Those of us who suffer with oily skin know how hard it can be to find oily skin cures. Unfortunately, the causes behind this vary greatly. In many cases with women, skin becomes particularly oily due to hormone fluctuation, but some doctors believe it could be hereditary if one of both parents has excessively oily skin.

You should know that the skin’s natural oil, called sebum, is supposed to be in and on our skin; it keeps our skin moisturized and our hair nice and hydrated. However, those of us who over-produce sebum know how “moisturized and hydrated” can soon become “greasy and dirty.”

Many doctors agree that overly greasy skin should be cleansed daily, however the biggest mistake you could do is to use a very harsh cleanser. (Which is a common misconception among people with an oily skin type.) Dr. Barry Resnik advises that, “A good cleanser is one designed to remove excess oil while leaving intact the barrier of fatty acids to help maintain function and protect our skin.”

You may find that using a gentle soap in the winter, when skin is naturally dryer, and a real deep-cleaner for summertime when you’re more likely to sweat, helps your skin from either becoming too dry or too oily. One should never use ordinary soap on the face, as it is extremely drying to the sensitive facial skin and can result in irritation.

Washing your face twice a day is a good routine to stick with–but be careful not to exceed this, even if you are using a gentle cleanser. Over-washing can result in stripping away important oils from your skin.

Below are a few ideas to get you started in your quest for treating oily skin:

  • clay or mud masques
  • try an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) cream, it can increase the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which help to regulate the skin’s moisture
  • try a topical treatment that contains alcohol, which can help soak up some of the extra oil
  • for you gals–there are “anti-shine” primers that can be applied before makeup that help to absorb excess oil as it surfaces

If you can’t seem to get your oily skin under control, there are several popular professional treatments you can try:

  • Retin A
  • Differin
  • Tazorac
  • Accutane