WHAT ARE OILY SKIN AND ACNE?

Oily skin has a thickened and greasy appearance, particularly on the forehead, nose and chin. It is the result of an alteration in the activity of sebaceous glands, which are responsible for producing sebum, a mixture of fatty substances that covers the surface of the skin. Oily skin can be associated with acne manifestations.

Acne is a chronic inflammation of the pilosebaceous follicle, which is formed by the sebaceous gland and hair follicle, the tiny structure from which hairs originate. Generally, it affects the face, back and chest, and is most frequently observed between 13 and 25 years of age.
The most frequent cause is typically but not exclusively hormonal in adolescents, and is caused by the formation of sebum that is very dense and “sticky”, and thickens the horny layer i.e. the surface of the skin, blocking the exit of the pilosebaceous follicle, causing concomitant bacterial growth. When the follicle is obstructed in this way, it is called a “pimple” which are referred to as “blackheads” and “whiteheads”. Rupture of the follicle wall, whether spontaneous or provoked, can cause papules, pustules and, in severe cases, can degenerate into nodules and cysts that leave permanent scars.