One minute your skin feels normal. Then it is shiny by lunchtime, your hair gets greasy faster and spots start appearing in places they never used to. That shift is common during puberty, and it starts with the new hormone signals moving around your body.
01 WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOUR BODY?
PUBERTY CHANGES MORE THAN YOUR HEIGHT AND VOICE.
During puberty, your brain starts sending new signals that tell your body to develop. Levels of hormones called androgens increase. Testosterone is one of them. These hormones are involved in changes such as body hair, muscle development, a deeper voice and growth. They also affect your skin.
Your oil producing glands are sensitive to androgens. As those hormone signals increase, the glands can grow and start making more sebum. Some people notice a small change. Others suddenly feel as if their face and hair need washing all the time. Genetics matter too, because some people's oil glands respond more strongly than others.
The timing is different for everyone. Your skin can change before, during or after other signs of puberty, and it may settle and flare again as hormone levels continue to shift.
02 WHAT IS SEBUM?
YOUR SKIN MAKES OIL FOR A REASON.
Just below the surface of your skin are sebaceous glands. They make sebum, a natural oily substance that travels along your hair follicles and onto your skin. It helps support the skin barrier, keeps skin flexible and reduces water loss.
You have more oil glands on your face, scalp, chest and upper back. That is why those areas often change at the same time. You might notice a shinier forehead and nose, hair that gets greasy faster, or spots across your shoulders and back.
Oil and sweat are not the same thing, although they can mix on your skin and make it feel greasier. Puberty can increase both, which is why skin, hair, sweat and body odour can all seem to change at once.
03 WHY CAN OIL LEAD TO SPOTS?
OIL IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE PICTURE.
Extra sebum can mix with dead skin cells inside a hair follicle. If that mixture blocks the opening, it can form a blackhead or whitehead. Bacteria that normally live on the skin can then contribute to inflammation, creating a red or sore spot.
A blackhead is not trapped dirt. It looks dark because the material inside the open pore reacts with the air. A whitehead forms when the pore stays closed. If the blocked follicle becomes inflamed, it can turn into a swollen spot.
After sport, sweat and oil can sit together with sunscreen, hair product and whatever else has built up through the day. That is why your face can feel much greasier after training, even though sweat itself does not directly cause acne.
04 A ROUTINE THAT MAKES SENSE
KEEP IT SIMPLE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY DO.
- MorningUse a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. Follow with a light moisturiser and sunscreen that are labelled oil free or non comedogenic.
- After sportRinse or cleanse soon after heavy sweating rather than leaving sweat, oil and product sitting on your skin. Pat dry instead of rubbing.
- EveningCleanse again to remove the day's oil, sunscreen and dirt. Twice daily is normally enough unless you have been sweating heavily.
- Stay gentleUse your fingertips. Scrubs, rough cloths, very hot water and constant washing can irritate skin without fixing the reason it is oily.
- Give it timeDo not change everything every few days. A consistent routine makes it easier to see what is helping and what is irritating your skin.
05 DO YOU STILL NEED MOISTURISER?
OILY AND DEHYDRATED ARE NOT OPPOSITES.
Your skin can produce plenty of oil and still feel tight or uncomfortable after cleansing. Oil and water are not the same thing. A lightweight gel or lotion can add hydration without feeling heavy. Look for oil free and non comedogenic on the label.
If a cleanser leaves your face feeling squeaky, stinging or extremely tight, it may be too harsh. Feeling stripped is not proof that a product is working.
06 WHAT ABOUT SKINCARE ACTIVES?
MORE PRODUCTS DO NOT ALWAYS MEAN BETTER RESULTS.
Ingredients used for acne can help when oil is being joined by blocked pores and spots. Salicylic acid is often used to help clear pores. Benzoyl peroxide is used to reduce acne causing bacteria and inflammation. Both can irritate skin if you go too hard, too quickly.
Starting several strong products at once makes it difficult to know what is helping. A pharmacist can recommend an appropriate first option and explain how often to use it.
Introduce one change at a time, follow the instructions and stop if you develop significant irritation. Picking or squeezing spots can increase inflammation and the chance of marks or scarring.
07 THREE THINGS THAT DO NOT HELP
TRYING TO DRY YOUR FACE OUT COMPLETELY.
Washing constantly: cleansing more than you need can leave skin irritated and uncomfortable.
Using the strongest product you can find: stinging and tightness are signs of irritation, not proof that something is working.
Changing your routine every week: skin needs consistency. Give one sensible routine time before deciding it has failed.
08 WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ALONE.
Speak to a pharmacist or GP if you have deep or painful spots, acne on your chest or back, marks or scarring, or if your skin is affecting your confidence or mood. Getting the right advice early can make treatment simpler.