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Oily Skin

Oily Skin

Oily skin — clinically called seborrhoea — is a normal skin type in which the sebaceous glands produce more natural oil than average. It carries some advantages (oily skin tends to show fine lines later) and some real frustrations (persistent shine, congestion, larger pores, makeup that does not last). A combination of sensible daily skincare and, where helpful, in-clinic treatments such as radiofrequency microneedling, superficial micro-doses of muscle-relaxing injection (“micro-Botox”), gentle laser resurfacing, and balancing skinboosters can reduce oil production and refine the surface — without harsh, over-stripping routines that often make oily skin worse.

Medically reviewed by Dr Bhavin Garara, GMC 7155707 · Last reviewed: 26 May 2026

On this page
What it is

What Is Oily Skin?

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The sebaceous glands sit in the dermis and produce sebum, a natural oil that protects the skin barrier and helps the skin hold water. In oily skin, these glands are larger or more active than average — sometimes for genetic reasons, sometimes hormonal, sometimes a response to environment or skincare. The result is a skin surface that shines, pores that look larger, and a tendency to congestion and breakouts.

Oily skin is a type, not a disorder. Many people with oily skin have skin that holds moisture well and ages slowly. The goal of treatment is usually to balance and refine, not to eliminate oil production.

Dr Bhavin Garara’s approach is to balance rather than over-strip. Many oily-skin routines push the skin into a cycle of dehydration and rebound oil production — a more measured approach usually works better.

What causes it

What Causes Oily Skin?

  1. 1

    Genetics

    Many people are simply born with more sebaceous glands or larger glands. This is the most common cause and is not modifiable, but it is well managed with the right approach.

  2. 2

    Hormones

    Androgens drive sebum production. Puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, certain contraceptives, and conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can all change oil levels. Persistent, severe oiliness — particularly with significant breakouts or other symptoms — is worth assessing with your GP.

  3. 3

    Rebound dehydration

    Over-cleansing, alcohol-based toners, harsh scrubs, and frequent hot water strip the skin’s protective oils. The skin often responds by producing more oil to compensate. People with dehydrated oily skin often describe the paradox of feeling tight and shiny at once.

  4. 4

    Climate and humidity

    Heat and humidity drive sebum production. Many people are oilier in summer than in winter, or in warmer climates.

  5. 5

    Medical and medication-related factors

    Some medical conditions and medications affect oil production. Severe or sudden changes warrant a GP review.

    Persistent severe oiliness, particularly with significant acne or other symptoms, can sometimes signal an underlying medical condition. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If your oily skin is severe, sudden, or accompanied by other symptoms, the right first step is to see your GP or a dermatologist.

Dr Bhavin Garara
Dr Bhavin Garara, MBBS, BMedSci, PGDip
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Dr Garara's approach

How Dr Bhavin Garara Treats Oily Skin

At the clinics in London, Dr Garara assesses at consultation the pattern of oil production (centrally, all over, T-zone only), the size and visibility of pores, whether the skin is also dehydrated, any associated acne or congestion, and your current skincare routine. The plan usually combines tailored home-care adjustments with in-clinic options such as radiofrequency microneedling for the longer term and superficial micro-doses of muscle-relaxing injection for shorter-term oil and pore-size reduction. Acne and significant congestion are addressed alongside via the acne and breakouts pathway.
  • Anatomy-led assessmentTreatment plans built around your unique facial structure and movement.
  • Personalised planCombinations chosen for your skin, goals, and lifestyle — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
  • Natural resultsA refreshed, well-rested version of you — never a frozen or over-treated look.

Prevention

Home Care for Oily Skin

A measured routine works better than aggressive cleansing for oily skin.

Prevention

Features

Treatment Options for Oily Skin

Radiofrequency microneedling, superficial muscle-relaxing micro-injections (micro-Botox), laser resurfacing, balancing skinboosters, and medical-grade skincare.

