Oil Rebound

Name: D. Knepshield
Question:

Dear Doctor,

I have always heard and read that over-cleaning the face to remove excess oil can cause the skin to rebound and produce even more oil. This has been said so many times, by so many different sources, that virtually everyone considers it a fact.

I recently read an article by a dermatologist and she said it is a myth. She said over-cleaning will not lead to more oil being produced and, if anything, will just lead to dry skin.

Can you please give a detailed, authoritative answer on this. Which is it? Will over-cleaning the face cause the skin to rebound and produce even more oil to compensate or not?

Dear D. Knepshield,
It is correct that if you over clean your skin with cleansers it will lead to the oil glands overproducing oil to compensate. However, if you use medications like retinoids or Clearogen which overall reduce the production of oil by reducing the activity of the sebaceous glands, then this will lead to overall decrease in oil on the skin.