Sebum Production 101: What It Is and How it impacts your skin

Have you ever found yourself dealing with excessively oily skin or dryness, even after applying a generous layer of the moisturiser? In that case, your skin’s sebum production is likely to be responsible for all of that. Produced from Sebaceous Glands, sebum plays a crucial role in the overall well-being of your skin, protecting the skin barrier from unwanted friction and damage.

However, excessive or a lack of sebum production can give rise to potential skin concerns that take a toll on your delicate skin. This is why maintaining healthy sebum levels or having sebum production in control is crucial for the overall well-being of your skin. Excessive sebum production results in skin problems like acne, a greasy appearance, and blocked pores. Contrary to this, inadequate sebum production can lead to unwanted dryness.

But, how can one control sebum on the face, and how does it function? Let’s break down the science behind this naturally occurring oil in the human body and why it matters more than you might think.

Keynotes:

• Produced from sebaceous glands, sebum is a naturally occurring substance in the human body. It helps keep your skin well-balanced and moisturised.
• Sebum levels can get easily triggered due to various internal and external factors that your skin gets exposed to.
• The key to maintaining healthy skin is by investing in a dedicated skincare routine containing ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, and PHA.
• No matter what your skin type is, never skip your moisturiser as it helps maintain proper moisture and hydration levels to keep sebum production in check.

Sebum is an oily substance produced by sebaceous glands, which coats moisture on the surface of your skin to protect it from unwanted friction and help maintain the moisture levels. If you have naturally oily skin, your body may produce an excessive or more than required amount of sebum. An overproduction of sebum can clog hair follicles and pores, resulting in the formation of acne.

On the other hand, an inadequate production of sebum leads to dry and irritated skin that may crave persistent moisturisation. Regardless of your skin type, incorporating the right skincare products into your daily routine is essential in regulating sebum levels and maintaining your skin’s natural moisture balance.

To support healthy sebum production in the skin, it’s essential to select skincare products formulated with ingredients that align well with your skin type and needs.

Your skin produces sebum to offer natural moisture and maintain the health of the skin barrier. But, there are various factors that influence how sebum functions within the body and ultimately affect its production levels. Let’s have a look at some common ones and how they affect the sebum production in your body:

Hormones and Genetics

Not many of you might be aware, but hormonal imbalance and genetics can affect the sebum levels in your body. Hormones, specifically androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, are the primary drivers of sebum production in the body. A high level of testosterone stimulates sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, eventually leading to skin concerns like acne and clogged pores.

On the other hand, low testosterone levels reduce sebum production and cause dryness in the skin. While several factors can affect the androgens in your body, genetics can also have its fair share in fluctuating sebum production in your skin. For instance, if you have a family history of people dealing with acne issues, there is a high probability that you may also end up having acne-prone skin due to high testosterone.

Well, we know you can’t really do much with the genetics, but you can definitely incorporate skincare products that help control sebum levels in your skin. Opt for skincare products with Salicylic Acid that gently exfoliate the skin by unlocking clogged pores and regulating oil production.

Diet and Lifestyle

Your eating habits can either make or break it for your skin. Consuming junk, unhealthy, and greasy food can trigger sebum production and various skin concerns. Refined carbohydrates tend to absorb quickly into the bloodstream, resulting in a rapid spike of sugar levels in your body. Additionally, consuming a high-sugar diet can reduce skin cell vitality and induce inflammation. These changes in your body due to poor eating habits can also be linked to the drop in natural hydration levels of your skin.

So, when you spend an entire day eating junk food or over the course of a week, you are not only disturbing the sebum levels but also the natural moisture and hydration levels in your skin.

Skincare Habits

In addition to internal care, it’s essential to use the right topical treatments for your delicate skin. Topical treatments allow you to calm down unwanted breakouts on your skin and help keep sebum production in control. You can opt for skincare with active ingredients like Salicylic Acid, Thaimidol, and Licochalcone-A present in Eucerin DermoPurifyer Triple Effect Serum, which help reduce the appearance and reappearance of post-acne marks and blemishes for that even tone skin.

Ideally, it is best to apply serum on freshly cleansed skin by using a gentle yet effective face cleanser.

