Make ice cubes from strong green tea and use these on your skin. Vitamin A-rich foods include sweet potatoes, carrots, dark leafy vegetables, liver, red pumpkins, dried herbs, tomatoes, eggs, and mangoes. You may want to include toners or clay masks to your regimen when you have more oil. The hydration of your skin is an important element in skin care, because dry skin can make acne and oily skin even worse. Apply non-greasy beauty products that do not cause … Guess again! 10 Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance You Should Know About, 14 Things Your Nails Say About Your Health, 8 Physical Signs of High Cholesterol You Should Know About, 12 Amazing Health Benefits of Alkaline Water, 15 Brain Boosting Foods You Should Be Eating, The 7 Best Oils for Moisturizing Acne Prone Skin, PCOS Diet: Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid, 15 Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough Water. Try again... Not necessarily! Use a moisturizer. These treatments are non-invasive and fairly safe. Other foods that are high in B6 include fish, poultry, red meat, and beans. To reduce sebum production, talk to a dermatologist about medication to control it, develop a good cleansing routine, and try some natural remedies. As a result, women will be asked to take a pregnancy test before being prescribed this medication. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If your skin is very dry, then your body will compensate by increasing sebum production. Vitamin B5 is also used for stress relief, indirectly aiding acne prevention through lowering anxiety levels.” Vitamin B5 is also used for stress relief, indirectly aiding acne prevention through lowering anxiety levels.” Probiotics, which are found in foods like Greek yogurt and sauerkraut, can help your body and your skin stay healthy. Vitamin D may be an acne deterrent, while other research suggests that sebaceous glands and sebum transport vitamin E from the blood to the skin. Sea Buckthorn Oil contains vitamins A, E and C and absorbs into the skin to fight internal and external aggressors. Exercise regularly. Products containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid are often considered best. 5 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Organize Your Home and Life. But if your body lacks vitamin A then it is prone to excess secretion of waxy substance in the glands. These "good fats" will help your skin stay flexible and healthy. Hydration is very important for maintaining healthy skin. Too much sebum and dead skin cells can result in pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and other lesions. The faster products are absorbed, the quicker acne can heal. Overconsumption of B vitamins at over 250 mg a day can lead to more acne, but some studies show B6 at 50-250 mg a day reduce sebum production and reduce the effects of testosterone. However, there are other reasons to adjust your cleansing routine. Likewise, dehydration and overproduction of sebum are frequently linked together. Try taking a bath, meditating, reading a book, or practicing yoga. Vitamin A reduces sebum production and keratin production (Caution: taking mega doses of Vitamin A can cause headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and other side effects. In addition to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, studies have shown that green tea can actually help reduce sebum production. Topical retinoids are slightly less effective than oral retinoids, but they have fewer side effects. What should you remove from your diet to reduce oil production? Try turmeric. Fatty acids keep the body balanced by … References. Our sebaceous glands produce it because it helps our skin function. Broccoli, sweet potatoes, carrots, and apricots are loaded with vitamin A. Avoid harsh soaps and creams. Light and laser therapy can be an effective way to deal with oily skin, but there are less expensive and time-intensive methods that your doctor will probably prescribe first. There is a strong link between mental health and skin health. Almost! Bright colored fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants. When washing your face, make sure you use warm water, not hot. I have open pores and oily face. Repeat this several times if necessary. This article has been viewed 148,851 times. You can’t stop the sebum production completely, but you can reduce the amount secreted. In small amounts, chocolate is also proven to be good for your skin. This will probably be your doctor's first treatment recommendation for your oily skin. You can increase your vitamin A intake by eating a healthy diet. Massage a dime-size amount of oil into your skin both morning and night. Choose another answer! When it comes to your skin, B vitamins aid in reducing dryness and flakiness associated with acne, which is why they're found in plenty of topical moisturizers. Nodular acne is more difficult than run-of-the-mill acne. Not quite! … Hydration is very important for maintaining healthy skin. Drink enough water. Read on for another quiz question. Therefore, vitamin A reduces the amount of sebum available to … https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088940/, http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0501/p2123.html, https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm094305.htm, http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/birth-control-for-acne-treatment#1, https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/--small-changes-in-skin-care-routine-can-significantly-improve-skin-affected-by-acne-and-rosacea, http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/oily-skin#1, http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/home-remedies/natural-home-remedies-oily-skin/, http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/oily-skin#3, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10926734, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20846135, http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-acne-nutrition, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27279815, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583891/, https://chriskresser.com/the-gut-skin-connection-how-altered-gut-function-affects-the-skin/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17524128, https://livertox.nih.gov/VitaminARetinoids.htm, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Other causes of excessive sebum production is unhealthy diet and poor skin care routine. If you want to reduce sebum production, consider talking to your dermatologist about a prescription for topical or oral retinoids. You'll probably only be prescribed this treatment if you can't use other, more cost-effective treatment options. 