I grew up with oily pores and skin at a time when a matte look was all the fad. Although individuals would inform me my pores and skin was “glowing,” I spent my teenage years furiously powdering my t-zone to deliver down the shine. (There was no such factor as glass pores and skin or glazed donut pores and skin, I can inform you that a lot.) Quick ahead a pair a long time and dewy pores and skin is all the fad. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve undoubtedly come to understand my pure pores and skin sort extra and have been capable of see it for its benefits.
No matter the place oily pores and skin has stood in relation to the pattern cycle, one factor has remained fixed. All through my profession, I’ve seen that folks are inclined to consider having oily pores and skin helps stop wrinkles and different indicators of getting old. However is it true?
I’ll say upfront, I don’t consider one pores and skin sort ages “higher” than one other. In relation to getting old, every pores and skin sort has its personal benefits (and drawbacks). Pores and skin fads could come and go, however on the finish of the day, your pores and skin sort isn’t a pattern. It’s one thing that dictates how your pores and skin ought to be cared for and what its distinctive wants are.
Understanding your pores and skin’s strengths and weaknesses is the easiest way to create a recreation plan that enables it to age in a wholesome, swish manner. When you have oily pores and skin, this put up will train you how one can just do that.
The Benefits of Oily Pores and skin and How It Can Assist Stop Wrinkles
What does it really imply to have “oily” pores and skin? Folks with oily pores and skin varieties (like Skin Types 1-4) have a better density of sebaceous glands. These are the glands that produce oil, and this oil is accountable for offering moisture and shielding our pores and skin from environmental aggressors, micro organism, and extra.
These of us with oily pores and skin are fast to see the downsides, however let’s take a step again and take a look at some advantages you won’t have thought-about!
Increased Concentrations of Oil Glands Might Imply Thicker Pores and skin
One attainable good thing about oily pores and skin is that the excessive density of sebaceous glands means having thicker pores and skin general. This offers a pure cushion that makes the pores and skin much less vulnerable to creasing or folding, which can assist gradual or stop the formation of wrinkles and tremendous traces.
Dr. Sam Lam, a board-certified plastic surgeon who sees a variety of pores and skin varieties in his observe day-after-day, echoes this perception: “The easiest way to know the supposed bias towards oily pores and skin is to know how the pores and skin repairs injury, which is the sebaceous (or oil) gland as the principle supply of regeneration. Folks with oily pores and skin could have extra lively oil glands and thereby have extra safety. There might be an affiliation of oil glands with thicker pores and skin, which is much less vulnerable to collagen breakdown.”
He notes that this isn’t one thing that’s been scientifically confirmed, it’s extra of a idea primarily based on a mixture of current analysis and his personal observations. After 30 years of working with pores and skin hands-on, I are inclined to agree with these observations.
Whereas oily pores and skin varieties could have a leg up in relation to wrinkle prevention, it’s vital to keep in mind that traces and wrinkles aren’t the one parts of facial getting old. Facial sagging and pores and skin laxity are a pure a part of the getting old course of, and having oily pores and skin doesn’t stop this.
Sebum Supplies Pure Moisture and Safety
Having dry or dehydrated pores and skin can contribute to the event of tremendous traces, so that is one other occasion when having oily pores and skin could repay. Our pores and skin has a more durable time holding onto moisture as we age, and having your personal built-in moisture from oil manufacturing can definitely be helpful.
Sebum additionally acts as a protect for our pores and skin, so oilier pores and skin varieties could have a bit extra pure safety in opposition to getting old triggers like air pollution, free radicals, and UV injury (however not sufficient to skip sunscreen, after all!). This further little bit of safety means it could be simpler to keep up brilliant, even-toned pores and skin, one other attribute of youthful-looking complexions.
All nice information for shiny pores and skin varieties, proper? Earlier than getting too carried away although, keep in mind that being much less vulnerable to wrinkles isn’t the identical as being immune. The easiest way to capitalize in your pure benefits is correctly caring in your pores and skin with a constant routine (and sure, oily pores and skin nonetheless wants moisturizer).
Widespread Growing older Issues for Oily Pores and skin (and What to Do About Them)
No matter pores and skin sort, we’re all extra vulnerable to sure facets of pores and skin getting old than others. The hot button is understanding which facets we’re vulnerable to and addressing them early on. As they are saying, an oz of prevention is price a pound of treatment.
