Facts About Oil on the Face That Are Not Always Bad
Having oil on your face sometimes makes you feel insecure. In fact, there are some people who constantly wash their face so that the oil on their face disappears or even use oil paper every 1 hour so that the oil on their face can recede.
In fact, oil on the face is not always bad, you know! Instead of being suspicious all the time with oil, it’s a good idea to listen to some facts you should know about oily facial skin below.
Facts about oil on the face
Oil (sebum) is a yellowish substance produced by the sebaceous (sebaceous) glands which are found on almost every surface of the body’s skin.
Due to its unique composition, sebum can keep the skin moist. It also has antibacterial properties, making it the body’s first line of defense against infection. Come on, see the full explanation below.
1. Oil is made from fat
Sebum is actually a mixture of fatty acids, sugars, waxes, and other chemicals that form a barrier to protect against water evaporation on the skin.
More specifically, sebum contains 57% triglycerides and fatty acids and 4.5% wax esters (wax), squalene (a type of lipid/fat), and cholesterol.
However, oil is more than just sebum. The oil on the face also contains a mixture of sweat, dead skin cells, and small particles that are around the skin layer.
2. Oil on the face can make the face moister
Oil on the face is actually very beneficial for dry skin, you know! However, make sure you choose the right care product.
Oil can restore the natural balance and increase the moisture content of your skin. In addition, oil is also suitable as a skin type for people who live in tropical climates.
3. Oil on the face makes the skin more resistant to sunlight
An oily face turns out to be more resistant to sun exposure because it has a thicker layer of moisture. Approximately, the level of acidity (pH) is around 4.5 – 6.2.
This acidity layer will protect the skin from bacteria and retain skin moisture, so you also don’t need to use excessive sunscreen.
4. Oily skin still needs moisturizer
There is a myth that using moisturizer on oily skin causes the skin to become more oily and acne to occur. In fact, the cause of oily skin is dry conditions that occur on the skin.
Generally, after using a cleanser and toner, the skin will turn dry, so the right moisturizer for oily skin is needed to help keep facial skin moisturised.
5. The cause of acne is not due to oily skin
Actually, if your oily skin grows pimples, it’s not because of the oil on your face. Acne that arises is usually due to residual makeup and dirt that is not cleaned optimally so that the skin pores become clogged.
When pores are clogged with makeup residue and dirt, the skin will become dehydrated which can trigger the skin to produce more oil, causing irritation and pimples on the skin.
6. Oily skin is generally due to heredity (genetic)
There are many ways to deal with oily skin problems. However, any method will not be able to stop the appearance of oil on the skin because the main factor for oily skin generally comes from genetic factors.
7. Oil helps prevent skin from bacterial and fungal infections
Apparently, oil also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, you know! The lipids in the oil make the skin’s pH slightly acidic, which ranges from 4.5 – 6.0 so bacteria, viruses, and microbes don’t last long on the skin layers.
In addition, the lack of sebum produced from the skin is also often associated with high fungal infections of the skin such as ringworm. Because oil can provide protection to the skin from a fungus that causes disease.
Overcoming the problem of oily skin is not an easy thing, but trying to change your lifestyle for healthier skin, such as drinking lots of water and eating healthy food.
In addition, using skincare products (facial care) specifically for oily facial skin will help control the amount of oil on facial skin.