Getting Started with Skin and Sebum Care: A series of blogs on the basics of caring for skin.
As we all know, skin is the body’s largest organ. It’s also the most common point of contact with hazardous chemicals and irritants, as well as a host of other nasty things that would prefer to not be there (like dust and dirt).
Skin is a barrier between these external factors and internal organs, but it can only do so much. To keep an eye on what’s happening in your body, you can take a look at your skin and sebum. This blog series will cover everything from how to recognize common skin problems through to ways to improve the health of your skin. The big picture goal here is to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals, improve circulation, improve immune function and aid digestion through use of natural products.
If you are reading this, you are probably a beginner to skin care. This series of articles is for you!
The first part will provide an explanation of the basics of caring for skin.
The second part will explain the importance of sebum and how you should use it to your advantage.
The third part will cover how to properly wash your face without damaging your skin or sebum barrier.
The fourth part will talk about the importance of a proper diet in order to have healthy skin.
Hopefully by the end of this series, you will have learned enough to develop your own skin care routine!
Sebum is a waxy, oily substance produced by your skin. Sebum naturally moisturizes and protects your skin from drying out or becoming too oily. However, when sebum mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria on the skin’s surface, it can clog your pores. This can lead to many common skin conditions, including acne, rosacea, and eczema.
The best way to keep your sebum under control is to use the right products for your specific skin type. If you have oily or combination skin, try using an oil-free moisturizer or spot treatment (like one of ours) as needed. If you have dry or sensitive skin, look for a moisturizer that hydrates without irritating (like ours). For all skin types, try using our Clarifying Cleanser twice daily to ensure that any excess sebum is removed properly!
The sebum, or lipid layer of the skin, is extremely important. It helps lock in moisture and prevent water loss. It prevents infection and protects the skin from damage.
So what is the sebum, anyway?
The sebum is a thin layer of oil on your skin. It’s secreted by glands called sebaceous glands. These are located all over your body, but especially on your face and scalp. The glands are connected to hair follicles, which produce hair. The oil comes out of the follicle and onto your skin.
The sebum is made up of fatty acids, squalene, cholesterol, wax esters and triglycerides. These are all very important components of your skin’s natural protective barrier. They also help keep your skin moisturized and prevent water loss.[1]
Because they protect against infection and damage, it’s important to take good care of them!
Sebum is the greasy, waxy substance that naturally lubricates our skin. Sebum is produced by a group of glands called sebaceous glands. Sebum is a mixture of oils, lipids, and waxes.
When sebum production is high or when dead skin cells combine with sebum and clog pores, breakouts can occur. These breakouts most often appear as acne or pimples because the grease in sebum can cause these blemishes.
Excessive sebum production that leads to an oily appearance on the skin is known as seborrhea. This condition can be caused by stress, weather, diet, medication use, and hormonal fluctuations, such as those associated with puberty or pregnancy.
Sebum can also be removed from skin by cleansing with soap and water; cleansing products designed to remove oil from the skin are called astringents or toners.
Sebum is an oil produced by skin glands, and it is what most people refer to when they talk about ‘oily’ skin. Sebum is a waxy substance that hydrates hair and skin, protecting them from water loss. It also helps prevent premature aging of the skin, the formation of wrinkles, and decreases inflammation.
Sebum levels are controlled by hormonal changes, which is why teenagers tend to have oily skin. After the age of 30-40, sebum production usually drops off, so people with very oily skin in their teens and 20s tend to have more balance in their 30s and 40s. However, many people have oily skin well into adulthood and beyond.
Some people have sebum glands that are overactive or are not controlled properly by hormones. This can lead to an excess of sebum on the skin’s surface, clogging pores and leading to breakouts. Stress can also increase sebum production.
If you have acne or acne-prone skin, you might be tempted to completely strip your face of all oils (including sebum) with harsh products like alcohol-based astringents and toners. While this may look dry on the surface (which can be desirable if you’re going for a matte
Sebum is the oil produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin. It coats and protects the skin from drying out, from injury, from infection and from UV light damage. It is also a natural sunscreen.
Sebum is made of triglycerides, wax esters, squalene, fatty acids and cholesterol. It also contains DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which is responsible for acne.
Sebum production greatly increases during puberty because of increased testosterone production in both sexes. This increase in sebum production can cause oily skin or acne prone skin.
Because of increased sebum production during puberty, it is very important to keep your face clean at all times to avoid clogged pores and acne.
There are many different ways to cleanse your face:
Wet your face with warm water first before applying a gentle cleanser. Massage in circular motions then rinse with lukewarm water. Pat dry with a towel.
A gentle facial scrub is another way of cleansing your face but only use this 1-2 times a week maximum so not to irritate the skin too much. Do not scrub hard on the skin since it can cause irritation and redness especially if you have sensitive skin.
If you have