Many people spend hours wondering why they have oily skin. Others may be thinking, well, why does my brother or sister not have oily skin, but I do? The truth is, oily skin lies in one´s genetic makeup, an excess of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Too much of this chemical in your blood stream triggers sebaceous glands to produce sebum. When you have higher than normal levels of this hormone, well you can guess what happens: An oily t-zone, a shiny forehead and all of the other things that come with bad skin.

There are many misconceptions about oily skin, such as: you can scrub it away by washing it numerous times with hot water and rubbing in with a soap scrub. Unfortunately, this is a short term solution. There is not a way to just scrub it off for good. Then there is the trying to dry it out method.

The oil, however, is not going to just magically disappear. This is the common problem most folks do not understand; trying to rid oil from the outside does nothing for oily skin. What will happen is, you will irritate your face by scrubbing with harsh products and spread bacteria.

What you can do is use a deep cleansing gel cleanser. Gel cleansers are proved to remove excess oil. You can also keep your skin hydrated at all times. I know it sounds contradicting, but the more your skin is moisturized, the less oily it will be. What is the reasoning behind it? The body will respond to the presence of a cream by producing less oil over time.

Of course, please beware of which lotion you choose to use. Always aim for one that is oil-free and non-comedogenic. You do not want to end up looking even greasier than you did before.

Ready for more misconceptions? A lot of people think that using oil control products will lead to an increase in oil production. This is not true. Others think that blotting facial oils helps to reduce the production of sebum. Not true. While blotting does supply a temporary method of removing the oil from the skin, just like topical oil control products, they have no affect on the amount of oil your body produces.

Here is a good one. Oily skin is not a concern for those with rosacea. This is definitely false. Rosacea sufferers are more likely to have drier, sensitive skin due to the natural aging process. It does not change the fact though, that many individuals who have this condition still do have oily skin.

I once heard someone say that Accutance fully eliminates oil production. No, this is not true either. Accutane does normalize the faulty mechanism related to the formation of cells lining the sebaceous glands, which can stops acne, but oil production is not entirely eliminated. After treatment, the skin may either remain non-greasy, but for others they may experience a return of oil production.

There is nothing wrong with using make-up while using oil control products. Just make sure that make-up is labeled oil-free and is appropriate for use by those with oily skin. Oil control products do not cause the skin to be irritated or dry. Some products that are used to reduce levels of facial skin oils may cause these problems, but this is sure not absolutely true across the board.

The fact is product misuse or overuse is usually more responsible for skin irritation, than the product itself. Now you can rest assure that know about how to improve your oily skin condition and can distinguish the myths from the facts. If all fails, seek help from a dermatologist.