There’s a very thin line between looking gloriously dewy and ridiculously oily. If you’re someone with an oily or combination skin type then you definitely must be familiar with an oily T-zone. However, the way that T-zones work has always confused me. I wanted to put all the puzzle pieces together, hence I approached a celebrity dermatologist, Dr Jamuna Pai and got a low-down!
Why do people with dry skin have an oily T-zone?
People who have dry skin but an oily T-zone are known to have combination skin. Skin tends to get oily due to the sebum being produced in excess by the sebaceous glands—these glands are concentrated around the nose, forehead and cheek area, which comprises the T-zone.
Due to the instability of the hormones at various times in our life, the sebaceous glands become overactive and produce more sebum making the T-zone oily. Besides that, genetics, wrong choice of skin care products, certain medication and stress can also trigger the sebaceous glands to go on an overdrive and cause an oily T-zone.
What causes blackheads and whiteheads?
Blackheads or open comedones are the precursors to acne. They appear as tiny black spots, seen most commonly on the nose and are caused due to a probable underlying hormonal imbalance which a common feature as a teenager.
The sebaceous glands open up on your skin in the form of small pores. Sebum and dead skin cells collect in them causing comedones or whiteheads. When whiteheads are exposed to dirt, sunlight and pollution, they get oxidized and form an overlying black plug resulting in blackheads.
What’s the best way to deal with the mid-day shine you get on the T-zone?
Whilst on the move during the day, instead of dabbing your face with powder, use blotting papers. Powder is good to camouflage the oiliness but it can mix with your skin’s oils and clog the pores. Blotting papers can absorb oil without disturbing your makeup.
Are there any products or remedies to stop the T-zone from producing extra sebum?
- Clean your skin with a gentle cleanser each night before bedtime. Look for cleansing products with gentle exfoliants like sea salt. Cleansers containing salicylic, alpha hydroxy or lactic acid aid in dissolving dirt and oil. After washing your face, rub ice all over it. It will shrink the pores, freshen you up, and also control the oiliness of the skin due to sebum.
- Taking a supplement of vitamin A or Zinc, under the guidance of your physician, is a good idea to help control the sebum production.
Now you’re ready to combat that oily T-zone like a bawse! How do you deal with your oily T-zones? Let us know in the comments below.
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