It is the most maligned, misunderstood and under-appreciated substance in the human body. Sebum is the oil that your skin produces and it is unfairly blamed for causing acne. It is a common misconception that oily skin causes acne, however the real reason for acne has nothing to do with sebum.
Sebum is a rich and complex mixture of lipids (fats) including triglycerides, wax esters, squalene and free fatty acids. Most of these have antioxidant properties which protect your skin from free radical damage. Contrary to popular belief sebum does not cause or worsen acne.
What is sebum?
Sebum is a lubricant. It’s oily, it’s waxy and it’s a natural moisturizer that is produced by your sebaceous glands. If you have acne, you should know what sebum is and how it affects your skin.
The name “sebum” comes from the Latin word for fat or tallow. Sebum is a combination of wax esters, triglycerides, free fatty acids, squalene and cholesterol. It’s a lot like the oil you find in whale blubber.
Sebum is an essential part of healthy skin as it helps to keep your skin moist and soft. However, when you have acne-prone skin, too much sebum can be a bad thing. This excess production of oil can cause pores to clog and lead to breakouts.
If you have acne, chances are that your skin is producing too much sebum, leading to oily skin and clogged pores. If you have dry skin, then you might be aware that the opposite is true: You don’t produce enough oil.
But did you know that the amount of oil you produce also has a profound effect on how your skin ages? In fact, sebum plays a major role in skin health at every stage of life.
The more you understand about what sebum does for your body, the better equipped you will be to maintain healthy skin as you age — and to choose products that are right for you.
What Is Sebum?
Sebum is an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands just under the surface of your skin. It provides a protective coating over your skin and hair, helping them retain moisture while preventing them from becoming dry and brittle.
When it reaches the surface of your skin through your pores, sebum helps lubricate and moisturize it while protecting it from bacteria and other foreign substances that can cause irritation or infection. Sebum also gives your hair a shiny appearance. (1)
Your body produces different amounts of sebum depending on a number of factors, including age, hormones and diet
Sebum is a key factor in the development of acne. However, there is still confusion over what sebum actually is. In this article, we explain what it is, how it works and how to control it.
What Is Sebum?
Sebum is an oily substance made by the sebaceous glands and found in the hair follicles. It’s main function is to lubricate and protect the skin. It also plays a role in waterproofing the skin and hair, reducing water loss and maintaining a healthy skin barrier function.
Sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin. It helps to keep the skin lubricated and waterproof. In this blog, we will look at the causes of an overproduction of sebum, where it comes from and how you can easily treat acne caused by it.
The main function of sebum is to act as a protective barrier along the hair follicles. Sebum is a waxy substance, which prevents water loss from the skin and keeps it moisturised. Because it contains fatty acids and other nutrients, sebum also adds to the health of your skin.
Sebum is an oily substance that is created by the sebaceous glands. Sebum has a dual function. The first purpose is to waterproof the skin, preventing water loss and protecting our bodies against drying out. Second, it acts as a natural moisturizer, conditioning and softening the skin.
Sebum is produced by the sebaceous gland which is connected to a hair follicle. It is produced from fat and can contain sugars, waxes and some hormones (such as testosterone). It travels up the hair follicle and exits through the pores in your skin.
Everyone produces varying amounts of sebum. The amount you produce depends on how active your sebaceous glands are which in turn is determined by genetics and influenced by hormones. This means that some people will produce more sebum than others, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they will get more acne or be worse off because of it.
Sebum is an oily liquid that is produced by the skin around hair follicles. Sebum contains triglycerides, wax monoesters, and squalene. Sebum helps to keep your skin moist and soft. Sebum also keeps your hair from drying out and protects your skin from bacteria and fungi.
Sebum production is tightly regulated by hormones. The amount of sebum produced by your body can be affected by things like diet, stress levels and your genes.
Sebum is produced in the sebaceous glands, which are found in skin areas with a high density of hair follicles. It is produced in particularly large quantities on the face, back, scalp and chest. Some people have overactive sebaceous glands, which produce too much sebum. This can lead to acne and other skin problems.
There are different theories about why acne develops in some people but not others. It has been proposed that acne may be caused by increased levels of testosterone (a male sex hormone) during puberty, or that it may be caused by increased sensitivity of the skin to testosterone. Both of these theories may contribute to acne formation but they do not explain why only some people get acne while others do not.