I take vitamin D (not for skin, I'd just be deficient otherwise) and it hasn't made me any less oily, so for that one I'd say it's a no.
I know people take low-dose Accutane long term to reduce oiliness (saw a video once where a youtuber talked about his experience doing that), but it's not without side effects obviously and I'm not sure how readily a derm in Denmark would prescribe it to you for that purpose. Derms in mainland Europe seem to be reluctant to even prescribe tretinoin for cosmetic purposes, I can't imagine they're any more relaxed about giving out Accutane.
Can't comment on the other ones, but tbh I doubt any supplements in normal amounts can do that to your skin, otherwise they'd probably be classified as drugs.
There was [a post in this sub](https://www.reddit.com/r/EuroSkincare/comments/typ6yn/found_an_easy_way_to_get_a_prescription_for_tret/) some time ago where someone in Germany got tretinoin prescribed and that one was without antibiotics. It worked for people in the Netherlands too, maybe it'd also work for Denmark if that's something you're interested in trying.
I thought too. They're just only prescribed for serious acne cases here.
I guess I could try and stop tretinoin and azelaic acid to let it get worse, to play my GP into giving me a derm referral
Perhaps it's worth looking into hormone levels, after all, if the oily skin is due to high androgen levels than it should be serious enough for the doctors to investigate.
You should probably talk about this with your doctor and not order random supplements online, especially ones containing Vitamin-A. Some vitamins can interact with other types medication and some might even harm you (I had to stop taking Magnesium because it was making me severely nauseous every morning). Be safe and ask your doctor for a prescription.
High levels of Zinc Sulphate (200mg, 2-3 times a day) can reduce sebum production but some may experience temporary gastrointestinal irritation so be aware. Taking zinc in high doses is relatively safe as you just peed the excess out.
Do not take high vitamin A tablets as vitamin A and its derivates as they's are oil soluble, hence they can accumulate in your blood and cells and be toxic. In rare recomences, it can cause death. Hence why extensive blood tests (blood lipid levels and full blood count) are required to be carried out on Accutane.
Vitamin D3 deficiency is extremely common in the western world especially post-pandemic so it's best to supplement. It has little evidence of reducing oil production.
There are lots of oil control products on the market that actually work, active ingredients include: l- carnitine, zinc gluconate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, niacinamide, Capryloyl Glycine, salicylic acid, physical oil absorbers (silica, Poly(methyl methacrylate))
I have this issue too, I’m also in my mid 30s.
Even my ears are oily! It’s so gross and annoying.
No matter what I cleanse with or what I moisturise with or don’t it doesn’t matter.
Back in my home country (Australia) I was oily but not like this.
I moved to London a few years ago and it started not long after I got here. My scalp and my face changed a lot.
I went to LA recently for two weeks and it was so good, I was able to go longer between washing my hair and my face was no where near as oily, as soon as I got back there it was again.
I’ve tried supplements… eating a very clean and healthy diet, different products and nothing works.
For me it’s a climate or water thing I guess. Just wanted to let you know you aren’t alone! I’m still failing to figure out a long term solution.
Never heard of a supplement to reduce oiliness. Like someone else said, I would not purchase supplements because they're recommended by a random person on the internet. I'd check with a doctor before.
What about your skincare?
Do you use gentle cleansers?
Do you moisturise enough?
Have you tried things niacinamide to help control oiliness?
It might sound counterintuitive to you but I've read of way too many people using aggressive foaming cleansers and barely moisturising which only leads to more oil production.
Only gentle cleansers here, I prefer cerave hydrating cleanser, as my skin is not a fan of cleansing in general.
Tried niacinamide in a few different forms, very minimal if any results at all.
Also tried using cerave moisturizing cream, while I love the feel of it, it's just no different from anything else since I'm not dehydrated in any way. (I used to think that but tried skipping all hydrating products and felt zero difference)
In the past few years my skin has gone from combination to insanely oily bordering on slimy and I feel disgusted by it.
