Oily Skin

So I started exercising (walking/jogging/racquetball) eating better, no soda, etc have noticed a substantial increase in oil that my skin creates. Every time after I exercise, I take a shower to clean off the sweat and such. My wife hasn't changed the soap I use nor the laundry detergent. I haven't had acne since I was 21. However, since starting my change and losing 15 pounds thus far, not a day goes by that I don't have at least one big pimple on my face. The oil kinda glistens on my face, and seems like there is a lot more. Has anyone else had something similar happen to them or know the best solution?

Thanks in advance.

This is just anecdotal but I know several young people who cut wheat out of their diet and their acne went away. Others say that cutting out cow's milk will cure acne in some people as well. If you are lifting weights, it could be that you are getting a surge of testosterone and that will certainly stimulate oil production. Hope you are able to track down the cause.

Well the only milk I drink is 1/4 cup in my coffee in the morning which is what I have always had, even prior to eating better and exercising. The only exercise I am doing is walking/jogging on average 3 miles a day. I have started playing racquetball but only a few times per week... No weight lifting. I do get some push-ups in on my walks though.

This may seem odd but I have read in a number of places that adult acne is often caused by bacterial buildup in the pores and changing pillowcases every other day is an essential part of the treatment. White sheets were better because our moms always bleached them (and then hung them out in the sunshine to dry). I always add bleach to our wash because my hubby tends to get acne on his back and chest. Castile soap is a great anti-bacterial and is very mild at the same time. Eating better is, of course part of the cure as well--but you are already doing that.

Some tips:

1) Wash your face before you go to bed every night and make sure you are using a clean pillowcase.
2) When cleansing your face, use room temperature tap water only and pat dry with a clean towel afterward. Avoid soap.
3) Use only a plain moisturizer if you absolutely have to. Get something without fragrance or color and only use a pea sized amount.
4) Avoid touching your face throughout the day.
5) Use tea tree oil as a spot treatment for big pimples.
6) Wet a cotton swab with apple cider vinegar and gently brush it over your face once a day. It will clear up redness and discourage acne.
7) Monitor your water intake and make sure you're getting enough to stay hydrated.

This is really gross...but I have the same problem with back acne. I started using a body/face wash that contains 2% salicylic acid after working out and don't have the problem anymore. You can buy name brand stuff (Neutrogena, Olay, etc.) or just buy a store brand. Either one works well and store brands are cheaper.

Dunno if you're gonna be up for this, but I wash my face with raw honey. You can also use oils, or I guess other non-soap substances. Here's the info I use:

http://www.crunchybetty.com/honey-challenge

http://www.crunchybetty.com/nitty-gritty-on-the-oil-cleansing-method

For both, you're gonna have to give it a while for your skin to get used to it. Especially with the oil cleaning method, it takes a few goes of experimenting with various oils to get a mixture that your skin agrees with.

Either way though, it's about moving away from using soap that can dry your skin out and make it more oily.

I've got insanely oily skin, and since moving away from soaps and using non-soap ingredients, my skin has improved quite a bit. It's not 100% oil free - but I've noticed a considerable reduction in how shiny and greasy my face is. I still use soap (well, liquid face wash) in the evening - but for after I work out and in the morning, I use honey.

I've got insanely oily skin, and since moving away from soaps and using non-soap ingredients, my skin has improved quite a bit. It's not 100% oil free - but I've noticed a considerable reduction in how shiny and greasy my face is. I still use soap (well, liquid face wash) in the evening - but for after I work out and in the morning, I use honey.

honeys good for reducing redness too (I use it in face masks when my skins really bad)

A lot of sunscreens cause breakouts too. There are sunscreens that are much less likely to cause breakouts--they are based on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (they are tinted so you don't look like a clown while wearing them). Since they are not taken into the skin, like conventional sunscreens would be, they are usually much more easily tolerated. There was a thread on MFP a while back dealing with acne caused by sunscreens.