Oily skin is when the skin oil producing genes in one's body are working overtime and produces more oil then is required. One can feel like there is a layer of oil continuously covering their body and especially the forehead, nose and chin. Oily skin can be blamed on ones genes as oily skin is mostly hereditary. The other reason which may cause oily skin in a person is if they are living in hot humid climate like the sub tropical or tropical regions. The good news for people who have oily skin is that the skin tends to age less slower then those with dry or normal skin. Oily skin may start to appear when one is in their late teens or early twenties. But that does not mean that it changes, some people have oily skin throughout their lives. Also women can experience having oily skin when they are going through their monthly menstrual period, during pregnancy or after menopause; sometimes birth control pills can also cause oily skin. Interestingly it is the male hormone that is responsible for the skin's oil production. So men can be blamed for being the cause of oily skin.

If one does not take proper care of oily skin there is a tendency of blackheads and pimples affecting a person's skin? The easiest way to take care of oily skin is by washing regularly with lukewarm water and a mild soap; use the water liberally when washing as this prevents the skin pores from getting blocked with soap which can cause pimples and blackheads. However don’t over wash your face, twice or thrice a day is enough as too much washing will also cause its own set of problems. Use a moisturizer that is oil free as one wants to reduce the oily shine and not increase it. Avoid all cosmetics and skin care products that have oil in them. If using a cleansing cream then be careful in its selection as it should not be heavy and should be light with minimum oil content in it. Don’t be mistaken that using a harsh soap is going to help rid the skin of oil, it wont. So any soap which is mild and preferably is slightly medicated will help and the soap should be free of any additives. When choosing any face care or makeup products make sure that they are specifically made for oily skin.

There are many natural ways of looking after oily skin one must remember that a lot of women in the world cannot afford the luxury of cosmetics beyond a lip stick and use natural ingredients to keep their skin oil free. Also our ancestors did not have any cosmetics and used natural ingredients. Applying lime juice and cucumber juice on the face before taking a bath works wonders on oily skin. There are other tips in natural skin care for oily skin like mixing lemon juice and water and patting it on the face and let it dry. Then rinse the face with warm water followed by a cold water rinse. Also using a mud or clay mask occasionally helps to dry the skin without damaging it. A deficiency in vitamin B2 also causes oily skin so do take a healthy diet which is rich in proteins but light on sugar and salt also helps. Eating plenty of leafy vegetables and fruit also help the skin and eating food that is rich in B2 will also help the skin.

Drinking plenty of water flushes out toxin from the body and avoids beverages like colas and alcohol. Also try not to consume any fatty food like junk food, chocolates and sugar. All these cause the skin to produce excessive oil so if one is really serious about controlling oily skin then one should practice a little care in looking after themselves.