How to Decrease Sebum
Sebum is a substance that is secreted from the skin that provides protection and moisture to the skin and hair. If too much sebum is secreted, the hair and skin can become oily and greasy. Sebum protects the skin from losing water and also prevents against bacterial infections. However, when the skin and hair produce too much sebum, they can become unsightly. Also, excessive sebum often causes acne. Sebum can be decreased via prescription medications, natural remedies, or birth control pills. There is no way to know which particular method will work the best. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Vitamins, including Zinc and Vitamin A
- Spironolactone (Optional)
- Birth Control Pills (Optional)
Instructions
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Instructions
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Wash your face and hair less often. This may seem counter-intuitive when dealing with oily skin and hair. But, when the hair and skin are washed too frequently and harshly, they may be stripped of the natural oils, which will encourage more sebum production. Try washing your face once per day with a cleansing milk. Instead of washing your hair daily, wash hair every other day with a gentle shampoo.
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Supplement your diet. Oily skin and hair is often caused by testosterone. Men and women both have testosterone but women have it in lower amounts. Taking 30 to 50 milligrams of zinc daily may alter your hormones and result in less sebum being produced. Vitamin A is also recommended to reduce sebum levels. As proper dosage can be tricky, it's best to get that information from a health care professional.
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Try a prescription medication. Spironolactone is an anti-androgen that can reduce the amount of sebum that is produced by the skin and scalp. It is a prescription medication and will need to be administered by a health care provider.
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Consider taking birth control pills. If supplementing your diet and prescription medication does not work, the next step is to try oral contraception. Birth control pills also control androgen production which reduces the amount of sebum that is produced. Birth control pills need to be prescribed by a doctor.
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If all else fails, consider Accutane. This is an extremely serious medication and should not be considered unless absolutely nothing else works. Accutane is a derivative of vitamin A that is taken orally. It reduces the size of the sebaceous gland which reduces the output of sebum. There are serious side effects to be considered when taking this medication. It requires a physician's prescription and careful monitoring.
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Tips & Warnings
Always take vitamins on a full stomach.
To prevent greasy hair between washes, use dry shampoo.
Do not consider Accutane if you have had a history of depression, kidney problems, or are pregnant or nursing.
