Healthy skin isn’t just about the products you use or the treatments you receive, it’s also about understanding what your skin is doing naturally. One of the key players in skin health is sebum, your skin’s natural oil.

What is Sebum?

Sebum is produced by your sebaceous glands and plays an essential role in protecting and hydrating your skin. It forms a thin barrier that locks in moisture, shields against environmental stressors, and helps keep your skin supple. While it sometimes gets a bad reputation, sebum is actually a vital part of maintaining healthy skin, when it’s balanced.

Why Oil Flow Varies

Oil flow isn’t the same for everyone. It can change depending on:

Hormones: Androgens (like testosterone) can increase oil production.
Age: Sebum production typically decreases as we get older, contributing to drier skin.
Stress and lifestyle: Sleep, diet, and stress levels can all affect how much oil your skin produces.
Environmental factors: Heat, humidity, and seasonal changes play a role.

Signs Your Oil Flow May Be Out of Balance

Overproduction: Skin appears shiny, congested, or prone to breakouts.
Underproduction: Skin feels tight, dry, or flaky, often lacking that healthy glow.
Mixed flow: Commonly, the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) is oilier while cheeks are drier.

How We Assess Oil Flow

At The Functional Skin Studio, we use tools like our Observ machine to assess oil flow and overall skin health. Combined with a detailed consultation, we can identify imbalances and create a treatment plan tailored to your skin’s needs.

In these Observ scans, you may notice small orange spots across the skin surface. These represent sebaceous filaments, the natural structures inside your pores that help transport sebum (your skin’s natural oil) to the surface.

Managing Oil Flow

Balancing sebum is key to healthy, glowing skin. Some strategies include:

Professional Treatments:

Skin needling to regulate oil production and improve texture.
Targeted infusions to nourish or rebalance skin.
Combination treatments addressing congestion, hydration, and cellular health.

At-Home Care:

Gentle cleansers that don’t strip natural oils.
Serums and moisturisers suited to your oil flow and skin type.
Consistent sun protection to prevent environmental stress.

Lifestyle Tweaks:

Hydration and balanced diet.
Stress management and adequate sleep.

Did You Know?

Your skin produces around ¼ to ½ teaspoon of natural oil daily, depending on age and hormones.
Sebum not only hydrates but also acts as a natural antibacterial barrier.
Over washing your face can actually increase oil production, as your skin tries to compensate for the lost natural oils.
Sebum production tends to peak in your teens and twenties, then gradually decreases with age, which is why hydration becomes more important over time.

Sebum isn’t the enemy, it’s essential for maintaining skin health when it’s balanced. Understanding your skin’s oil flow allows us to create a personalised approach, so your skin is hydrated, protected, and radiant.

At The Functional Skin Studio, we focus on education and tailored treatment plans to support your skin from every angle.

TFS x

Your Skin’s Oil Flow