Radiofrequency microneedling

Radiofrequency microneedling

Sylfirm X delivers controlled radiofrequency energy through fine needles into the dermis to reduce sebaceous gland activity over time and remodel collagen around enlarged pores.

See SkinPen microneedling →
Superficial muscle-relaxing micro-injections (“micro-Botox”)

Superficial muscle-relaxing micro-injections (“micro-Botox”)

Very small, very superficial doses placed into the skin itself — not the underlying muscle — can reduce sebum production and pore-size appearance for several months.

Laser resurfacing

Laser resurfacing

MultiFrax refines surface texture and improves overall complexion; UltraClear is a more intensive option for thicker, more congested skin.

Balancing skinboosters

Balancing skinboosters

Multi-ingredient skinboosters — particularly klardie and NCTF — deliver hyaluronic acid and balanced nutrients into the dermis and help reduce rebound oil production from dehydration.

Medical-grade skincare

Medical-grade skincare

Tailored home-care advice — niacinamide, salicylic acid, gentle retinoids, lightweight moisturiser, daily SPF — is the daily foundation underneath any in-clinic treatment.

Treatment is layered — radiofrequency microneedling for the longer term, superficial muscle-relaxing micro-injections for shorter-term refinement, laser resurfacing for surface texture, balancing skinboosters where dehydration co-exists, and a tailored daily routine.

Radiofrequency microneedling

  • Best for: Persistent oily, congested skin and enlarged pores
  • Downtime: 2–4 days of mild redness
  • Lasts: Long-lasting; collagen and gland-activity changes continue for months

For oily, congested skin and visibly enlarged pores, radiofrequency microneedling with Sylfirm X delivers controlled radiofrequency energy through fine needles into the dermis. The treatment is designed to reduce sebaceous gland activity over time and to remodel collagen around enlarged pores. A short course is typical, with results developing over weeks to months.

Treatment for higher Fitzpatrick skin types (IV–VI) requires careful device selection and conservative settings to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or, in some cases, keloid scarring. Dr Garara has particular experience in aesthetic medicine for skin of colour and tailors device choice, energy levels, and treatment intervals accordingly.

Superficial muscle-relaxing micro-injections (“micro-Botox”)

  • Best for: Severe daily shine, enlarged pores, related sweating
  • Downtime: None — brief redness
  • Lasts: Around 3–4 months

Very small, very superficial doses of muscle-relaxing injection placed into the skin itself — not into the underlying muscle — can reduce sebum production and the appearance of pore size for several months. This is a different application from cosmetic muscle treatment: doses are tiny, placed superficially in the dermis.

Prescription muscle-relaxing injections work by temporarily reducing the activity of specific muscles, so the skin above them stops folding with each movement. The active ingredient is botulinum toxin type A, a purified protein delivered in very small, precisely placed doses. These are prescription-only medicines in the UK, which means they can only be prescribed and administered by a qualified medical prescriber following a face-to-face consultation. Whether this treatment is suitable for you, and what specific product or dose would be used, is something Dr Garara will discuss with you at consultation. It is not suitable for everyone.

Micro-Botox / superficial skin-quality treatment with botulinum toxin is what’s known as “off-licence” — established, lawful practice in qualified medical hands, but not specifically licensed by UK regulators for this particular indication. Dr Garara will explain this fully at consultation, including why he considers it appropriate for your case, and will obtain your informed consent before any treatment.

Laser resurfacing

  • Best for: Textural and tonal consequences of chronic oiliness
  • Downtime: 2–7 days depending on the device
  • Lasts: Long-lasting; results continue developing for months

For the textural and tonal consequences of chronically oily skin — uneven surface, congestion, post-acne marks — MultiFrax (a 1550/1927nm non-ablative fractional laser) refines surface texture and improves overall complexion. UltraClear (a 2910nm fibre laser marketed as a “cold ablative” fractional system) is a more intensive option for thicker, more congested skin. Laser is selected case by case.

