Greasy / Oily Skin. Solutions?

[fallinsinner]

Good evening, Doctor. This is more so of a self esteem killer, then a serious issue. I cannot recall exactly how long I've been dealing with this, but I am more then well aware that a lot of people put up with this, as well.

I'm 17 years of age. My first issue / question:

1.) Ever since I could remember, I've had an issue with oily skin. More so in my face, then anywhere else. If I take a shower on Friday, my face will start to oil up the next day, or maybe if I'm lucky; Sunday. This issue leaves my face with a glossy look, and is disgusting to the touch, for lack of a better term. I've tried many facial exfoliates. Nothing. I still have the same results as if I never used a product to begin with.

I've gotten past my acne stage. The re-occurrence of my acne normally is biased off of what I eat and drink, which I've been closely watching. I have used Pro Active products, as well. I do not enjoy the fact that I need to use nearly six different products to resolve a single purpose. They had also left my skin feeling "slick". I discontinued my usage. What would you recommend, either as a permanent fix, or something that works gradually over time?

My second issue / question:

2.) Fr the longest time, I had sported the "long hair over-the-face" look. At the time, it seemed cool because everyone else was doing it. After a while, it had become overrated. After which, I had cut it short. One of the many problems I had endured, was the fact that my oily hair was on my face, resulting in terrible acne. After cutting my hair, it's nowhere near as bad.

Right now, I suffer from "greasy" hair. Essentially, it's the same as my face. It gets greasy, and the strands of hair group together, and it just looks and feels terrible. If I take a shower on Friday, my hair begins to lose it's buoyancy and volume the next morning. I'm sure a lot of people get greasy hair, but don't experience it until a week or two after they washed it.

I take a shower every other day, or as needed. Currently, I use TRESemmé Shampoo. The one to help the fullness and volume of my hair. Works great, overall. But I wish to fix this issue. I also suffer from dry, flaky scalp. Normally itches when I sweat, the usual. What would you recommend?



I apologize for my long post, but I had wanted to be descriptive.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
In oily 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. It can be caused by heredity, diet, hormone levels, pregnancy, birth control pills and hot and humid weather. Oily skin needs special cleansing with plenty of hot water and soap to prevent the pores from being clogged. Avoid harsh products that strip your skin of oil and encourage flakiness. They can cause a reaction known as reactive seborrhoea, where the oil glands work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils.

Avoid skincare products that leave your skin feeling taut and dehydrated. You can use cetaphil and make sure that the rest of the times you wash your face with fresh water. Avoid heavy greasy moisturizers and take a diet rich in proteins but restricted in sugar, fluids and salt. Drink plenty of quality water to keep the skin hydrated and flush out toxins.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[fallinsinner]

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