Some people naturally produce more oil on the skin than others, from what is called sebaceous or oil glands. Sebum/oil production is often highest in adolescence, but the extra sebum doesn’t necessarily end when people leave their teenage years. Extra sebum is associated with breakouts and pimples of varying types, and for this reason, many people look for an oily skin cleanser. Quite simply, oily skin cleanser is anything that helps to remove or clean off extra oil from the skin.
There are many oily skin cleanser types available. Most contain a surfactant, or a chemical element that helps to break down oils so that water will remove the oil from the skin. Surfactants are used in things like detergents and dish soaps too, to remove oil from clothing or dishes. Clearly some types of surfactants are too harsh to use on the skin, but most present in skin soaps, especially those designed for the face, will clean without irritating.
It isn’t always necessary to spend huge amounts of money to buy an oily skin cleanser. Doctors may even recommend using soap like Ivory® since it works well to remove oil. Some people may find this skin cleanser too harsh, however. Using very simple soaps may dry the face and remove too much sebum from the skin. The alternatives are the many oily skin cleansers designed specifically for the face. A lot of them also contain acne fighting agents like salicylic acid or retinol.
Skin care specialists and dermatologists additionally suggest people with oily skin use a skin toner or astringent, which can be something as simple as witch hazel, to remove additional oil after a face wash. Skin care experts might recommend oil free moisturizers and noncomedogenic makeups to help keep oil to a minimum, too. Sometimes oily skin cleansers are sold in combination with toner and light moisturizing treatments, or a whole skin cleanser system is available from a single company. People may need to try to find the cleanser or cleanser system that is most appropriate.
Another way to draw some oil from the skin is to use facial masks. These can be homemade and contain things like ground almonds or oatmeal. Mud masks of most types are beneficial too. Since oily skin and acne are frequently paired, exfoliation (removal of dead skin cells) with a variety of exfoliating products may be useful to reduce breakouts.
What appears to matter most with oily skin cleanser is not what cleanser is chosen but how it is used. It’s typically recommended that people wash the face twice a day, and possibly a third time after any strenuous exercise. Cold water isn’t very effective, but extremely hot water may be too irritating. Instead, people should choose warm water for skin washing. It does seem to help if products like toners are used since they take off more oil, but too much oil removal could result in more breakouts. People must search for a happy medium, and if over the counter products or everyday soaps aren’t getting the job done, it’s suggested that people talk to a dermatologist about prescription products or treatments that may help the condition.