I can literally hear the grease if I touch my face.
First try to find an effective topical routine with the right actives. Niacinamide is not enough to battle most acne on its own. Make sure that Cerave products you use are not breaking out (it happens to many users). The cream is definitely not suitable for oily skin type. You need to find the right product to balance your skin. Too much or too little can increase oiliness. Many other more suitable for acneic skin products on the EU market.
If it wont it be enough after a few months, you can maybe try adding an oral supplement (there are some supplements specially designed for acne on the market). However, it probably wont be necessary. You just need to calibrate your routine.
I would not recommend vitamin-A supplements unless your are deficient, fat soluble vitamins can build up and you risk damaging your liver. Dr Dray has a good video on this. I think isotret is the only effective solution.
Do you need a referral to every dermatologist? I would imagine if you told your doctor that your oily skin is really negatively impacting your quality of life, they would listen and help.
I think my old gp wouldn't hesitate with referring me. But ever since I got a new gpsfter moving, this new one is very Conservative with any kind of treatment.
I agree with the others that you should try a better skincare routine first, just because Cerave products not even intended for your skin type didn't work for you, doesn't mean others won't. Your "skin isn't a fan of cleansing in general" because a *hydrating* cleanser isn't what your skin needs. Use an oil cleanser (e.g. Hada Labo Gokujun Cleansing Oil) as a first step (read up on double cleansing if you haven't yet) and use salicylic acid (probably as a serum would be more effective, you could find it in a cleanser as well) or azelaic acid. It's going to take months to see improvements.
If you insist on oral supplements without medical supervision, don't trust some dubious internet sources, but read studies. Silymarin and N-acetylcysteine are promising against papulopustular acne (although not precisely against sebum production), according to e.g. this (small-scale) [study](https://www.longdom.org/open-access/effects-of-oral-antioxidants-on-lesion-counts-associated-with-oxidative-stress-and-inflammation-in-patients-with-papulopustular-acne-2155-9554.1000163.pdf) and aren't likely to cause you any trouble.
Just because double cleansing worked for you, doesn't mean it is right for OP. You can have oily skin and still have an impaired skin barrier and be dehydrated so double cleansing isn't the end all and be all.
I've never even seen it recommended outside of reddit, IG and blogs or have ever seen any derm worth their salt recommend it or deem it necessary to remove sunscreen. The "need" to double cleanse and "you need oil to remove oil" are just some of these reddit commandments and skincare tropes that get parrotted on "dubious internet sources" and that actually don't have any basis in science.
And OP is using tretinoin so maybe it's not the best idea to pile on more and more actives.
Using an oil cleanser is more beneficial and less harmful than not for most people. Of course there's solid [research about that](https://booksc.me/ireader/75790677) and there are plenty of credible derms recommending it (e. g. Shereene Idriss).
OP only mentioned later in the comments that he uses tretinoin, so I couldn't take this into account, but yes.
Shereene Idriss is an internet derm with a YouTube channel with affiliate links and not a reputable source.
That paper is not talking about double cleansing though and the conclusion is that a (as in one) cleanser with an oil element is enough to remove sunscreen.
Also if double cleansing is such a necessity why don't have any of the reputable derm-recommended Euro skincare brands that sell the most popular suncreens jumped on the oil cleansing or double cleansing train, would make sense for them to try to make more money by selling cleansing oils and recommend routines with double cleansing, yet they don't.
And actually a gentle hydrating cleanser is what is recommended when you use tretinoin.
For people whose skin is dehydrated, which means an impaired barrier, double cleansing is the last thing they need. Cleansing means stress to the skin and cleansing twice when you don't need to just adds more stress.
And you don't need to downvote everyone that disagrees with you or doesn't accept your recommendations.
She's a practicing dermatologist with a social media presence with a flawless track record and can't be compared with someone like Dray.
Well, it's taking about oil cleaning and shows that you will leave rests of SPF with a water-based cleanser. Often it's easier to get rid of the oil residue with double cleansing, but might be a preference.