While the presence of sebum is vital for keeping your skin supple and protected, an overproduction can lead to unwanted skin problems. The key to regulating sebum production lies in balancing the sebum or oil level and not stripping it completely from your skin. Here is how you manage sebum production in your skin effectively and without any hassle:

Use Oil-Control Products

If there is one effective way to manage sebum production in your skin, it is by investing in oil-control products with ingredients like Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, and PHA that help gently regulate sebum production in your skin without drying out your skin. Concentrated serums work best in regulating sebum levels in your skin, however, you cannot apply them on uncleaned skin.

Cleansing your skin with effective face cleaners helps remove accumulated dead cells, impurities, and other buildup that clog your pores and block easy penetration of the ingredients. After washing your face, apply a small amount of sebum or oil-control serum to your face and lock it by applying an intensely moisturising face moisturiser.

Gentle Cleansing and Exfoliation

Start your skincare routine with a gentle yet powerful face cleaners that help remove all the accumulated impurities without drying out your skin. Splash room temperature water on your face and take a small amount of Eucerin DermoPurifyer Triple Effect Cleansing Gel on your palms, and rub gently to create lather. Massage your face in a circular motion and cleanse it with water.

Apply a face toner that contains Lactic Acid, like Eucerin DermoPurifyer Toner. Take a cotton pad, apply the toner, and wipe it across your face, avoiding your eyes. Let it dry out on your skin and continue with your daily skincare routine.

Hydrate Without Overloading the Skin

As an important step in your skincare routine, it is important to incorporate the right moisturiser that helps keep your skin well moisturised and hydrated. Opt for a lighweight and non-comedogenic moisturiser that blends easily into your skin without clogging pores.

After applying oil-serum, keep your skin hydrated and moisturised by applying a generous amount of Eucerin Anti-Pigment Day Care With SPF 30 all over your face during the daytime. If you tend to spend your day under the sun, ensure to complete your skincare routine by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen to safeguard your skin against harmful UV rays and sun damage. Ensure to apply your sunscreen at least 15 to 20 minutes before walking out in the sun.

We recommend: For night care and moisturisation, you can use Eucerin Anti-Pigment Night Care to wake up with supple, nourished, and brighter looking skin.

Balancing sebum production is the key to healthy and supple skin. Completely stripping your skin of its natural oil won’t fix skin problems like acne and frequent breakouts; in fact, it may do more harm than good. So, incorporate oil-balancing products in your skincare regimen that work with your skin to regulate sebum production, making it more supple and well-nourished. Wash your face twice a day, and, most importantly, regardless of your skin type, never skip on moisturisers.

1. Is sebum good or bad for the skin?

   Sebum is a naturally occurring substance in the human body that helps maintain the moisture levels in the skin. However, the excessive or underproduction of sebum can trigger unwanted skin concerns. Hence, it is important to have adequate sebum production in your skin.

2. What causes overproduction of sebum?

   There are several factors that can trigger overproduction of sebum, some of the common ones are hormonal changes, genetics, improper diet, using the wrong skincare ingredients, and more.

3. Can diet affect sebum levels?

   Yes, greasy, junk, and carbohydrate-rich food can affect sebum levels, resulting in skin problems like acne and frequent breakouts.

4. How can I balance my skin’s sebum production?

   You can easily balance sebum production by incorporating oil control skincare products, containing Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid as their key ingredients. Follow a dedicated day and night skincare routine, maintain a healthy lifestyle to balance the sebum production, and get sufficient sleep to enjoy supple and well-nourished skin.

• Zouboulis, C. C., & Böhm, M. (2009). Neuroendocrine regulation of sebaceous gland function. Revista de Investigación Clínica, 61(5), 558-560.
• Zouboulis, C. C., Zileńska, A., Makrantonaki, E., & Nikolakis, G. (2009). Pathogenesis and treatment of acne and rosacea. Dermato-Endocrinology, 1(3), 135-141.
• Grether-Beck, S., Marini, A., Jaenicke, T., & Krutmann, J. (2019). Photoprotection of human skin beyond ultraviolet radiation. Nutrients, 11(3), Article 619