Skin oil, or sebum, is produced by sebaceous glands attached to your skin pores and prevents your skin from drying out and flaking. As adolescents, most people get a temporary increase in sebum production and some acne. This is due to an increase in androgen (male hormone) levels in both males and females that stimulate the sebaceous glands. However, many adults continue to have low-level acne throughout life, and some experience an increase in sebum as they age.

In some people, excess sebum is a real medical problem. It can become impacted in pores, temporarily enlarging them and leading to acne symptoms like blackheads, whiteheads or inflamed areas. Mild cases of acne can be treated with non-prescription topical benzoyl peroxide, which helps prevent bacterial inflammation and causes drying and peeling of the epidermis. Some doctors also prescribe oral (acne pill) or topical acne creams. In addition to producing an inflammation reaction, bacteria also cause chemical changes in the pore that can contribute to the formation of a sebum plug. So in many cases, a few-month course of oral tetracycline or other antibiotic can be helpful. However, even if the bacteria and inflammation are eliminated, pores may still appear larger and darker than normal due to impacted sebum. (The dark color is due to oxidation of the sebum, not dirt.) Soaps, cleansers, and abrasive scrubbing products usually will not remove sebum that is impacted in pores. (That's like trying to remove some clay packed inside a pipe by washing the open end.) Excessive sebum has to be treated with topical or oral medications.

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