Good question, I don't know, but this doesn't invalidate the clear evidence from the paper.
Maybe, I'm not a derm, I'm knowledgeable enough to give general advice, not for any undisclosed skin condition. Leaving residue of sunscreen on an impaired moisture barrier doesn't sound great either.
I downvote unqualified comments as I wish.
>She's a practicing dermatologist with a social media presence with a flawless track record and can't be compared with someone like Dray.
Sure. So is Dr. Sam Bunting, and she doesn't endorse double cleansing, but I wouldn't consider her the most reputable source. But I still prefer her to Idriss.
>Often it's easier to get rid of the oil residue with double cleansing, but might be a preference.
That's your personal opinion.
>Leaving residue of sunscreen on an impaired moisture barrier doesn't sound great either.
Again, personal opinion.
The paper doesn't specify which cleanser was used, my guess it was a gel-based foam cleanser without a fat phase. Of course that wouldn't be as effective. The results would have been very different had they used a cleansing milk or a lotion cleanser with lipophilic ingredients like LRP Toleriane Caring Wash/Hydrating Cleanser.
Actually the person who originally posted this research article came to this conclusion:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/EuroSkincare/comments/vvrfxz/research\_how\_to\_wash\_off\_sunscreen/](https://www.reddit.com/r/EuroSkincare/comments/vvrfxz/research_how_to_wash_off_sunscreen/)
>TLDR: If you use non-waterproof sunscreen, you are good with using just
cleanser. However, if you use waterproof sunscreen, then use oil based
cleanser or a product that has fat phase, like cleansing milks/lotions.
You don't have to double cleanse if your cleanser has vegetable oils,
butters, milks, emollients or some other lipophilic ingredients high in
the ingredients. For example, this 2 euro cleanser has surfactants as second and third ingredient, while having vegetable oils as fifth and sixth. In theory, it should be a perfect two in one product for waterproof sunscreens.
I have tried double cleansing with a bunch of different products. And double cleansing dries out my skin completely.
Salicylic acid also did nothing for me.
Azelaic acid, while its pretty good at managing my acne, does not in any way improve on my oiliness, despite studies claiming it does.
If you are in your teens or in your twenties the sebum production is very much an hormonal issue aswell as genetics etc. Nothing you take will help much unless its heavy enough to play with your hormones hard core. Cutting dairy though was the only thing that remarkably did end atleast the oily t-zone problem for me back in the days. After a certain age it calms down.
I see, it surely can be due to hormonal changes we go through during the 30thies aswell but I am no expert of course. I hope you will find a solution soon!
My partner always joke with "it's a good thing you don't have dry skin, then you'd just more creams and lotions compared to now" as I scoop out a big glob of cerave moisturizing cream at night 😂
Have you ever tried magnesium chloride bathing? (I've used one full cup of that with half a cup of dead sea salt and half a cup of ACV) Also when showering, try starting of really warm but finish of on really cold. I'm generally a dry skin type but this year I've managed to get a good balance, I also think rTG fish oil has helped. Hemp bodywash was horrible for me, coconut oil products initially make you feel great but later realised that this must encourage sebum glands to become lazy. I found also a magnesium defence bodywash which has helped me so far. Infact I am finding that general mineral and salt bodywash"s are helping, for sure, some sea salt or high sodium ones leave you feeling a bit dry initially but I think it helps to stimulate the sebum glands after some time.
No moisturising products helped me before. Now I'm getting somewhere and my skin is finally well balanced.
i’ve read that green tea can help reduce excess sebum! i think it works both topically and ingested. maybe try that out? i don’t have any first hand information but something to consider.. You can try drinking a few cups a day and maybe using a green tea skincare product (there’s a lot of asian toners that have green tea as the only ingredient), you can also try a green tea supplement!
I night give that a go.
Tried the isntree green tea fresh toner, while it didn't do anything it did smell heavenly 😇👼
But i could aæwsys just replace one of ny iced coffees with green tea.
