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Skin Condition · Kensington, London
Oily Skin: What Drives Sebum and How to Control It
Oily skin means the sebaceous glands are producing more sebum than the skin needs. It shows as shine across the forehead, nose and chin, pores that look wider than they are, and make-up that slides or separates through the day. Hormones and inherited gland size set how much sebum you make; how you cleanse changes how the skin behaves, not how much oil it produces.
- Doctor-led assessment
- All skin tones
- Kensington clinic
- Medically reviewed by Dr Prasad
This page sets out how oily skin is assessed and managed at Faciem, and is checked for clinical accuracy by Dr Anamica Prasad.
Last reviewed: 15 September 2026.
Patient information only. Sebum output differs widely from one person to the next, and any plan for oily skin follows a face-to-face consultation with Dr Prasad.
Patients since 2019
Procedures
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TL;DR
Oily skin is a skin type, not a disease. The sebaceous glands make more sebum than the skin needs, mainly because androgen hormones enlarge them and inherited gland size decides how strongly they respond. It usually declares itself at puberty, concentrates across the forehead, nose and chin, and often brings visible pores, congestion or acne with it. Drying the skin out backfires: a stripped barrier can push oil production up, not down. Sebum output generally falls with age, and an assessment with Dr Prasad establishes whether seborrhoeic dermatitis, a hormonal change or a damaged barrier is adding to the shine.
- Androgens and inherited gland size, not poor washing
- Heaviest across forehead, nose and chin
- Stripping the skin can increase oil
About the Condition
What Is Oily Skin?
Oily skin, known clinically as seborrhoea, is a skin type in which the sebaceous glands produce more sebum than the skin requires. Sebum is the oil that keeps skin flexible and water-resistant; in excess it leaves the surface shiny, makes pore openings look wider, and raises the chance of a follicle becoming blocked.
What does oily skin look and feel like?
Oily skin shows first in the T-zone — forehead, nose and chin — where the sebaceous glands sit most densely. Shine returns within a few hours of cleansing, foundation separates or slips, and blotting paper keeps lifting oil through the day. Pore openings look wider here than on the cheeks, because a follicle held open by sebum and shed skin cells catches the light; enlarged pores and oiliness are largely the same problem seen from two angles. Skin can also read as dull or slightly grey, since a film of oil scatters light unevenly. Oily is not the same as well hydrated. Skin can be oily and dehydrated at once, tight and shiny in the same hour, which is common after months of hard cleansing.
Who gets oily skin?
Oily skin usually begins at puberty, when rising androgen levels enlarge the sebaceous glands, and it commonly persists through the twenties and thirties before easing with age. Men produce more sebum than women on average, while women often notice their skin shifting across the menstrual cycle. Genetics is the strongest single predictor, because gland size and activity run in families. Some conditions and medicines also influence output, including polycystic ovary syndrome and certain hormonal treatments. Oily skin occurs in every skin tone, and it brings advantages: sebum supports the skin barrier, and oilier skin tends to show fine lines later than dry skin does.
Conditions linked to, or mistaken for, oily skin
Excess sebum feeds several conditions without being a disease in itself. Acne starts when oil and shed skin cells plug a follicle and inflammation follows. Seborrhoeic dermatitis brings redness and fine flaking around the nose, brows and hairline, and is linked to a yeast that thrives where the skin is oily. Sebaceous hyperplasia produces small, soft, yellowish bumps with a dipped centre, most often on the forehead, where a single gland has enlarged. Dehydrated skin is regularly misread as oily, because a damaged barrier can drive oil production up. Facial wetness is a separate problem: if the face is damp rather than shiny, that is sweat, and excessive sweating is treated in an entirely different way.
Causes & Contributing Factors
What Causes Oily Skin?
Androgen hormones are the main cause of oily skin: they enlarge the sebaceous glands and increase sebum output, and genetics decides how strongly your glands answer. Season, cleansing habits and a few medicines change how oily the skin behaves week to week, but they seldom explain the underlying tendency.
Androgen hormones
Androgens enlarge the sebaceous glands and raise sebum output, which is why oiliness arrives at puberty. In adults, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome can all shift how oily the skin behaves.
Genetics
Sebaceous gland size and activity are strongly inherited. Where oily skin runs in a family, it is a long-term skin type to manage well, not a temporary phase waiting to be cured.
Over-cleansing and barrier damage
Harsh cleansers, alcohol-based toners and frequent scrubbing strip the surface lipids the barrier depends on. The skin may answer by making more oil, so an aggressive routine can deepen the shine it was bought to control.
Heat, humidity and season
Sebum production tends to rise with temperature and humidity, which is why shine is worse in summer and in warm indoor air. This is an existing tendency fluctuating, not a cause in its own right.
Medicines and hormonal treatment
Certain medicines, including some hormonal treatments and steroids, can increase sebum production. Where oiliness changed noticeably after starting something new, bring the details to your consultation so the timing can be checked.
Treatments We Offer
How Is Oily Skin Treated at Faciem?