Beneath, the commonest getting old issues for shiny pores and skin varieties and how one can get forward of them.
Pore measurement
Talking from expertise, these of us with oilier pores and skin can battle with pore measurement as we age. When you could have extra sebum flowing via your pores it could possibly stretch them out, making them seem greater over time. This won’t be tremendous noticeable whenever you’re youthful, however as we age we begin to lose cushion and quantity in our pores and skin. This cushion helps “plump out” enlarged pores, however because the pores and skin turns into extra lax, giant pores turn into extra apparent.
A clean, even pores and skin texture is one key characteristic of youthful-looking pores and skin and it may be tough to make pores seem smaller as soon as this begins to occur, so that is undoubtedly an important factor to begin addressing early on!
Tips on how to Stop Enlarged Pores
- Handle oil manufacturing through the use of the proper components for shiny pores and skin
- Hold pores clear by getting common extractions and exfoliating at dwelling
- Use retinol to assist protect your pores and skin’s pure “cushion”
Study all about the most effective technique for minimizing giant pores.
Zits Scars
Whereas not everybody with oily pores and skin experiences zits, many do—particularly of their youthful years (I do know this was the case for me). Breakouts can fluctuate in severity, however should you’re somebody who’s handled deep nodular or cystic zits, you recognize all too nicely it could possibly depart behind indented scarring. That is by far probably the most tough type of zits scarring to cope with, and identical to enlarged pores, it could possibly turn into extra outstanding as we age.
You’ll be able to handle the results of zits scarring over time by sticking to a diligent skincare routine that features collagen-stimulating components. Use a vitamin C serum within the morning to assist construct collagen and forestall additional injury. Use retinol within the evenings and think about consulting with a dermatologist to work your manner as much as a prescription energy since it will give probably the most dramatic outcomes. Most significantly, put on solar safety each single day, rain or shine (this sunscreen is perfect for oily skin). Whereas each vitamin C and retinol can assist construct collagen, defending in opposition to solar injury is vital to stopping collagen breakdown within the first place.
In case your scarring is extreme, skilled remedies equivalent to radiofrequency microneedling generally is a game-changer.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Final (however not least), having oily pores and skin makes you extra vulnerable to sebaceous hyperplasia as you age. Sebaceous hyperplasias are benign pores and skin growths that seem as flat, barely raised bumps. As I stated, they’re fully innocent, however they could be a nuisance. I am going to my dermatologist annually to have these kind of growths eliminated through electrical cauterization.
The Takeaway—Does Oily Pores and skin Age Higher?
As you’ll be able to see, there are many advantages to having an oily pores and skin sort. If you happen to’re somebody who hasn’t at all times felt good about having oily pores and skin, I hope studying about these advantages can assist you embrace it! To recap, a better focus of oil glands results in thicker pores and skin, which is extra resilient in opposition to tremendous traces and wrinkles. Increased sebum manufacturing additionally means extra pure moisture and built-in safety from the weather, which will be useful for sustaining brilliant, even-toned pores and skin.
With that stated, having oily pores and skin doesn’t make you completely proof against wrinkles, particularly deep expression traces. It additionally doesn’t defend in opposition to facial sagging, which entails deeper parts of our anatomy like fats and muscle. Oily pores and skin varieties may additionally battle with pores and skin texture and enormous pores as they become old, extra so than dry pores and skin varieties.
On the finish of the day, the easiest way to keep up wholesome pores and skin and forestall indicators of getting old is a well-rounded skincare routine constructed in your distinctive pores and skin sort. A skincare routine ought to tackle ALL of your pores and skin issues—not only a few (and oily or dry is just one a part of the equation). Unsure what your routine ought to appear like? Take this quiz to get started!
Lastly, keep in mind that getting old is a multifaceted course of affected by so many components equivalent to way of life, surroundings, and genetics. The way in which I see it, do what you’ll be able to to handle your pores and skin, your well being, and your happiness, then benefit from the journey 🙂 I consider stability is vital and I attempt to incorporate it into my on a regular basis life.
Up subsequent, study why you must really think about your self fortunate in case you have zits!

Celeb Esthetician & Skincare Skilled
As an esthetician educated in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Her hands-on expertise as an esthetician and trusted skincare skilled has created a real-world resolution — merchandise which can be formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get precisely what it must appear and feel its finest. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world information and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “probably the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”