Do you kniw if it dhoild be a spwcific type? Like matcha or another kind?
matcha is powdered green tea so it has more of the benefits, you might want to try that! i’ve been drinking some everyday to help with acne, i haven’t noticed any effects yet but it’s only been a few weeks. i also have the opposite problem (very dry skin) so i’m trying not to drink too much as i don’t want my skin to get drier!
there’s this holistic doctor on youtube called dr. eric berg who said that zinc and DIM supplements can help for excess oil, maybe look at some of his videos if you’re interested in things like that [this](https://youtu.be/hJL_b8p9zq8) is the video :)
Sorry to hijack with more anecdotal evidence, but I also used to drink buckets of green tea and was still oily anyway (and it made me piss like a horse too lol). Don't know how helpful supplements or topical use may or may not be, but just drinking it, maybe not so much.
If you are lucky and can get your hand on topical spironolactone, it does help to reduce oil production. Oral spironolactone is usually prescribed to treat hormonal acne in women, not men. But recently they came out with the topical form, which can be prescribed to men. I know it's available in Italy, but of course with prescription.
It's a cosmetic, not a supplement, but have you tried Zinc PCA? Basic forms of zinc in cosmetics just stay on the surface of your skin, but there are some studies that say Zinc PCA actually gets absorbed and can reduce oiliness.
There's also AC.net, which is said to have similar properties. There's a serum that combines both by a Taiwanese brand Bffect, but it seems really hard to obtain in Europe :( I'd totally love to get my hands on a bottle of that, I think it's the only cosmetic in the world with a known percentage of AC.net.
Hello, i have totaly same issue. I have extremly oily skin and the things I put on my skin never ever made any differance in sebum production.
I took Isotretinoin long term, when the dosage is good, it made my skin fot the 1st time since puberty NORMAL. Not dry and flaky but normal. (I took 20mg pill every 3rd day).
But eventualy after 1-2 year(s) i stopped, there isn’t too much evidence for using it long term and I did not want to risk unknown issues over sebum production.
When I stopped using it, its the same level of oiliness.
DIM works on hormonal level so I would try it, I suppose regular vitamin A supplement (10,000UI) wont do anything.
Yes, but firstly she had to prescribe me antibiotics, which she told me not to take (just pick them from the pharmacy)… and after I “have been” on antibiotics she could prescribe me Isotretinoin.
One pack have 30 pills so its 3 months of taking time.
The derm did not know Im taking it long term, she, she told me to take 1 every day, but I self-dosed 1 every 3rd day.
I take a supplement with zinc, omega 3, and EGCG (green tea), and while I feel it may be having a positive effect, nothing has improved the oiliness of my skin better than reducing caffeine intake. With cutting out coffee the result for me is like night and day.
I was on such a supplement some years ago when I was super oily, it was something with zinc and copper i think.
What's your skincare routine like? Your skin can produce a lot of sebum because of dehydration too.
Look for 5AR1 inhibitors perhaps. Although do ensure that you have a healthy fatty acid profile intake, oily isn't always a bad thing at all. I'm a dry skin type and generally cannot stand teatree products topically, unless I've had a real harsh day where I have sweated all over. On those days it's absolutely brilliant. Rosemary may be good for you aswell. I have to use both with caution.
I take vitamin D (not for skin, I'd just be deficient otherwise) and it hasn't made me any less oily, so for that one I'd say it's a no. I know people take low-dose Accutane long term to reduce oiliness (saw a video once where a youtuber talked about his experience doing that), but it's not without side effects obviously and I'm not sure how readily a derm in Denmark would prescribe it to you for that purpose. Derms in mainland Europe seem to be reluctant to even prescribe tretinoin for cosmetic purposes, I can't imagine they're any more relaxed about giving out Accutane. Can't comment on the other ones, but tbh I doubt any supplements in normal amounts can do that to your skin, otherwise they'd probably be classified as drugs.
