A greasy, shiny forehead can interfere with a person’s daily activities in life, such as meeting clients and giving business presentations. At Dana Point Dermatology, we also see these types of skin conditions hamper a patient’s confidence when going out with significant others, leading to a less satisfying personal life. Simply put, a shiny forehead means that your skin is too oily. The skin contains large and produces and excretes sebum (oil). Sebum is a complex mixture composed of triglycerides, wax esters, cholesterol, and squalene.
The forehead and nose (“T-zone”) as well as around the mouth (“O-zone”) are actually the regions of a person’s face with the highest density of oil glands. The key to avoiding a greasy, shiny forehead is controlling oil. A multi-pronged approach is the surest way to accomplish this. Keep in mind that an oily forehead is the final product of excessive oil, so using skin care products (like facial wipes) is like putting a band-aid on it. In other words, you must first address the root cause to have any long-standing improvement.
First, use an oil-controlling face wash, such as over-the-counter salicylic acid 2%. Salicylic acid 30% chemical peels, done in-office every 3 weeks, specifically target oil production and can significantly keep the oiliness and shine down. Isotretinoin, commonly known as Accutane, is by far the most effective treatment for excessive oil on the skin. It decreases oil production by 90%, mainly by shutting down the production of oil by sebocytes (oil-producing cells in the skin) as well as reducing the size of the cells. Isotretinoin is generally well-tolerated, however, there are potential side effects that should be discussed with a board-certified dermatologist with a lot of experience using the medication.
Dana Point Dermatology’s Bottom Line: A shiny forehead can be effectively treated by a board-certified dermatologist with expert knowledge of the skin.
