Oily Skin in Men: Specific Care Tips

The skin of men in India usually tends to produce more sebum by the sebaceous glands. It is very commonly observed that men with oily skin usually have shiny forehead, greasy cheeks, enlarged pores on the nose and frequent breakouts on the uncomfortable tacky skin. These skin concerns can literally make them feel frustrated, confused and a full-time warrior against the pimples on the face as if in a constant battle with oily skin. 

However, the skin type of an individual is an inherent trait of the body. Sebum in excess on the skin can ultimately cause chaos to the skin microbiome resulting in acne. So, it’s very important to build the right skincare routine and follow specific care tips for oily skin in men that helps balance out and regulate the excessive oil production on the skin. 

This blog will cover 

• Introduction to oily skin
• Causes & Triggers of oily skin
• How oily skin ends up being vulnerable to breakouts
• Tips to follow for men
• Common mistakes men with oily skin need to avoid
• Simple realistic routine for oily skin with Alite skincare

Introduction To Oily Skin Men

Oily skin is basically the one that appears excessively shiny and reflects most of the light that falls on it. It is simply due to overproduction of oils on the skin. The natural oil present on the skin surface of an individual with oily skin type is sebum. The sebum is a mix of lipids, triglycerides, squalane, fatty acids and cholesterol. This oily substance is released by the sebaceous glands present in the pilosebaceous units which are densely located specifically in areas like the nose, forehead and chin. Consequently, the high sebum secretion rate becomes a determining factor for the men with oily skin. 

Causes & Triggers Of Oily Skin

How Oily Skin Ends Up Being Vulnerable To Breakouts

The oily skin produces excess sebum. This adds to the clogging of the pore walls by mixing with other debris of dead skin cells, pollutants, and makeup residue within the skin. This subsequently leads to the formation of an anoxic environment deep in the pores where naturally residing acne causes microorganisms like Cutibacterium acnes, Malassezia furfur, etc. to proliferate comfortably and thrive exponentially on the skin barrier metabolizing on this excess oil. Their uncontrolled multiplication leads to irritation on the skin that disrupts the skin barrier and promotes a cascade of inflammatory response towards the irritation. This chain of 

1. Excess oil
2. Pore clogging
3. Microbial Proliferation 
4. Inflammation

Finally elevates the risk of acne on the skin. 

Tips To Follow For Men

• Wash your skin twice daily with a gentle cleanser--Cleansing using a dedicated acne-care face wash for oily skin helps remove the impurities like excess oil, sweat, dirt and acne bacteria from the skin in a very gentle manner.

You can use face wash that is non-comedogenic with no parabens as well as sulphate-free for oily skin including

• Exfoliate weekly --Dead skin cells accumulate on the skin surface due to poor desquamation. These trapped debris mix with excess oil to form comedones and active pimples. Use gentle scrub not more than twice a week such as Alite Neem Face Scrub. It has the powerful goodness of phytoconstituents from the extracts of neem for oil-control, aloe vera for hydration as well as cucumber for its soothing effects on the skin.

• Avoid skipping moisturizer--Skipping moisturiser is a common mistake. It actually ends up making the skin feel oilier. When your skin detects the lack of hydration, it produces extra sebum to compensate. Use a lightweight, oil-free or gel-based moisturiser on a daily basis as recommended by your dermatologist.

• Apply non-comedogenic sunscreen--Sun damage worsens skin texture and causes premature aging in men but heavy sunscreens may also feel greasy on the skin. Men need to choose an oil-free or gel-based sunscreen with a matte finish as well as SPF 30 or higher with broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB. Apply it on a daily basis as the final step of your skincare routine.

• Incorporate Niacinamide acne gel--Niacinamide/Vitamin B3 is literally a powerpacked ingredient for men with oily skin types. It actively 

• regulates sebum production

• shrinks the appearance of enlarged pores

• strengthens the skin barrier

You can use Alite Anti-Acne Gel enriched with not only Niacinamide but it also has the high performing actives like Contacticel and Silanediol salicylate. Contacticel helps as a dermopurifying agent and Silanediol salicylate combines the action of salicylic acid (mild exfoliator & keratolytic) along with boosting collagen production for improvement in the barrier repair.

• Watch your diet and sleep pattern--High-glycemic foods like sugary snacks, white bread, and dairy can spike hormone levels and trigger sebum production. Disruption in the quality of sleep can affect your overall tired appearance with dull skin. The cortisol and androgenic dominance triggers the acne so make sure to eat healthy food in a planned balanced diet and follow a consistent sleeping pattern with a focus on practices that improve the sleep quality.

• Consult a dermatologist--Schedule a consultation with a dermatologist in case of severe damage to the skin -barrier with extreme oiliness and greasy texture of the skin rendering it more susceptible to the breakouts along with skin concerns such as

• Redness

• Swelling

• Itchiness

• Painful acne

• Post-acne marks

• Scarring due to acne

The dermat will help you diagnose the exact skin issue and provide you with personalized recommendations for your oily skin and associated skin disorders.

Common Mistakes to Avoid For Oily Skin Men India

Skip moisturizers

Skipping moisturizers can render the skin unprotected and dehydrated with elevated transepidermal water loss that subsequently compromises the defensive barrier.

Use of comedogenic cosmetics

The layering of comedogenic products on the skin may congest the pores of the barrier which leaves the skin prone to the formation of comedones and inflamed pimples.

Combining multiple potent actives

Combining potent actives applied on the skin at the same time without proper consideration can severely damage the skin barrier with the appearance of active inflamed pimples that subsequently irritates the skin with purging. 

Forgetting sun protection 

No sunscreen before going out in the sun can leave the skin unprotected which will add on more oxidative stress with the increased formation of free radicals due to the exposure of UV on the skin. 

Not maintaining regular cleansing

The buildup of trapped debris of dead skin cells, dirt, oil, sweat and the acne microbes can damage the skin barrier. That’s why proper cleansing is crucial to maintain an optimum barrier health of the skin.

Simple Realistic Routine For Oily Skin With Alite Skincare

A realistic routine for oily and acne-prone skin using the wide range of Alite Skincare focuses on controlling excess sebum and clearing pores without damaging your skin barrier. A simple 4 step AM and PM regimen make it utmost effective and easy to maintain. 

Key Takeaways

The accumulation of oily skin in men mostly happens because of over production of Sebum which usually gives out a shiny as well as heavy feel to skin accompanied by expansion in pore size and excessive pimples. A combination of many factors like weather, diet, stress and weather changes as well as genetic predisposition results in production of excessive Sebum along with the weakening of natural oil controlling the barrier of skin. Sebum along with many other factors like pollutants and dead skin cells clog the pores and therefore increase the number of microbes that lead to acne and increased inflamed conditions of skin and development of painful pimples. 

An organized skin care routine is needed which involves proper gentle cleansing, with acne gel and a moisturizing sunscreen.

Other useful ingredients include:- 

• Salicylic acid 
• Niacinamide 
• Charcoal 
• Neem

When it comes to mistakes to avoid while managing oily skin, they include over-cleansing, skipping the use of Moisturiser, use of heavy products, combination of multiple actives and avoiding sunscreens on oily skin. A consistent AM and PM regimen would suffice rather than an overcrowded array of cosmetics and complicated skincare regimen. If your oily skin results in severe pain, redness, swelling and pimples which result in marks and scars then you definitely need to consult a dermatological healthcare expert immediately.