Oily forehead -- why?
September 11, 2017 3:19 PM   Subscribe

My forehead these days feels sticky to the touch. Not so much a greasy look, but a tacky feel, as opposed to the rest of my face. Just curious.

I'm a Caucasian male of 57 years who's never had an abnormal problem with oily skin. And never had this situation before. It's not bothersome at all; I just wonder why when I touch it for any reason as the day goes on (often staying inside in air-controlled normalness), it feels oily-gummy. I hardly ever even sweat up there. In fact it feels almost like a different kind of oil than what my nose area might usually have, which seems more on the wet side. All I can think of is that about a year ago I used a dermo cream for a month to abort some AK. Fluororicide, I think. Everything cleared up fine. Actually, one dermotologist told me I should apply some daily lotion or something because it seemed dry to him. But I only remember that about 15% of the time. Is my body helping me out?
posted by noelpratt2nd to Health & Fitness (11 answers total)
 
Response by poster: P.S. -- I only wash my face every morning with cold water, no soap ever.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 3:46 PM on September 11, 2017


You might try using soap.
posted by Lord Fancy Pants at 5:42 PM on September 11, 2017


Response by poster: That would bring out more oil since it dries skin. This thing just started a few months ago, something's different somewhere...
posted by noelpratt2nd at 5:47 PM on September 11, 2017


Bodies change as they age; the new factor could just be a different hormone production level. Or a new allergy that you're developing, or something in your diet, or ...
posted by librarina at 6:16 PM on September 11, 2017 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Yes, that's what I'm thinking, age. Hormones...? Hm, no idea. Thanks. My diet is on the healthy side.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 6:36 PM on September 11, 2017


By any chance is overspray from hair spray getting on there?
posted by lakeroon at 7:57 PM on September 11, 2017 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Look into a non-drying cleanser. Cetaphil gentle is a standard rec, I use a different gentle hydrating cleanser from a big box store because Cetaphil wasn't cutting it for me.

If that doesn't fix it, I'd try an exfoliant. Physical exfoliants - scrubs, anything gritty - can be harsh on skin and you sound concerned about that. I use chemical exfoliants - AHAs, retinols, salicylic acid are the major ones you'll see. Stridex pads (salicylic acid) are a cheap place to start, but different active ingredients work better for different people.

Or just talk to your derm, since you have one and you're worried about it.
posted by momus_window at 8:16 PM on September 11, 2017


Response by poster: No hairspray. No worry. Just interesting. Not trying to cure it unless someone were to tell me it's a problem. Very occasionally I'll use Cetaphil or something, or of course shower water carrying shampoo happens, but I don't scrub it in.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 8:28 PM on September 11, 2017


Best answer: Men experience changes in hormone level as they age. This change could very well be caused by that.
Andropause is a thing.
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:04 AM on September 12, 2017


So, I'm going to go the other way and suggest that you should try wiping down your face with coconut oil or a light oil like that once a day. Sometimes what can happen is that your skin is actually dry and over produces oil to compensate. One's skin definitely dries with age, too.
posted by frecklefaerie at 7:06 AM on September 12, 2017


Best answer: But why just the forehead? And tacky? Will seek advice of my ex. I wonder if it's when I don't shower for days at a time b/c I work from home, and maybe the scalp oils come down...
posted by noelpratt2nd at 7:34 AM on September 12, 2017


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