Seoul Sebum Treatment: What If Shine and Acne Keep Coming Back Even After Washing Your Face?

Hello.

I’m Wi Young-jin from Beauty’s Doctor.

Some people wash their face in the morning, yet their forehead and nose become shiny before lunch, and their makeup breaks down easily.

Even after changing cleansers and using blotting paper, if oil returns a few hours later, you may wonder whether you should wash your face more often.

However, if blackheads, whiteheads, and even red acne keep recurring along with the shine, it may be difficult to view the issue as simply oily skin.

Sebum treatment does not mean eliminating all oil. It begins by distinguishing how sebum production, clogged pores, and inflammation are connected.

3-Line Summary

1. Sebum helps protect the skin, so rather than eliminating it completely, excessive production and clogged pores should be managed.

2. If comedones, inflammation, flaking, or itching occur along with shine, acne and seborrheic dermatitis should be differentiated.

3. If lifestyle management is not enough, topical medication, oral medication, and supplementary procedures can be considered according to the condition of your skin.

1) Why does my skin keep producing so much sebum?

Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands connected to the hair follicles.

It helps reduce moisture loss from the skin and protects it from external irritation.

However, the amount produced can vary depending on the skin’s response to hormones such as androgens, genetic tendencies, age, temperature, humidity,

and the cosmetics you use.

Even if you produce a lot of sebum, you may only notice shine if it is released smoothly through the pores.

However, when dead skin cells build up around the pore openings, sebum may be unable to escape, which can lead to whiteheads and blackheads.

If inflammation is added, this may develop into red and painful papules or pustules, or even deep nodules.

Therefore, before sebum treatment, it is important to check whether the issue is simply excess oil, whether acne is also present, and whether flaking and itching occur as well.

2) How can oily skin be distinguished from other conditions?

Even if your forehead and nose are shiny, if your skin is only rough in texture without redness or pain, you can begin by adjusting your daily skin-care habits.

On the other hand, if whiteheads and blackheads keep recurring, and red acne or scarring begins to appear, acne treatment may also be necessary.

In addition, if yellowish or white flakes, redness, and itching repeatedly occur around the sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, or scalp, seborrheic dermatitis should also be considered.

Although these conditions may look similarly shiny, their treatment goals and medications may differ.

Therefore, choosing a product that only reduces sebum may not be the right first step.

If adult acne and sebum production suddenly increase along with changes such as irregular periods or increased hair growth, be sure to mention possible hormone-related factors during your consultation.

In other words, it is important to check not only the amount of sebum, but also when it began to increase and what other symptoms appeared alongside it. This allows the treatment approach to be determined more specifically.

3) How should I adjust cleansing and moisturizing?

If you wash your face whenever you become concerned about sebum or scrub until your skin feels completely clean, your skin barrier may become irritated, causing stinging and dryness.

Wash your face in the morning and evening with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser.

Make sure to thoroughly remove sunscreen and makeup.

If oil appears during the day, instead of repeatedly washing your face, gently press the area with blotting paper without rubbing.

Even if you have oily skin, if your face feels tight after cleansing, apply a thin layer of a lightweight moisturizer to help keep your skin barrier comfortable.

However, moisturizer does not directly reduce sebum production itself.

Its greater role is to reduce dryness and irritation and create a better skin environment so that treatment products can be used more comfortably.

Avoid habits such as using scrubs, frequent pore strips, forcefully extracting blemishes with your hands or tools, or using several exfoliating products at the same time, as these can worsen redness and inflammation.

When trying new products, do not change several at once. Add them one at a time and observe how your skin responds.

4) When should medication and procedures be considered?

If the condition is difficult to manage with lifestyle changes alone, or if comedones and inflammation keep recurring, treatment with medication appropriate for your symptoms can be considered.

When clogged pores are the main issue, a topical medication that regulates the skin’s shedding cycle may be used.

If inflammation is also present, anti-inflammatory treatment may be discussed.

When sebum production and inflammatory acne are severe, an oral medication that reduces sebaceous gland activity may also be considered.

However, possible dryness of the lips and skin, whether blood tests are needed, and interactions with other medications should be checked.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you must inform your healthcare provider before treatment. Do not start or stop medication on your own.

Peels, light- or laser-based procedures, and microneedle radiofrequency treatments may also be discussed as supplementary options depending on sebum, inflammation, and pore condition.

However, rather than choosing a procedure based on its name first, you should first determine whether your main concern is sebum, acne, or also includes enlarged pores or scarring.

For example, if inflammation is active, it may be necessary to control the current lesions first rather than beginning with procedures for skin texture or scarring.

Conversely, if the inflammation has stabilized but enlarged pores and depressed marks remain, a different treatment goal should then be established.

After a procedure, redness, warmth, dryness, or mild swelling may occur.

While your skin is sensitive, take care with moisturizing and sun protection, and temporarily avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, saunas, hot baths, massages, and exfoliation.

If pain and swelling become progressively worse, or if large blisters, oozing, spreading redness, yellow discharge, or fever occur, contact the medical institution where you received the procedure.

In closing

Sebum treatment is not simply care that temporarily removes shine.

You need to determine how much sebum production, retained dead skin cells, clogged pores, and inflammation are contributing, then establish the order of lifestyle management and treatment.

During your consultation, ask whether you simply have oily skin or also have acne or seborrheic dermatitis, which treatment should be started first, and when your progress should be evaluated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can sebum treatment completely eliminate shine?

Rather than eliminating it completely, the approach is to reduce discomfort and clogged pores.

Q2. Does washing my face frequently reduce sebum?

Frequent cleansing and vigorous friction can irritate the skin barrier.

Q3. Can anyone take oral medication?

Whether it can be used depends on your health, other medications you take, and the possibility of pregnancy.

Q4. When should I seek medical care?

Consider getting evaluated if painful inflammation and comedones keep recurring, or if they are accompanied by scarring, redness, or flaking.

Thank you for reading this long post today.

This has been Wi Young-jin from Beauty’s Doctor.