Skin: what is sebum?

Sebum is an essential element for maintaining good skin hydration , provided that it is of good quality and produced in good quantity.

Sebum

Sebum is an oily substance secreted by the skin , and more precisely by its sebaceous glands.

These sebaceous glands are located in the dermis (the layer located under the epidermis) and are more or less numerous depending on their location.

Sebaceous glands are present in large quantities in the T-zone of the face, which includes the forehead, nose and chin. It is therefore common to have excess sebum in the nose, which promotes blackheads. Conversely, there is very little sebum on the palms of the hands.

What is sebum used for?

Sebum plays an essential role in the beauty of the skin as well as hair .

When sebum is produced by the sebaceous gland, it passes through an excretory duct to rise to the surface of the skin, where it is evacuated through a small hole called a "pore". From this moment on, it will fulfill several functions:

• Mixed with sweat, sebum forms a hydrolipidic film. This is a protective barrier whose function is to limit the natural evaporation of water contained in the skin (its hydration) and thus preserve its suppleness.
• The essential fatty acids contained in sebum allow the hydrolipidic film to maintain an acidic pH. The latter is essential for protecting the skin from pathogenic germs.
• It is important to know that sebum is evacuated through the same orifice as the hair, and therefore from the hair. Sebum thus helps to lubricate and give shine to the hair, and to protect it from drying out.

What is seborrhea (excess sebum)?

It often happens, especially during puberty, that the sebaceous glands secrete more sebum than necessary. This excessive production of sebum is called "seborrhea".

Seborrhea is the cause of combination to oily skin. There are many signs of excess sebum: shine, blackheads, enlarged pores, grainy skin texture, and oily hair. In fact, if you have oily skin, you are likely to also have an oily scalp.

There are many causes of excess sebum, and they can be of both internal and external origin:

• Hormones: This is the main cause of excess sebum. In fact, their variations during the demand have a direct impact on the amount of sebum produced by the skin. Androgens produced during adolescence, or progesterone produced during pregnancy, have the effect of increasing the activity of the sebaceous glands. It is therefore normal to have imperfections and shine during these periods.

• Genetics: Oily skin is generally hereditary. However, its appearance can be aggravated by tobacco and alcohol consumption, fatigue, stress or the environment (sun, wind, pollution, etc.).

• Using unsuitable cosmetic products: using a product that is too harsh and stripping risks damaging the skin, which, to defend itself, will produce even more sebum.

• Long exposure to the sun: if the skin is exposed to the sun for too long, it risks overproducing sebum. The sun dries out the skin, therefore, it naturally reacts by increasing the secretion of sebum in order to avoid drying out.

What are the consequences of excess sebum on the skin?

In addition to being unsightly by making the skin shiny and covered in imperfections (blackheads, pimples, comedones, etc.), excess sebum on the face (nose, chin and forehead) risks clogging and suffocating the pores of the skin. This prevents the elimination of dead cells and promotes the proliferation of bacteria, which can turn into acne , an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous follicle.

Tips for regulating your sebum production

Excess sebum is the bane of combination to oily skin. Fortunately, there are solutions to restore healthy skin :

• Pay attention to your diet: in order to regulate excess sebum, the first step is to have a balanced diet. During meals, you should favor foods that contain nutrients essential for maintaining normal skin such as vitamin B6, vitamins A and E, zinc or omega 3. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, white meat and fish provides the skin with these essential nutrients. Foods to avoid are those that are rich in bad fats and sugars because they risk causing inflammation of the skin, such as acne for example. In addition, it is important to hydrate well by drinking between 1.5L and 2L of water per day. Skin that is too dry can cause excess sebum from the sebaceous glands.

To regain healthy skin, Délicure offers gummies rich in nutrients, sugar-free, vegan and 100% Made in France. They are composed of blueberry, vitamins (B6, B8, B9, B12 and E) and trace elements (zinc and selenium). A cure of these hair gummies contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin.

• Have a good skincare routine: taking care of your skin is essential to keep it healthy and avoid overproduction of sebum. First, you must cleanse your skin well, morning and evening, using non-aggressive and suitable products. Once a week, exfoliating is very useful for removing dead cells accumulated on the surface of the skin. After cleansing in the morning, apply a mattifying cream, with sebum-regulating components, to limit shine. In the evening, a cream with AHA (fruit acids) is more suitable for removing small imperfections such as blackheads. If the excess sebum concerns the scalp, there are shampoos suitable for oily hair that can regulate it. Finally, it is essential to moisturize your skin daily, using care products suitable for combination to oily skin, to prevent it from drying out.

• Let your skin rest: it is recommended to let your skin rest at least once a week, without applying makeup, to ensure the well-being of the pores and reduce sebum production.

In the event of significant excess sebum, it is obviously recommended to consult a dermatologist who will prescribe appropriate treatment.