Oily skin is treated by lowering sebum output and keeping follicles clear, not by wiping oil off the surface again and again. Assessment and treatment for oily skin are available at Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic on Kensington Church St, London, led by Dr Prasad, who establishes what is driving the sebum before recommending anything. Peels also have a place where congestion and rough texture persist: the ZO Stimulator Peel is a light option, and the stronger ZO 3 Step TCA peel is a separate decision, taken with Dr Prasad rather than added on to a facial appointment.
01
Medical-Grade Skincare
Prescription-strength actives regulate oil production and keep follicles clear while leaving the barrier intact. For most oily skin this is the foundation of the plan, because it works every day instead of at appointment intervals.
Best for: daily control and long-term management
Read about Medical-Grade Skincare
02
HydraFacial
Cleansing, exfoliation, extraction and hydration in one appointment, so congested follicles are cleared while the skin is left hydrated instead of stripped. It suits oiliness that comes with visible blockage and rough texture.
Best for: congestion, blocked pores and dull texture
Read about HydraFacial
03
Acne Treatment
Persistent oiliness stretches follicle openings and drives blackheads, whiteheads and breakouts. Where active acne sits alongside oily skin, a structured acne plan addresses the oil and the inflammation together, combining prescribed skincare with in-clinic treatment.
Best for: oily skin with active spots or scarring risk
Read about Acne Treatment
What is used, in what order and how often is decided face to face with Dr Prasad, and skin responds differently from person to person. Where a well-built daily routine is already doing the work, she will tell you an in-clinic treatment would add little.
When to Seek Medical Advice
When Should You See a Doctor About Oily Skin?
See a doctor about oily skin when it comes with persistent spots, when it changes suddenly in adulthood, or when flaking and redness suggest something other than simple shine. Oily skin by itself is a skin type, not a disease — the reason to seek advice is usually what travels with it.
Worth getting checked
- Oiliness alongside persistent spots, congestion or early scarring
- A sudden change in oiliness as an adult, especially with irregular periods or unusual hair growth
- Redness, flaking or itching around the nose, brows or hairline
- Small, persistent bumps that never come to a head and do not behave like spots
Conditions that can look similar
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis, sebaceous hyperplasia, rosacea and dehydrated skin can each sit alongside oily skin or be mistaken for it, and they need quite different treatment. Adult-onset oiliness arriving with other hormonal symptoms may point to an underlying cause that should be investigated properly. Anything on the skin that bleeds, grows or refuses to settle needs to be seen in person.
Self-Care & Prevention
Looking After Oily Skin at Home
The most useful change most people make is to stop fighting the oil. Gentle twice-daily cleansing, a light moisturiser and daily sunscreen hold oily skin steadier than stripping routines, which damage the barrier and often prompt the skin to make more.
Do
- Cleanse twice a day — morning and night — with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser
- Moisturise twice daily with a light, oil-free formulation; oily skin still needs hydration
- Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 to 50 every morning, in an oil-free or gel base
- Blot once or twice through the day instead of cleansing a third or fourth time
Avoid
- Scrubs and alcohol-based toners — and exfoliating more than twice a week
- Washing more than twice a day in an attempt to stay matte
- Skipping moisturiser on oilier days; twice-daily use tends to lower shine, not raise it
- Starting more than one new active at a time, or judging any of them before 8 to 12 weeks
This is general guidance and does not replace individual assessment. What suits your skin depends on how oily it is, whether acne is present, and your skin tone.
Why Patients Choose Faciem
Reducing Oil Without Damaging the Skin Barrier
Most people arrive at Faciem having spent years trying to dry oily skin out. The more productive questions are what is driving the sebum, and what will lower it without leaving the barrier in worse condition than it started.
- Assessed in person by Dr Prasad, a GMC-registered doctor, not chosen from a product shelf
- Underlying causes identified, including the conditions that mimic simple oiliness
- Routines built to protect the skin barrier while sebum output comes down
- Straight advice when a treatment would add little to a well-chosen daily routine
Experience & Expertise
Why Oily Skin Is Easy to Misdiagnose
Oily skin is simple to self-diagnose and simple to get wrong. Dehydrated skin overproducing oil after barrier damage looks much like constitutionally oily skin, yet the treatment runs in almost the opposite direction. Seborrhoeic dermatitis, sebaceous hyperplasia and early rosacea all turn up in oily skin and are routinely mistaken for it. Then there is the question of what the sebum is causing: where it is feeding acne or congestion, treating the consequence and ignoring the oil tends to buy short-lived results. Dr Prasad, a GMC-registered doctor with 20 years’ experience in dermatology, examines the skin, identifies what is driving the oil, and sets out a routine you can realistically keep to.