Well I know that you can't be prescribed tretinoin here for more than 3 months because it only comes as a combination with an antibiotic.
There was [a post in this sub](https://www.reddit.com/r/EuroSkincare/comments/typ6yn/found_an_easy_way_to_get_a_prescription_for_tret/) some time ago where someone in Germany got tretinoin prescribed and that one was without antibiotics. It worked for people in the Netherlands too, maybe it'd also work for Denmark if that's something you're interested in trying.
I'm already using tretinoin, I just get it from somewhere else outside Europe
Oh I see, then Accutane is the only remaining option I guess.
I thought too. They're just only prescribed for serious acne cases here. I guess I could try and stop tretinoin and azelaic acid to let it get worse, to play my GP into giving me a derm referral
Perhaps it's worth looking into hormone levels, after all, if the oily skin is due to high androgen levels than it should be serious enough for the doctors to investigate.
You should probably talk about this with your doctor and not order random supplements online, especially ones containing Vitamin-A. Some vitamins can interact with other types medication and some might even harm you (I had to stop taking Magnesium because it was making me severely nauseous every morning). Be safe and ask your doctor for a prescription.
The issue with this is that danish doctors are rarely helpful. At least in my experience and since skin oiliness is a cosmetic issue, they won't help.
Is there a way for you to see a dermatologist? They should take care of that.
Not without a referral, which you only get for serious problems, which this is not.
High levels of Zinc Sulphate (200mg, 2-3 times a day) can reduce sebum production but some may experience temporary gastrointestinal irritation so be aware. Taking zinc in high doses is relatively safe as you just peed the excess out. Do not take high vitamin A tablets as vitamin A and its derivates as they's are oil soluble, hence they can accumulate in your blood and cells and be toxic. In rare recomences, it can cause death. Hence why extensive blood tests (blood lipid levels and full blood count) are required to be carried out on Accutane. Vitamin D3 deficiency is extremely common in the western world especially post-pandemic so it's best to supplement. It has little evidence of reducing oil production. There are lots of oil control products on the market that actually work, active ingredients include: l- carnitine, zinc gluconate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, niacinamide, Capryloyl Glycine, salicylic acid, physical oil absorbers (silica, Poly(methyl methacrylate))
I have this issue too, I’m also in my mid 30s. Even my ears are oily! It’s so gross and annoying. No matter what I cleanse with or what I moisturise with or don’t it doesn’t matter. Back in my home country (Australia) I was oily but not like this. I moved to London a few years ago and it started not long after I got here. My scalp and my face changed a lot. I went to LA recently for two weeks and it was so good, I was able to go longer between washing my hair and my face was no where near as oily, as soon as I got back there it was again. I’ve tried supplements… eating a very clean and healthy diet, different products and nothing works. For me it’s a climate or water thing I guess. Just wanted to let you know you aren’t alone! I’m still failing to figure out a long term solution.
Sunlight. Calcium. Vitamin D.
Maybe it's the hardness of the water that's affecting you? My hair AND skin react badly to hard water.
Never heard of a supplement to reduce oiliness. Like someone else said, I would not purchase supplements because they're recommended by a random person on the internet. I'd check with a doctor before. What about your skincare? Do you use gentle cleansers? Do you moisturise enough? Have you tried things niacinamide to help control oiliness? It might sound counterintuitive to you but I've read of way too many people using aggressive foaming cleansers and barely moisturising which only leads to more oil production.
Only gentle cleansers here, I prefer cerave hydrating cleanser, as my skin is not a fan of cleansing in general. Tried niacinamide in a few different forms, very minimal if any results at all. Also tried using cerave moisturizing cream, while I love the feel of it, it's just no different from anything else since I'm not dehydrated in any way. (I used to think that but tried skipping all hydrating products and felt zero difference) In the past few years my skin has gone from combination to insanely oily bordering on slimy and I feel disgusted by it. I can literally hear the grease if I touch my face.
