Do you wake up in the mornings to see your pillowcases all oily or wet? Or do you perhaps find your face looking like you just had an oil bath at weird hours of the day? Well, you are not alone in this. I have also had my fair share of waking up with an oily face.
When we have oily skin, we tend to equate it to mean having moisture in our skin. However, having oily skin means a lack of moisture. The body produces oil as a defense mechanism to dehydration. If you’re interested in finding out why your body produces so much oil, read this article till the end.
Why is my face so oily when I wake up in the morning?
Our body goes through a general cleansing process when we sleep, and the face is not left out. During this cleansing process, the face loses a lot of moisture due to Transepidermal water loss, which leads to dehydration in the face.
The sebaceous glands begin to excrete sebum and work with the sweat glands to keep the face hydrated throughout the night to counterattack this dehydration. Therefore, waking up with oil and sweat buds on your face is a result of your body’s defense against dehydration. People with oily faces are prone to produce excessive sebum making their face excessively oily when they wake up.
How can I prevent having excess oil on my face when I wake up?
Although we cannot stop the process our bodies go through every night or the production of oil on our face, we can prevent the overactivity of the Sebaceous glands. Below are some recommendations.
1. Drink Enough Water
Water does a lot of good stuff to the body. Its benefits cannot be overemphasized. Not only does it flush out toxins from our body, but it is also the best way to keep your skin hydrated. We have explained earlier that the major cause of an overactive sebaceous gland is dehydration. It would help if you tried to consume as much water as possible.
If you’re not used to consuming much water, it is advised that you have a bottle of water with you everywhere you go. The more you have water around you, the more likely you are to drink more water. It is also advised that you have a bottle of water close to you when you sleep.
2. Never Skip Moisturizer.
If you’ve ever thought that you don’t need to moisturize because your skin is oily, you are wrong. Your oily skin means that your body is dehydrated. It is therefore important to moisturize your skin before your body does it for you.
It would be best if you consistently used moisturizer to lock in moisture into your face. It is ideal to use a moisturizer with natural ingredients and apply it once or twice a day.
3. Eat Clean and Healthy
Eating healthy vegetables and foods rich in water is also a great way to keep your skin moisturized. Unlike sugary foods and foods high in carbs, causing the body to produce more oil, healthy fruits and vegetables keep the body moisturized. These healthy meals would do away with the need for the body to secrete sebum to moisturize the face and therefore reduce excess oil on your face.
4. Avoid Using Toners Excessively
Toners are products designed to strip off dirt and oil from the skin to prevent clogging of pores. Excessive use of toner would strip the face of natural oil and leave the face dry. Thus, making the sebaceous glands work more overnight to replace the oil. It is advised to use an alcohol-free toner and apply toner at most twice a day.
5. Avoid Over exfoliating
I always thought that exfoliating my face very often would help remove dirt and make my face smooth despite directions to exfoliate 2-3 times a week. I noted that after each exfoliating, my face is usually left with this hard and dry feeling. In essence, it left my face cleared of its natural oil.
Over-exfoliating, your face would make your face drier and cause your sebaceous gland to be overactive at night. It is advised that you exfoliate your face 2-3 times a week.
6. Avoid washing your face more than twice a day.
7. Sleep well and avoid stress.
Why do I have oily skin?
There are several underlying reasons for oily skin. They include;
1. Genetics:
A lot of things about us are determined by genetics, including our skin type. For instance, if one or both parents have oily skin, it is perfectly normal for one of their children to have oily skin due to an overactive sebaceous gland. Genetics is simply at work.
2. Age
As we age, the skin loses some protein like collagen, and the efficiency of sebaceous glands reduces. It better explains why the older we get, the more our skin gets dry and makes wrinkles visible.
3. Environment and Humidity
The sebaceous glands secrete more sebum during humid or hot weather, leaving the face extremely oily. The skin, however, tends to be dry during cold weather.
4. Cosmetics
Applying the wrong skincare products can leave your face extremely busy. Poor quality of skincare products damages the skin and makes your sebaceous glands pump more oil. It is advisable to use skincare products that are more suitable for your skin type.
5. Overdoing your makeup routine
Using harsh products on your face, washing or exfoliating your face too often can create an unstable environment on your face. Most people believe that the more they wash their face, the cleaner it will become. However, they fail to understand that it goes the other way round. Washing your face too frequently can leave your face dry, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum to hydrate the face.
