Does Oily Skin Actually Age Slower? I Asked Skin Experts

From navigating risky DIY skincare recipes to sifting through affiliate-driven content, separating fact from fiction on social media regarding skincare can be challenging. However, not everything is fraught with false claims. 

Take the recent buzz around skin types and aging, for example. Some users claim one skin type ages slower than the other. This may sound like some TikTok rambling, but there’s actually some science to back it up. 

According to dermatology nurse practitioner Jodi Logerfo, Ph.D., there is some research to document this correlation. “There was a study that was done in China that investigated the aging patterns and their contributing factors.

In this study, oily skin seemed to be more protected against wrinkling and facial laxity than dry skin,” she says, referring to a 2009 survey study published in the Journal of Zhejiang University Science1. 

Within this study, there was less facial wrinkling and laxity observed in the oily skin subgroup, which, Logerfo says, proposes that skin types may be related to the rate of skin aging. “But to what extent is not known,” she adds. 

Board-certified dermatologist and MOHS surgeon Margarita Lois, M.D. agrees with the sentiment, explaining the underlying reasons this can be true in some cases. 

First, she notes, oily skin looks shiny because of the increased sebum production, which keeps the skin hydrated. “Moisturized skin can maintain its elasticity better, reducing the formation of fine lines and wrinkles,” Lois explains. 

She adds that sebum also has some antioxidant properties because it contains vitamin E, which helps to protect the skin from free radicals that lead to oxidative stress and ultimately speed up the physical signs of aging. 

What’s more, the layer of oil on the skin’s surface acts as a physical barrier to environmental stressors such as pollution and harsh weather conditions. “This protective layer helps to reduce the damage caused by these external factors, which can contribute to skin aging,” she says.

In a nutshell, the excess oil produced by this skin type works to moisturize and protect the skin, providing a slight advantage over dry skin which has to seek out hydration and physical protectants through topical care. 

So while it’s true that oily skin can have some advantages when it comes to skin aging, it’s certainly not the only, nor the leading determinant of how your skin will show age.

Other factors like genetics, sun exposure, topical skin care routines, diet, and exercise play a significant role in how your skin changes as the years pass.

Plus, even those with super oily complexions in their teens, 20s, and 30s can adopt a dryer skin type with age. “It is common for people to start noticing changes in their skin, including reduced oiliness, as they enter their 40s and 50s,” Lois says.