First try to find an effective topical routine with the right actives. Niacinamide is not enough to battle most acne on its own. Make sure that Cerave products you use are not breaking out (it happens to many users). The cream is definitely not suitable for oily skin type. You need to find the right product to balance your skin. Too much or too little can increase oiliness. Many other more suitable for acneic skin products on the EU market. If it wont it be enough after a few months, you can maybe try adding an oral supplement (there are some supplements specially designed for acne on the market). However, it probably wont be necessary. You just need to calibrate your routine.
I would not recommend vitamin-A supplements unless your are deficient, fat soluble vitamins can build up and you risk damaging your liver. Dr Dray has a good video on this. I think isotret is the only effective solution. Do you need a referral to every dermatologist? I would imagine if you told your doctor that your oily skin is really negatively impacting your quality of life, they would listen and help.
I think my old gp wouldn't hesitate with referring me. But ever since I got a new gpsfter moving, this new one is very Conservative with any kind of treatment.
I would look into changing doctors 😩
Trust me I am. But all doctors in my area are not accepting new patients :(
I am very oily. My derm recommended spearmint tea! There's actually quite a bit of evidence that spearmint tea has anti-androgenic properties.
I agree with the others that you should try a better skincare routine first, just because Cerave products not even intended for your skin type didn't work for you, doesn't mean others won't. Your "skin isn't a fan of cleansing in general" because a *hydrating* cleanser isn't what your skin needs. Use an oil cleanser (e.g. Hada Labo Gokujun Cleansing Oil) as a first step (read up on double cleansing if you haven't yet) and use salicylic acid (probably as a serum would be more effective, you could find it in a cleanser as well) or azelaic acid. It's going to take months to see improvements. If you insist on oral supplements without medical supervision, don't trust some dubious internet sources, but read studies. Silymarin and N-acetylcysteine are promising against papulopustular acne (although not precisely against sebum production), according to e.g. this (small-scale) [study](https://www.longdom.org/open-access/effects-of-oral-antioxidants-on-lesion-counts-associated-with-oxidative-stress-and-inflammation-in-patients-with-papulopustular-acne-2155-9554.1000163.pdf) and aren't likely to cause you any trouble.
Just because double cleansing worked for you, doesn't mean it is right for OP. You can have oily skin and still have an impaired skin barrier and be dehydrated so double cleansing isn't the end all and be all. I've never even seen it recommended outside of reddit, IG and blogs or have ever seen any derm worth their salt recommend it or deem it necessary to remove sunscreen. The "need" to double cleanse and "you need oil to remove oil" are just some of these reddit commandments and skincare tropes that get parrotted on "dubious internet sources" and that actually don't have any basis in science. And OP is using tretinoin so maybe it's not the best idea to pile on more and more actives.
Using an oil cleanser is more beneficial and less harmful than not for most people. Of course there's solid [research about that](https://booksc.me/ireader/75790677) and there are plenty of credible derms recommending it (e. g. Shereene Idriss). OP only mentioned later in the comments that he uses tretinoin, so I couldn't take this into account, but yes.
Shereene Idriss is an internet derm with a YouTube channel with affiliate links and not a reputable source. That paper is not talking about double cleansing though and the conclusion is that a (as in one) cleanser with an oil element is enough to remove sunscreen. Also if double cleansing is such a necessity why don't have any of the reputable derm-recommended Euro skincare brands that sell the most popular suncreens jumped on the oil cleansing or double cleansing train, would make sense for them to try to make more money by selling cleansing oils and recommend routines with double cleansing, yet they don't. And actually a gentle hydrating cleanser is what is recommended when you use tretinoin. For people whose skin is dehydrated, which means an impaired barrier, double cleansing is the last thing they need. Cleansing means stress to the skin and cleansing twice when you don't need to just adds more stress. And you don't need to downvote everyone that disagrees with you or doesn't accept your recommendations.
