How Sebum Quality Affects Pore Congestion
Sebum is the natural oil your skin makes to stay moisturized and protected. It comes from tiny glands around your hair follicles and flows out through pores to coat the skin surface. But when sebum quality changes, it can lead to clogged pores and skin problems like blackheads or whiteheads.[1][2][3]
What makes sebum quality good or bad? Healthy sebum is thin and flows easily. It mixes well with water and skin cells, so it does not stick inside pores. Poor quality sebum is thicker and stickier. This happens due to hormones, diet, stress, or genes. For example, oily skin types produce more sebum overall, and if it gets too dense, it traps dead skin cells and dirt.[1][3]
Picture a pore like a drain. Good sebum slips through like light oil. Thick sebum acts like honey. It builds up at the pore opening, mixing with dead cells from the skin’s surface. These cells normally shed daily, but if turnover slows, they clump with the sticky oil to form plugs called comedones.[2][3]
Open comedones are blackheads. Air hits the plug and turns it dark. Closed ones are whiteheads, trapped under skin. Over time, this stretches pore walls, making them look bigger even after cleaning.[1]
Factors that worsen sebum quality include too much sugar or greasy food, which spike oil output. Pollution adds dirt that sticks to thick sebum. Skipping gentle cleansing lets buildup grow. Harsh soaps strip oils, causing glands to overproduce even thicker sebum in rebound.[3]
Oily or acne-prone skin sees this most. Teens and men often have busier glands, leading to more congestion. If left alone, plugs invite bacteria, sparking pimples.[2][4]
Keeping sebum flowing right helps. Gentle exfoliation removes dead cells before they mix in. Balancing oil with light moisturizers prevents overproduction. Some treatments like peels target sticky sebum directly.[1]
Sources
https://www.kins-clinic.com/blogs/7-best-facial-treatment-for-pores-options-from-microneedling-to-hydrafacial
https://trophyskin.com/blogs/blog/how-to-get-clear-skin-12-expert-tips-that-actually-work
https://www.psmedical.com.hk/en/blog/acne-health/blackhead-removal-guide/
https://www.lmaclinic.com/lma/blog/co2-laser-for-active-acne