Balancing skinboosters

  • Best for: Oily skin with co-existing dehydration
  • Downtime: 1–2 days of small bumps
  • Lasts: Around 6–9 months with a course

Many oily-skin presentations include dehydration. Multi-ingredient skinboosters — particularly klardie and NCTF — deliver hyaluronic acid and balanced nutrients into the dermis and can help reduce the rebound oil production that follows dehydration. These do not “add oil”; they support water content.

Medical-grade skincare

  • Best for: Daily foundation of any plan
  • Downtime: None
  • Lasts: Ongoing with consistent use

Tailored home-care advice, often built around niacinamide, salicylic acid, gentle retinoids, and a lightweight moisturiser-plus-SPF routine, is the daily foundation underneath any in-clinic treatment.

Considering treatment for oily skin?

Book a consultation with Dr Bhavin Garara to discuss the right combination for your skin.

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Compare at a glance

Treatments at a Glance

Radiofrequency microneedling

Best suited for
Persistent oily, congested skin and enlarged pores
Typical downtime
2–4 days of mild redness
How long results last
Long-lasting; collagen and gland-activity changes continue for months
What it does
Reduces sebaceous activity and tightens around pores

Superficial micro-injections (muscle-relaxing)

Best suited for
Severe daily shine, enlarged pores, related sweating
Typical downtime
None — brief redness
How long results last
Around 3–4 months
What it does
Reduces oil and sweat-gland signalling for the duration of the effect

Laser resurfacing

Best suited for
Textural and tonal consequences of chronic oiliness
Typical downtime
2–7 days depending on the device
How long results last
Long-lasting; results continue developing for months
What it does
Refines surface and improves overall complexion

Balancing skinboosters

Best suited for
Oily skin with co-existing dehydration
Typical downtime
1–2 days of small bumps
How long results last
Around 6–9 months with a course
What it does
Supports water content and balanced skin function

Medical-grade skincare

Best suited for
Daily foundation of any plan
Typical downtime
None
How long results last
Ongoing with consistent use
What it does
Manages oil and barrier balance day to day

Downtime and duration figures are typical averages only. Individual results vary considerably. Dr Garara will give you a more personalised picture at consultation.

Safety & risk

Is Oily Skin Treatment Safe?

The in-clinic options described are widely performed and generally well tolerated. Common minor side effects include short-lived redness, small bumps at injection points, and mild swelling. As with any injection or energy-based treatment, the area should be treated only by an experienced medical practitioner who understands the anatomy and can manage complications. Skin of colour requires particular care with energy-based treatments to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation; this is covered in detail at consultation.

We share this not to alarm you, but because patients deserve full information. Dr Garara is always happy to discuss the specific risks of any treatment, and the safety protocols he follows, in detail at your consultation.
  • Qualified medical practitionerTreatment carried out by an experienced doctor with detailed anatomical training.
  • Reversal agents on handHyaluronidase and other complication-management tools are immediately available.
  • Full informed consentRisks, alternatives, and expected outcomes discussed in detail before any treatment.
Dr Bhavin Garara
Reviewed byDr Bhavin Garara

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about treating oily skin.

Read next

Related Concerns

Oily skin often appears alongside other skin concerns. You may also want to read about:

Enlarged poresAcne and breakoutsDry skinRosacea and redness
← All skin concerns

For an overview of all the facial concerns we treat, visit our Skin treatments hub.

Next step

Ready to take the next step?

Book a consultation with Dr Bhavin Garara.

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Consultation

Begin with a proper assessment.

Tell us a little about what you're looking for and we'll match you with the right consultation — at the clinic or virtually.

  • Your enquiry goes directly to Dr Bhavin's team.
  • We'll be in touch within one working day.
  • All consultations are strictly confidential.

This page is for general information and does not constitute medical advice. All treatments require a personal consultation. Suitability, risks, and expected outcomes will be discussed with you in detail before any treatment is carried out.