise, the presence of estrogen hinders the production of sebum.
CAUSES OF EXOGENOUS ORIGIN
Oily skin can also be favored by "external" causes: the administration of some pharmacological specialties, for example, can stimulate sebaceous secretion to give rise to this hated phenomenon. Individuals who regularly take anabolic steroids, cortisone steroids or danazol, for example, tend to have evidently oily skin. The same goes for some diseases: women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at risk of oily and acneic skin.
Although indirectly, even an unregulated diet can affect the formation of oily skin: in overweight and obese patients, who follow a completely senseless diet - characterized by excesses, fat-rich foods and junk food - it is often observed a particularly oily and greasy type of skin.
In some cases, oily skin is the unfortunate consequence of using cosmetic products unsuitable for your skin type: sensitive skin, for example, can turn into oily skin following excessive use of aggressive cleansers, creams or ointments of poor quality. For this reason, it is a good rule to choose cosmetics according to the type of skin.
