Why Is My Skin Oily All Of A Sudden?
Oily and blemish-prone skin is common when people are going through puberty or experiencing other changes in hormones, which are phases of life that can often be predicted and are well understood. However, as people who pay attention to their daily skin appearance know, you can easily change skin types for a wide variety of reasons, from stress levels to changing weather.
If you’ve realized your skin has become more oily, maybe to the degree that your normal products are ineffective or over-indulgent, it may be due to one of these common causes. Read on to find out how to remove excess oil, calm excess oil production, and address the causes of oily skin.
LACK OF HYDRATION
Counter-intuitively, your skin can become oily if you don’t use enough moisturizer on a daily basis. At the same time, if you’re not well-hydrated from the inside out, your skin can lose moisture even with using high-quality moisturizing products. Water is vital for all parts of your body, including the skin. If you’re dehydrated, the skin has less water to work with, and will prompt more oil production to try to keep what little water it does have locked in.
The solution? If you’re feeling greasy and aren’t drinking the recommended amount of water a day, try increasing your hydration levels to see if your dry skin becomes more naturally radiant from the inside out.
GENETICS
It’s no secret that one of the leading factors in your skin type is what skin type your parents have. Some people are blessed with easy-to-manage skin and others are seemingly cursed with a skin type that’s hard to control. This doesn’t just apply to the long-term “settled” experience of your skin type, but also to what types of phases of oil production you can expect to deal with throughout your life.
While you can’t control your genetics, you can take advantage of Epicuren Discovery’s professional formulas specifically designed for oily skin. We have products from gentle cleansers to enzyme-powered toners to help keep your skin care routine top-notch, no matter if your skin is oil-free or if you have oilier skin.
STRESS
Stress doesn’t just affect your attitude and mental health, it also manifests itself physically in many ways, one of which is in the condition of your skin. The body’s stress response includes releasing the hormone cortisol into your bloodstream, which can signal your skin to produce more oil. Although not entirely helpful, the fix for this oily skin cause is calming down, which can be as simple as taking a warm bath and doing breathing exercises.
If you know you're about to encounter a stressful period of time in your life, it's also good to know your body might increase sebum production so you can adjust your skincare routine to deal with excess sebum, acne breakouts, and oil throughout the period. Too much oil mixed with dead skin cells can clog pores, causing acne breakouts to occur. Finding the right skincare routine for your oily skin is essential in managing the complexion that you desire.
TOO AGGRESSIVE PRODUCTS
One thing to evaluate if you’re suddenly experiencing oily skin is whether you’ve recently made a change to your skincare routine. Using products that are too intense, or using them too aggressively, can interfere with the skin’s natural barrier and activity of the sebaceous glands. This is why it’s important to use products as directed, and to consider getting rid of harsh chemicals like alcohol or exfoliating formulas that have salt or sand crystals to scrub at skin. That is to say, exfoliants have a great part to play in opening clogged pores and treating oily skin, but typically not every day, and certainly not to the point where it irritates your skin.
If you’ve recently adopted a new product or step in your skincare regimen, make sure it’s a subtle, gentle approach that won’t overly dry out your skin, resulting in your body’s oil-producing response. Identifying irritating products ahead of time can help you understand when your oily skin occurs.
PROFESSIONAL-GRADE SKINCARE PRODUCTS FROM EPICUREN
To get the best care for your skin’s appearance, trust the professional formulas of Epicuren Discovery’s Oily Skin Products. Our collection of cleansers, toners, and moisturizers are proven to help you eliminate the slick appearance of oily skin with natural, cruelty-free ingredients that make a great addition to your daily routine. Find out which products are best tailored to your skin type and goals by taking our Skin Quiz today.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OILY SKIN
HOW DO I STOP MY FACE FROM BEING SO OILY?
If your skin is sweaty and oily, you may want to start cleansing it three times per day, in the morning, at night, and in the middle of the day to stave off excess oil.
WHY IS MY FOREHEAD SUDDENLY SO OILY?
Stress, changes in the weather, and hormone imbalances can all affect the way your skin expresses oil. If your forehead has become more oily than usual, try to be more diligent with cleansing and moisturizing that area in particular.
WHY IS MY FACE MORE OILY THAN NORMAL?
Your sebaceous glands, responsible for excessive oil production, can become more active due to changes inside or outside your body. Countering your excess oil therefore should consist of both internal hydration and regular cleansing.
DOES STRESS CAUSE OILY SKIN?
Stress can cause skin to secrete more sebum and oil, although everyone responds to stressors differently.
DOES DRINKING WATER REDUCE OILY SKIN?
Sometimes oily skin is due to the skin reacting against dehydration, producing more sebum to lock in the moisture the skin still has. In this case, drinking enough water is helpful to reduce oil production.