Oily skin is shiny, thick and dull colored. Often a chronically oily skin has coarse pores and pimples and other embarrassing blemishes. It is prone to blackheads. In this type of skin, the oil producing sebaceous glands are overactive and produce more oil than is needed. The oil oozes and gives the skin a greasy shine. The pores are enlarged and the skin has a coarse look.. This is because if you know what the cause is, then you will know the best way to tackle the problem of actually dealing with it. While most methods will work in terms of actually controlling the symptom of oily skin, the larger condition needs to be treated in a way that has the cause of the problem in mind. With that said, here are some of the more frequent culprits in causing oily skin.

Hormone Levels

There are a number of different hormone levels that can affect whether or not you have oily skin and of course the hormone levels can be altered by various life events. Puberty can be an example of something that tends to lead to hormonal imbalances that can be a result of oily skin and at the other end of the spectrum as well menopause is another event that can create hormonal imbalances of a different kind that can also result in the same type of condition.

The essential requirement of treating oily skin is to remove excess surface sebum without total removal of the skin lipids. Severe degreasing treatment can lead to an apparent worsening of sebum secretion, which defeats the aim of the cleansing. A method of cleansing this type of skin is to wash with a solution of a very mild synthetic detergent (surfactant, see below) containing no oils, waxes or any other lipid agent that could aggravate the oily condition of the skin, sometimes combined with a toning lotion. This kind of product eliminates the oily residue and debris from the skin surface

Diet

There are a number of things in terms of the diet that you choose that can actually affect the level of fluids and oil secreted by the pores in your skin. If you have a diet that is low in protein and leafy green vegetables while at the same time being high in things like sugar, then through your lifestyle choice you are encouraging the type of oily secretions that are typically characterized as one of the main nuisances associated with an oily skin condition.

Treatment for oily skin

# White or pink clay masks gently cleanse oily skin of excess oil. The darker brown clay masks are stronger and more effective on very oily skins. Apply a clarifying face mask couple of times a week.

# Aromatherapy oils such as lemon, rosemary and cedarwood are said to be effective in treating oily skin. A few drops of any of these oils combined with lanolin can be massaged into the skin.

The everyday cucumber and tomato mashed and applied to the face is very good for the care of oily skin. One other simple thing that is often done in Indian homes is washing the face with buttermilk before exposure to the sun. Apply it allover the face and neck, wait for about 10 minutes and wash with warm water. Rose water mixed with ice water and mint juice with rose water is excellent for oily skin care. Always remember, any application should be left on for at least 10 minutes before being washed.

Make up for oily skin

Choose cosmetic and facial care products specifically designed for oily skin. Use oil-free moisturizers for a shine-free complexion. You can use an antiseptic day cream before applying makeup to oily skin. This will keep sebaceous secretions under control. Makeup for oily skin hinges on creating a matte effect.

You must use foundations that block out shine and non-pore clogging formula. Use concealer to hide blemishes and spots. Loose powder can keep you looking fresh all day long and absorb the excess oil too. Most women with oily skin cant do without this makeup item