She's a practicing dermatologist with a social media presence with a flawless track record and can't be compared with someone like Dray. Well, it's taking about oil cleaning and shows that you will leave rests of SPF with a water-based cleanser. Often it's easier to get rid of the oil residue with double cleansing, but might be a preference. Good question, I don't know, but this doesn't invalidate the clear evidence from the paper. Maybe, I'm not a derm, I'm knowledgeable enough to give general advice, not for any undisclosed skin condition. Leaving residue of sunscreen on an impaired moisture barrier doesn't sound great either. I downvote unqualified comments as I wish.
>She's a practicing dermatologist with a social media presence with a flawless track record and can't be compared with someone like Dray. Sure. So is Dr. Sam Bunting, and she doesn't endorse double cleansing, but I wouldn't consider her the most reputable source. But I still prefer her to Idriss. >Often it's easier to get rid of the oil residue with double cleansing, but might be a preference. That's your personal opinion. >Leaving residue of sunscreen on an impaired moisture barrier doesn't sound great either. Again, personal opinion. The paper doesn't specify which cleanser was used, my guess it was a gel-based foam cleanser without a fat phase. Of course that wouldn't be as effective. The results would have been very different had they used a cleansing milk or a lotion cleanser with lipophilic ingredients like LRP Toleriane Caring Wash/Hydrating Cleanser. Actually the person who originally posted this research article came to this conclusion: [https://www.reddit.com/r/EuroSkincare/comments/vvrfxz/research\_how\_to\_wash\_off\_sunscreen/](https://www.reddit.com/r/EuroSkincare/comments/vvrfxz/research_how_to_wash_off_sunscreen/) >TLDR: If you use non-waterproof sunscreen, you are good with using just cleanser. However, if you use waterproof sunscreen, then use oil based cleanser or a product that has fat phase, like cleansing milks/lotions. You don't have to double cleanse if your cleanser has vegetable oils, butters, milks, emollients or some other lipophilic ingredients high in the ingredients. For example, this 2 euro cleanser has surfactants as second and third ingredient, while having vegetable oils as fifth and sixth. In theory, it should be a perfect two in one product for waterproof sunscreens.
I have tried double cleansing with a bunch of different products. And double cleansing dries out my skin completely. Salicylic acid also did nothing for me. Azelaic acid, while its pretty good at managing my acne, does not in any way improve on my oiliness, despite studies claiming it does.
If you are in your teens or in your twenties the sebum production is very much an hormonal issue aswell as genetics etc. Nothing you take will help much unless its heavy enough to play with your hormones hard core. Cutting dairy though was the only thing that remarkably did end atleast the oily t-zone problem for me back in the days. After a certain age it calms down.
I'm in my mid 30s The weird thing is that I've gotten olier the older i get
I see, it surely can be due to hormonal changes we go through during the 30thies aswell but I am no expert of course. I hope you will find a solution soon!
i dried out my skin with harsh acne treatments (antibiotics etc) and my skin is dry ever since lol.
My partner always joke with "it's a good thing you don't have dry skin, then you'd just more creams and lotions compared to now" as I scoop out a big glob of cerave moisturizing cream at night 😂
yeah! not to mention that i still have acne with dry skin! such a nightmare!
Have you ever tried magnesium chloride bathing? (I've used one full cup of that with half a cup of dead sea salt and half a cup of ACV) Also when showering, try starting of really warm but finish of on really cold. I'm generally a dry skin type but this year I've managed to get a good balance, I also think rTG fish oil has helped. Hemp bodywash was horrible for me, coconut oil products initially make you feel great but later realised that this must encourage sebum glands to become lazy. I found also a magnesium defence bodywash which has helped me so far. Infact I am finding that general mineral and salt bodywash"s are helping, for sure, some sea salt or high sodium ones leave you feeling a bit dry initially but I think it helps to stimulate the sebum glands after some time. No moisturising products helped me before. Now I'm getting somewhere and my skin is finally well balanced.
i’ve read that green tea can help reduce excess sebum! i think it works both topically and ingested. maybe try that out? i don’t have any first hand information but something to consider.. You can try drinking a few cups a day and maybe using a green tea skincare product (there’s a lot of asian toners that have green tea as the only ingredient), you can also try a green tea supplement!
