Treatment for oily skin

Is your skin oily, combination or sensitive?

Oily skin produces excess sebum, the oil made by your skin's oil glands. Shine, a greasy feel, noticeable pores and blackheads or pimples can go together. Genes and hormones play a major role; diet probably has little effect on whether your skin is oily. Excess oil can make makeup run or cake, which is a fairly unhelpful contribution to getting ready.134

After washing, notice how your face feels about 30 minutes later. Oiliness suggests oily skin; oily areas alongside dry areas suggest combination skin. A shiny forehead, nose and chin with dry cheeks does not need identical treatment everywhere. You can treat different areas differently rather than applying an oily skin product across dry areas. Sensitive skin can also be oily, so oiliness alone does not tell you how well your skin will tolerate treatment.3

How to build your daily routine

1. 1Wash in the morning with a gentle cleanser and warm water. Avoid hot water and scrubbing, which can irritate skin.
2. 2Moisturize after cleansing. Look for products labelled noncomedogenic, meaning designed not to clog pores, or oil free.
3. 3During the day, apply a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Broad spectrum means protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
4. 4At the end of the day, remove makeup and gently cleanse again. If you need an acne cleanser, choose it for your blemishes rather than shine alone.
5. 5Wash your face after exercise to help prevent acne. Do not scrub to compensate for sweat or oil.

Use water based or oil free cosmetics, and check skincare and makeup for noncomedogenic labelling. Cleansing removes excess oil; a clinician can also recommend creams that absorb oil or limit its production. Washing repeatedly is not the next step if frequent washing causes irritation or increased oil production.4

What are the treatment options for oily skin?

For noticeable pores, retinol or retinyl palmitate skincare can help, and bedtime is the recommended application time. Waiting 30 minutes after washing before applying can reduce irritation. Do not use either ingredient during pregnancy or breastfeeding.5

What acne treatments are suitable for oily skin?

Choose acne treatment by the type of spots, not just how greasy your face feels. Blackheads and whiteheads form when pores fill with excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. A retinoid helps unclog them; adapalene is available without a prescription in some markets. A benzoyl peroxide wash helps reduce acne bacteria. Blackheads are not dirt, and scrubbing makes acne worse.6

For small inflamed bumps or pimples containing pus, a face wash with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid is an option. Acne wash guidance commonly calls for twice daily use, but tolerance matters. If salicylic acid dries or irritates your skin, alternate it with a mild cleanser: mild cleanser in the morning, salicylic acid cleanser before bed. Do not squeeze pimples, which can worsen acne and cause scars.256

Persistent or more severe acne can need prescription treatment. Options include topical retinoids such as tretinoin or adapalene, antibiotics applied to the skin or taken as tablets, hormone treatment, and oral isotretinoin. These treatments have different jobs: retinoids reduce oiliness and prevent spots, while antibiotics target bacteria involved in inflammation. A prescription acne treatment is not simply a stronger cleanser.2

How can you treat excessively oily skin?

Excessively oily skin is called seborrhoea. Start with twice daily washing using a mild or soapless cleanser. If oiliness is severe, a doctor can consider topical retinoids, antiandrogens, which are hormone treatments for women, or low dose isotretinoin. Most people with seborrhoea have no other health problem, but excess androgen hormones can contribute in some women. Assessment is more useful than repeatedly replacing one oil control product with another.1

Greasy, scaly patches or a persistent rash around the eyebrows, sides of the nose, beard or scalp need a different approach from shine alone. Seborrheic dermatitis is a recurring inflammatory skin condition that affects these oily areas. Treatment can include antifungal creams such as ketoconazole or ciclopirox, and medicines to reduce inflammation. Have the rash assessed rather than treating it as ordinary oiliness.7

How can men treat oily skin?

The same general routine applies to men: gentle cleansing, suitable moisturizer and sunscreen, with acne treatment when needed. Seborrhoea affects both men and women. Choose treatment for oiliness, blemishes and sensitivity rather than sex; hormone treatment listed for women is not a general treatment option for men.13

When should you change treatment or see a doctor?

If your oily skin is sensitive, avoid dyes, fragrance and harsh treatments. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can cause redness, itching, burning and dryness in sensitive skin. Do not keep using an irritating product unchanged. Choose gentler skincare, and get help selecting treatment if acne and sensitivity make that difficult.3

Give acne treatment six to eight weeks to show improvement. That is an acne review point, not a deadline for eliminating oily skin. If blackheads, whiteheads or pimples remain, a dermatologist can offer prescription treatment or, for stubborn blocked pores, professional extraction. Do not wait through that trial period for deep, painful lumps, which can leave permanent scars.6

See a doctor if:

• Acne is not improving with treatment, or you have many spots.
• Spots are deep, painful or causing scars.
• Skin becomes hot, swollen and red, which can indicate infection. Redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin.
• Acne is affecting your mental health.