- Dr Anamica Prasad — MBChB (1999), Dip Dermatology (2001), MRCGP, DFFP, DRCOG · a GMC-registered doctor
- Member of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), British Medical Laser Association (BMLA), Royal Society of Medicine and the Aesthetic Complications Group
- Clinic operated by Derma Medical UK Ltd, registered with the Care Quality Commission for diagnostic and screening procedures, surgical procedures, and treatment of disease, disorder or injury · CQC Location ID 1-25573003746
- Face-to-face medical consultation and skin assessment before any treatment is recommended
- 20 years’ experience in dermatology, treating oily and acne-prone skin across every skin tone
Patient Reviews
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Oily Skin FAQs
Your Questions, Answered
Common questions about shine, sebum and pores, answered here. Anything specific to your own skin is better answered face to face.
What causes oily skin?
Oily skin is caused by sebaceous glands producing more sebum than the skin needs. Androgen hormones enlarge those glands, and inherited gland size decides how strongly they respond, which is why oiliness usually starts at puberty and runs in families. Heat, humidity, some medicines and over-cleansing change how oily the skin behaves, but they rarely create the tendency on their own.
Why is my face oily again a few hours after washing?
Sebum is produced continuously, so washing removes what is on the surface without changing what the glands make underneath. Shine typically returns within a few hours in oily skin. Washing more often makes this worse instead of better: stripping the barrier can prompt the glands to increase output, so the answer is gentler cleansing twice a day plus ingredients that regulate sebum, not a third or fourth wash.
How do you get rid of oily skin?
Oily skin is managed rather than removed, and the aim is to regulate sebum production instead of clearing oil off the surface repeatedly. That usually means a daily routine built around appropriate active ingredients, with in-clinic treatment added where congestion, enlarged pores or acne are also present. Sebum output also falls naturally with age, so the skin type most people fight in their twenties often settles later.
Can I wear make-up if I have oily skin?
Yes — oily skin does not rule make-up out, but the formulation decides how it wears. Choose products labelled non-comedogenic or oil-free, and apply them over a light moisturiser and sunscreen so the barrier stays protected. Blot once or twice through the day rather than re-powdering every hour, and take everything off at the end of the day with a gentle cleanser, not a stripping wipe. Foundation that separates by mid-afternoon is usually a formulation problem rather than a coverage one.
Do you still need moisturiser if your skin is oily?
Yes. Oily skin still needs hydration, and skipping moisturiser tends to worsen shine instead of reducing it, because a dry, damaged barrier can prompt more oil. Choose a light, oil-free, non-comedogenic formulation and apply it after cleansing, with sunscreen during the day. Skin that feels tight after washing is a sign the routine is stripping the barrier.
Can oily skin be treated during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Oily skin can be managed in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, but several standard ingredients come out of the routine. Topical and oral retinoids are avoided throughout, and some prescription options are held until after breastfeeding ends. Gentle twice-daily cleansing, a light oil-free moisturiser, daily sunscreen and pregnancy-appropriate actives such as azelaic acid carry the routine in the meantime. Tell Dr Prasad at the consultation if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, so the plan is built around it from the start.
What determines the cost of treating oily skin?
Cost depends on what the plan involves. Many people with oily skin are managed largely through a prescription-strength daily routine, with the outlay going on medical-grade skincare rather than appointments. In-clinic treatments such as a HydraFacial or a peel are priced individually, and each treatment page carries its own pricing. Everything is confirmed before it goes ahead, following your consultation.
Sources & Further Reading
- Seborrhoea (oily skin) — DermNet NZ
- Sebaceous hyperplasia — DermNet NZ
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis patient information leaflet — British Association of Dermatologists
These are general sources of patient information and do not replace individual medical assessment. Your own diagnosis and plan are established at consultation.
Oily Skin in Kensington, London
A Doctor-Led Clinic in the Heart of Kensington
Oily skin is usually managed through a routine that is reviewed periodically, so most people come in far less often than they expect: an assessment first, then a review once the routine has had time to work. Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic sits on Kensington Church St, a few minutes’ walk from High Street Kensington station and about ten from Notting Hill Gate, with Kensington council underground parking close by. Appointments run Monday to Saturday, 10am–7pm, and patients come to us from Notting Hill, Chelsea and across West London.
Plan Your Visit
- Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic
- Phone: +44 20 7131 3539
- 7 Kensington Church St, London W8 4LF, United Kingdom
- Tube: High Street Kensington (few minutes’ walk) · Notting Hill Gate (~10 minutes)
- Parking: Kensington council underground car park nearby
- Open Monday–Saturday, 10am–7pm · Sunday closed
- Skin consultations bookable online; routines reviewed at follow-up
- Consultation-first — no treatment without medical assessment
- Serving Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill & Central London
Continue Exploring
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Enlarged Pores
Why sebum holds follicle openings wide, and which treatments reduce how visible pores look.
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Acne
What happens when excess oil and shed skin cells block a follicle and inflammation follows.
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Rough & Bobbly Skin
Bumpy, uneven texture that often sits alongside congestion, and how it differs from acne.
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Faciem Dermatology & Medical Clinic · Kensington
Get to What Is Driving the Oil
Book a consultation with Dr Prasad at our Kensington clinic to establish what is driving your sebum production, whether anything else is contributing, and what a routine you can keep to actually looks like.
Prefer to talk? +44 20 7131 3539