6. Unhealthy Diet
It is generally said that “you are what you eat.” Your diet is unhealthy to your skin if it consists mainly of dairy food, sugar, and refined carbs. When you consume them too frequently, your sebaceous glands become overactive, thereby making your skin oily.
7. Medication
Numerous types of medications can cause dehydration. These drugs can invariably cause your body to excrete sebum to hydrate your face.
8. Hormonal Imbalances
The endocrine glands in the body produce and secrete hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and reproduction. However, hormonal changes or imbalances can affect the body’s entire build-up. Thus, increasing the production of oil.
9. Stress and Anxiety
When you are stressed, your body increases the level of stress hormones it releases. Stress hormones like cortisol can, in turn, cause the increase of oil production in your skin, which can result in oily skin, clogged pores, and acne.
Home Remedies for Oily Skin
1. Honey:
Honey has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that are beneficial to oily and acne-prone skins. It is a natural humectant that helps to keep the skin moist without making it oily.
To use honey to treat oily skin;
- Apply a thin layer of raw honey to your face.
- Leave to dry for 10 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
- Pat with a towel to dry.
2. Cosmetics Clay:
These are generally used to help absorb oil in the skin. A very popular cosmetics clay is the French green clay. Usually, it comes in powder form.
How to use Cosmetics Clay;
- Mix a teaspoon of clay with rose water or filtered water to form a thick consistency.
- Apply the mixture on your face and leave to dry.
- Wash away the clay with warm water and pat dry.
3. Oatmeal:
Over the years, oatmeal has been a staple ingredient in skincare products. It is a major home remedy for oily skin. It helps soak up excess oil on your skin and clear acne. Oats contain saponins that act as a natural cleanser to remove dirt and oils that clog your pores. Oats can be used in different ways to treat oily skin.
To make oatmeal scrub;
- Soak half a cup of oats in water for 5 minutes.
- Apply all over your face and massage with your fingertips.
- Leave on the face for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse off the scrub with water and towel dry your face.
4. Aloe Vera:
400;”>Aloe Vera is a natural moisturizer. Because of its hydrating properties, it serves as a good way to rest oily skin.
How to make aloe Vera face mask for oily skin;
- Put some Aloe Vera gel in a bowl and add 10- 12 drops of tea tree oil.
- Mix into a paste.
- Apply on your face and leave overnight.
- Wash in the morning and towel dry.
5. Tomatoes:
Tomatoes contain salicylic acid, a great ingredient for treating the oily face and acne-prone skin. It helps absorb excess oil from the face and unclog pores.
You can use it to remove excess oil by massaging the tomato juice on your face and rinsing it off after 15 – 20 minutes.
6. Jojoba Oil:
if you have oily skin, you should add jojoba oil to your skincare routine. It contains vitamin E that works as an anti-oxidant on your skin. It is also a humectant. Jojoba oil is similar to the oil produced by the body and helps reduce sebum production. You should apply jojoba oil every other day or mix it with a moisturizer to prevent excessive usage.
Need more tips?
- Wash your face with water and a gentle soap at most twice a day.
- Blotting Papers: These are thin papers that would help you blot excess oil from your face and reduce the shiny look on your face. You would find them affordable and available everywhere.
FAQs
Is it bad to have Oily Skin?
No, it isn’t. Having oily skin should not be viewed as a bad thing. There are lots of benefits that come with having oily skin. Oily skin prevents your face from being dry or flaky. Even in the harshest weather, the oil naturally keeps your face moisturized. It acts as a protective barrier, making the skin more resistant to sunlight. It is also less prone to wrinkles and free lines.
What hormones are responsible for oily skin?
Androgens are the hormones responsible for oil production in the body. When they fluctuate, there is an increase in the production of sebum in the body. These fluctuations are usually triggered during puberty, pregnancy, and menstruation, to mention a few.
Having oily skin could be a concern. But it would help if you didn’t allow it to stigmatize you. You are not the only one with oily skin. The best bet is to learn how to manage your skin. Try to recognize the cause of your oily skin. If it has something to do with your diet, then do healthier meals.
Find ways to relieve stress, exercise regularly, and stay hydrated. Remember, stay confident in yourself!
