Skin Health How to Manage Oily Skin By Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH LinkedIn Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH, is a freelance health writer with over a decade of experience working as a registered nurse in a variety of clinical settings. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 15, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Leah Ansell, MD Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD LinkedIn Leah Ansell, MD, is board-certified in cosmetic and medical dermatology. She is an assistant professor at Columbia University and works in private practice in New York City. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Our skin needs oil to moisturize and preserve it. People with oily skin tend to have fewer wrinkles. The downside to oily skin is that it leads to breakouts and a greasy complexion. Oily skin occurs when the skin’s sebaceous glands produce an abundance of sebum, or oil. Finding the right balance requires an understanding of the causes of and treatments for oily skin. Excess oil can be caused by a variety of factors like hormones, genetics, stress, and even the weather. Fortunately, there are simple ways to manage it that anyone can start implementing right away. What Is Sebum and How Does Your Skin Produce It? RyanKing999 / Getty Images What Causes Oily Skin? There are a variety of reasons why your skin could be oily, and they tend to fall into two categories: health reasons and environmental factors. Health reasons that can cause oily skin include processes going on in your body like fluctuating hormones. Environmental factors like humidity can also contribute to oily skin. Possible risk factors for oily skin include: Male sexPremenopausal women during ovulationHumid climate or summer seasonAfrican American descentChronic conditions affecting hormone levels Skin oil is produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. These glands are located all over the skin; the ones that are most likely to produce too much oil are located in the scalp, face, and upper body. Sebum has many benefits, including lubrication for the skin, antibacterial properties, sun protection, inflammation regulation, and wound healing. An oversupply of sebum, however, can lead to a shiny, greasy complexion, acne, and skin irritation. This Is What's Really Causing Your Acne Oily skin can be caused by any combination of these factors: Genetics may play a role in sebum production. Usually, the larger your pores, the more oil your skin will produce. The size of pores can vary by family and ethnicity. Androgens are hormones, such as testosterone, that are present in both males and females. Testosterone is produced in the sebaceous glands, and studies have linked higher levels of hormones to an increase in oil production. Female hormones like estrogen are associated with lower oil production in the skin. Growth hormones are linked to sebum production and are believed to be related to the development of acne. These hormones reach their highest lifetime levels during adolescence, which is usually marked by oilier skin. Stress releases a flood of stress hormones into the bloodstream. One stress-related hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone, is known to be able to bind to the skin’s sebaceous glands, increasing the production of oil. This may be one reason why stress seems to exacerbate acne. High-glycemic diets rich in sugar and simple carbohydrates may be linked to increased sebum production. Simple carbs may increase levels of growth hormones in the body, leading to increased oil. More research is needed, but recent studies have found a link between low-glycemic diets and a reduction in oil. Humidity can lead to increased sweating and oil production. Those who live in humid climates may be at higher risk of developing oily skin. You may be more prone to oily skin during humid summer months compared with dry winter months. High humidity may also lead to eczema. How to Treat and Prevent Eczema At-Home Treatments At-home treatments for oily skin can help decrease the amount of oil on the skin and prevent complications like acne and redness. Many of these treatments, though, will not address the underlying cause of the overproduction of sebum. If your oily skin is caused by hormones, for example, it can be managed at home but not cured. Talk with your healthcare provider if you’re interested in prescription treatments. Tips to Banish Breakouts and Oily Shine Wash Your Face Twice Daily One of the most effective ways to manage oily skin is by washing your face twice daily. Use a gentle cleanser with water every morning and night; wash again after a vigorous workout. There is no need to wash more frequently since that could be irritating to the skin and produce more oil. When washing your skin, use gentle circular motions instead of scrubbing. Moisturize It may feel counterintuitive, but using a daily moisturizer is an important way to manage oily skin. When your skin is overly dry, it stimulates your body to produce more oil to moisturize it. Look for a gentle, oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen and apply it every morning. Does Oily Skin Needs a Moisturizer? Use Blotting Paper Use blotting papers throughout the day to absorb excess oil between washes. These products are great for on-the-go care. Gently dab your face and try not to rub the paper over your skin because this could spread the oil around. In addition, avoid touching your face as much as possible. This tip is hard to stick to because most of us frequently touch our faces without realizing it. Our hands can transfer dirt, oil, and bacteria to our faces, leading to an oil buildup. Does Touching Your Face Cause Acne? Try a Clay Mask Clay masks may be helpful in soaking up excess oil from your face. Depending on which type of clay you choose, the mask can draw oil out of the pores and is washed away when you rinse off the clay. A study found a significant decrease in acne lesions in people who used a clay jojoba oil mask two to three times per week for six weeks. Add Green Tea to Your Routine You probably know green tea for its antioxidants and health benefits, but did you know it could help oily skin? Rather than brewing a cup, try applying a green tea emulsion to your skin. Studies have found that applying a 3% green tea emulsion to the skin can significantly reduce sebum production. You won’t see results overnight, though; participants noted a difference after 60 days. Should You Add Green Tea to Your Acne Treatments? Use a Hydrocortisone Cream Excess oil on the skin can sometimes lead to redness and flaky patches. An over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream can help address skin irritation and reduce redness and scaling. When to See a Healthcare Provider When at-home treatments are not helping, it’s best to see your healthcare provider. A mild amount of excess oil can be managed with good skin hygiene. If you have been regularly washing your face twice daily and applying a moisturizer without any improvement in excess oil production, it may be time to see a dermatologist. Uncontrolled breakouts and blackheads are another sign to seek help from your healthcare provider. Your dermatologist has several prescriptions and treatments to offer, so don’t hesitate to reach out. A Word From Verywell Oily skin can be caused by a variety of factors like genetics, hormones, stress, diet, and humidity. While sebum is beneficial for our skin, too much of it can lead to skin problems like acne and irritation. It’s helpful to remember that there are several possible treatments for oily skin, and they may take time to work. If one treatment does not help with your oily skin, others may be a better fit. Your dermatologist can help you determine the right course for you. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 11 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Oily skin. American Academy of Dermatology Association. How to control oily skin. Endly DC, Miller RA. Oily skin: a review of treatment options. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017 Aug;10(8):49-55. Acne.org. Why do some people have oilier skin than others? Ghosh S, Chaudhuri S, Jain VK, Aggarwal K. Profiling and hormonal therapy for acne in women. Indian J Dermatol. 2014 Mar;59(2):107-15. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.127667 Elsaie ML. Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: an update. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016 Sep 2;9:241-8. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S114830 Romańska-Gocka K, Woźniak M, Kaczmarek-Skamira E, Zegarska B. The possible role of diet in the pathogenesis of adult female acne. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016 Dec;33(6):416-420. doi: 10.5114/ada.2016.63880 Goad N, Gawkrodger DJ. Ambient humidity and the skin: the impact of air humidity in healthy and diseased states. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2016 Aug;30(8):1285-94. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13707 Meier L, Stange R, Michalsen A, Uehleke B. Clay jojoba oil facial mask for lesioned skin and mild acne--results of a prospective, observational pilot study. Forsch Komplementmed. 2012;19(2):75-9. doi: 10.1159/000338076. DermNet NZ. Seborrhoea. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Treating acne? Is it time to see a dermatologist? Additional Reading American Academy of Dermatology Association. Acne: who gets and causes.