1. You may experience side effects like dry skin or sensitive skin, and some drugs, such as Accutane, may have serious side effects. If this doesn't work, try reducing your dairy or sugar intake. Most soaps are highly alkaline and strip the natural acid mantle from the skin leaving it vulnerable to bacteria. Progesterone is an inhibitor of that enzyme, so logically, progesterone should reduce sebum production. Try including Greek yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut into your diet. You shouldn’t take high doses of zinc for more than a few days unless your doctor tells you to. In reality, however, progesterone increases sebum production instead. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. And it’s not the good, post-workout kind of shine. DHT is responsible for triggering sebaceous glands to produce sebum. Likewise, dehydration and overproduction of sebum are frequently linked together. It can be somewhat uncomfortable and can leave the skin looking red and raw for a number of days until it has fully healed. To fix the reddening of your face, apply a small amount of aloe vera to the areas where it is most red. Drinking lemon water is great too. Some causes that lead to hormonal changes may be puberty, pregnancy, amenorrhea or changes in medication. Your hormones determine how oily your skin is, so as they fluctuate, so will your levels of sebum production. Wash it off with lukewarm water. Foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids include fish and avocados. What a vicious cycle. Of course once you stop the sebum over produces again and they return. The entire function of the sebaceous glands becomes disturbed on the shortage of vitamin A. If you notice differences in the oiliness of your skin, you'll need to change your skincare habits. As your hormone levels fluctuate, you might develop acne on other parts of your body, like your back or chest. If you do that and rinse it off with warm water, they should disappear. Use essential oils to stop sebum production, while treating any blemishes and calming redness. There are many treatments available at skin clinics, which can significantly reduce sebum production. How can I reduce redness and oiliness on my face? Wheat, dairy, and sugar may lead to excess sebum production. So now that we know the causes, how do we control sebum production on scalp? By using our site, you agree to our. Zinc can help keep overproduction at bay. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013. Some people have legitimate conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), some have hyperandrogenism, and then … The fat-soluble properties of vitamin E allow for quick absorption into the skin. A course of isotretinoin usually lasts for about 20 weeks, during which time you must be closely monitored, due to the drug’s large number of potential side effects. Higher levels of this androgenic hormone, or an increased sensitivity of the sebaceous glands to normal levels of DHT can increase sebum production. Vitamin D reduces sebocyte division in a dose-dependent manner, meaning more vitamin D equals less sebum production. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. Some people find that cutting wheat out of their diet reduces the amount of oil their skin produces. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 148,851 times. Nuts are a good source of "good fats," which can actually help you keep your skin healthy. By extension, it reduces the production of sebum. Exposure to environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution and ultraviolet sunlight create free radicals that may clog pores and create oily skin. Not quite! Choose another answer! It works by shrinking the sebaceous glands, reducing the production of sebum. Vitamin E is largely used as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Absolutely! Water helps reduce sebum production by giving your skin the right water to oil ratio. Zinc can help regulate sebum (also known as oil) production. On the other hand, these glands can go into overproduction (due to stress or hormonal changes), leading to oily skin and acne production. Consume zinc. % of people told us that this article helped them. Apply this paste to the affected areas, and let it sit for 15 minutes. It will close up your pores and dry up excess sebum when applied to your face after washing. Regular exercise has been shown to provide a range of benefits to your skin. This article was medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. These products can over-dry your skin. Omega 3 Fatty Acids Your skin cells depend on sebum production. “Vitamin B5 has been shown to reduce sebum production. Washing your face infrequently causes old oil to build up. If your gut is unhealthy, your body might produce excess oil; probiotics can help fix this. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, and monounsaturated fats, found in nuts, help support skin health. It … {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Reduce-Sebum-Production-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Reduce-Sebum-Production-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Reduce-Sebum-Production-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8907619-v4-728px-Reduce-Sebum-Production-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"