The sebaceous glands, located in the dermis (middle layer) produces oil which helps to keep the skin supple and moist. So oil production in the skin is completely natural with that said, however, the sebaceous glands can produce excessive oil which leads to oily skin. Oily skin is not only located on the face but the neck, arms, shoulders and back can be oily too.

How Do You Know If You Have Oily Skin?
Nearly all teenagers have oily skin because their hormone production is in full bloom. For those who are no longer teenagers, determining whether your skin is oily or not is easy to do. When you look in the mirror is there a sheen on your skin? Check your T-Zone which is located starting at the point between your eyes and goes vertically down your nose to your chin. (The T-Zone also goes horizontally across your nose, beginning and stopping at the center point below your eye.) Your sheen may be unnoticeable during the day, so you want to check again immediately after waking in the morning. If there is a sheen, you probably have oily skin.

Look at your hair while standing in front of the mirror. If it is oily, this is another sign that you most likely have oily skin. If your make up fades and wears off after only a couple of hours, this is also an indicator of oily skin. In addition, frequently patting your face with a handkerchief or powder is another indicator. Although sometimes caused by stress and other factors, the presence of blemishes is also a sign of oily skin.

Caring for Oily Skin
You may feel that the best way to treat oily skin is to remove the oil that is clogging your pores. Removing all the oil is not the answer. The oils produced by your sebaceous glands are a natural moisturizer which helps to keep you skin supple and moist. So rather than removing the oil, you should try to keep it under control.

It's important that you keep your skin clean so that your pores remain clear. If not, dead cells, dirt and bacteria will clog your pores and cause pimples to pop up. DO NOT use harsh soaps to strip away oil. Your glands will instinctively replenish lost oil and will increase their oil production. This could make your problem worse.

Your skin is delicate so you should use a gentle cleanser and warm water. Weekly exfoliation with a non-abrasive product will help to remove pore clogging material. Use a toner that does not contain alcohol and moisturize in moderation. Make sure your cosmetics and sun screen are oil free.