Sebum – a fairly troublesome and calumniated constituent of human skin. Despite being disliked (it looks unappealing), sebum is essential for skin because it prevents dermis from becoming dehydrated or wrinkled. The good news for women complaining about constantly shining skin is that they will age definitely slower; their skin will remain youthful for definitely longer. Therefore, before you declare war against sebum and put skin out of order – find out how to limit its secretion in a wise and non-invasive way.

What’s sebum?

Our skin features many tiny glands working constantly. They remove unwanted/harmful substances form skin surface and produce sebum. This secretion is supposed to create a protective barrier which task is to prevent dehydration and irritations. Our skin has surprisingly many sebaceous glands. They belong to, so-called, holocrine glands which cells change into a secretion and gather on skin surface (they part from epidermis). The composition of sebum includes mono-glycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, waxes, free fatty acids, cholesterol and squalene.

What does skin need sebum for?

Sebum is a component of the hydrolipid coat of skin – and the very coat is the most important type of protection skin has. Without it, dermis would be defenceless. Deprived of hydrolipid coat skin gets dehydrated, ages as well as it loses its firmness and a shield protecting from all possible aggressors deriving from the environment. Another extremely important function of sebum is separating skin from bacteria, viruses, fungi and this distractive UV radiation. It’s due to sebum that skin owns protection against wind, frost and all possible atmospheric changes. It’s smooth and well-moisturised because sebum holds water inside skin.

What does stimulate sebum production and its quantity?

• Hormones – both the ones which slow down sebum secretion as well as the ones responsible for hyperproduction of this substance, and they are: progesterone, oestrogen as well as testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone.
• Juvenescence – the hugest amount of sebum is produced right after birth, but it decreases within 6 months to increase again during juvenescence. After turning 25 production of sebum drops down and rises again around 40.
• Vitamin shortage – mostly lack of the following vitamins B2, B6 and A.
• Frequent skin touching – sebaceous glands are stimulated to produce more sebum when being frequently touched and rubbed.
• Temperature, climate and weather condition – sebum is produced in greater amounts in a dry climate (protection against dehydration), therefore, during these hot days, or during winter, when we stay in overheated rooms for long, sebum production significantly rises.
• Part of a day – in short, sebum production is accelerated throughout a day and slows down in the evening.

When should overactive sebum glands be considered as an issue?

Excessive sebum production is mostly a problem of oily or acne skin type. In most cases, this problem affects T-zone, which is chin, nose and forehead. Naturally, there are also people whose sebaceous glands produce sebum evenly on the entire face. As a result, the whole face seems to be oily and features this hard-to-control shine. When it comes to acne, this problem is mainly associated with the young (the level of hormones disturbs proper functioning of sebaceous glands), however, this is not the rule because mature skin frequently struggles with acne symptoms as well. Finally, sebum glands are clearly overactive when skin starts shining an hour or two after applying make-up or when it is evidently covered with sebum right after waking up. It also happens that skin gets oily within 30 minutes since being cleansed.

How to limit excessive sebum production & take care of oily skin?

• Always carry oil-control blotting paper. It’s a marvellous invention that is able to mattify skin without removing make-up. Such blotting paper is to be pressed to the skin areas that shine most. Sebum is absorbed by the paper and skin is left matte. Oil-control blotting paper is one-use-only.
• Excessive sebum production can be slowed down only by taking appropriate medications. Therefore, if the amount of sebum produced bothers you, visit a dermatologist. This specialist will examine you and decide whether you need treating and which medications to use.
• Before applying make-up, cleanse your face precisely. Use only cosmetics that are destined for oily or combination skin; also use alcohol-free products. Follow with a special mattifying base of light consistency that neither clogs skin pores nor overburdens dermis.