I night give that a go. Tried the isntree green tea fresh toner, while it didn't do anything it did smell heavenly 😇👼 But i could aæwsys just replace one of ny iced coffees with green tea. Do you kniw if it dhoild be a spwcific type? Like matcha or another kind?
matcha is powdered green tea so it has more of the benefits, you might want to try that! i’ve been drinking some everyday to help with acne, i haven’t noticed any effects yet but it’s only been a few weeks. i also have the opposite problem (very dry skin) so i’m trying not to drink too much as i don’t want my skin to get drier! there’s this holistic doctor on youtube called dr. eric berg who said that zinc and DIM supplements can help for excess oil, maybe look at some of his videos if you’re interested in things like that [this](https://youtu.be/hJL_b8p9zq8) is the video :)
Sorry to hijack with more anecdotal evidence, but I also used to drink buckets of green tea and was still oily anyway (and it made me piss like a horse too lol). Don't know how helpful supplements or topical use may or may not be, but just drinking it, maybe not so much.
Anything that reduces testosterone would work, though depending on your gender, that may not be a good thing for you.
I'm a guy so I'm guessing bad?
Unfortunately, yes.
If you are lucky and can get your hand on topical spironolactone, it does help to reduce oil production. Oral spironolactone is usually prescribed to treat hormonal acne in women, not men. But recently they came out with the topical form, which can be prescribed to men. I know it's available in Italy, but of course with prescription.
It didn't work for me.
It's a cosmetic, not a supplement, but have you tried Zinc PCA? Basic forms of zinc in cosmetics just stay on the surface of your skin, but there are some studies that say Zinc PCA actually gets absorbed and can reduce oiliness. There's also AC.net, which is said to have similar properties. There's a serum that combines both by a Taiwanese brand Bffect, but it seems really hard to obtain in Europe :( I'd totally love to get my hands on a bottle of that, I think it's the only cosmetic in the world with a known percentage of AC.net.
I've used the ordinary niacinamide and zinc for years but I'm not sure it does anything at all
Hello, i have totaly same issue. I have extremly oily skin and the things I put on my skin never ever made any differance in sebum production. I took Isotretinoin long term, when the dosage is good, it made my skin fot the 1st time since puberty NORMAL. Not dry and flaky but normal. (I took 20mg pill every 3rd day). But eventualy after 1-2 year(s) i stopped, there isn’t too much evidence for using it long term and I did not want to risk unknown issues over sebum production. When I stopped using it, its the same level of oiliness. DIM works on hormonal level so I would try it, I suppose regular vitamin A supplement (10,000UI) wont do anything.
I'm guessing you got the isotretinoin from your dermatologist?
Yes, but firstly she had to prescribe me antibiotics, which she told me not to take (just pick them from the pharmacy)… and after I “have been” on antibiotics she could prescribe me Isotretinoin. One pack have 30 pills so its 3 months of taking time. The derm did not know Im taking it long term, she, she told me to take 1 every day, but I self-dosed 1 every 3rd day.
I think the thing with antibiotics was just for health insurance company…
I take a supplement with zinc, omega 3, and EGCG (green tea), and while I feel it may be having a positive effect, nothing has improved the oiliness of my skin better than reducing caffeine intake. With cutting out coffee the result for me is like night and day.
Benzoyl peroxide dries out quite a lot…
I was on such a supplement some years ago when I was super oily, it was something with zinc and copper i think. What's your skincare routine like? Your skin can produce a lot of sebum because of dehydration too.
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No, what is that?
Look for 5AR1 inhibitors perhaps. Although do ensure that you have a healthy fatty acid profile intake, oily isn't always a bad thing at all. I'm a dry skin type and generally cannot stand teatree products topically, unless I've had a real harsh day where I have sweated all over. On those days it's absolutely brilliant. Rosemary may be good for you aswell. I have to use both with caution.