How to Use sebum in a Sentence

sebum

noun
Definition of sebumnext
  • The key is to then find a way to whisk off the oil, with your own sebum and impurities in tow.
    — Sable Yong, Teen Vogue, 10 Sep. 2018
  • The scalp produces far more sebum—the natural oils that Farel mentioned—than the rest of the body.
    — Adam Hurly, GQ, 12 Jan. 2018
  • Your hair can become oily if your scalp makes too much sebum.
    — Brittany Loggins, Health, 26 May 2024
  • The new skin swab test collects this sebum from patients’ backs.
    — Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022
  • On top of this, a nasty combination of dead skin cells, sebum, and dirt builds up in pores over time.
    — Deanna Pai, Glamour, 4 Sep. 2019
  • Because of bends in the hair, sebum from the scalp, a natural protectant, can’t travel down the length of the shaft.
    — Crystal Martin, ajc, 8 Apr. 2018
  • Those with an oily skin type tend to have excess sebum, which can lead to buildup under the skin, and thus, acne.
    — Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2022
  • Those with an oily skin type tend to have excess sebum, which can lead to buildup under the skin, and thus, acne.
    — Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024
  • The oil mimics your skin’s natural sebum, which in turn keeps your face smooth and soft.
    — Ashley Weatherford, The Cut, 30 Mar. 2018
  • Each day, your scalp produces oil, sebum and other gunk as well.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2023
  • On the other hand, if your skin is oily, that’s because your skin produces too much oil (sebum).
    — Jenn Sinrich, SELF, 13 Mar. 2019
  • These skin types tend to overproduce sebum, which leads to clogged pores and breakouts.
    — Lacey Muinos, Health, 4 Aug. 2023
  • Of course, not washing sweaters will lead to the buildup of skin, sebum, sweat, deodorant and so on, which can lead to damage over time.
    — Jolie Kerr, Esquire, 21 Oct. 2016
  • Too little sebum means dry, flaky skin, like patches of eczema.
    — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 23 July 2022
  • That gunk comes from blackheads, a type of blemish that happens when sebum and dead skin cells clog up an open pore.
    — Kara Wahlgren, Seventeen, 25 Oct. 2017
  • Finding the right face wash can be a game-changer for those dealing with excess sebum oil and shine.
    — Sarah Bradley, Health, 8 Aug. 2023
  • The natural presence of yeast on the scalp causes the sebum to break down into smaller oils.
    — Samantha Driscoll, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2021
  • Over time, the chronic buildup of residue and sebum can threaten scalp health, Caspara explains.
    — Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
  • As for why some people tend to produce more sebum than others?
    — Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 5 Oct. 2023
  • The buildup of bacteria, sebum, and skin cells into the skin causes pimples.
    — Amelia MacIntyre, Verywell Health, 12 Sep. 2024
  • Instead, look for tea tree oil, which offers a deep cleanse of the scalp, or salicylic acid to help break down excess sebum on the scalp.
    — Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021
  • The clog starts with dead skin cells that get trapped together inside a pore by sebum, oil that keeps your skin from drying out.
    — Korin Miller, SELF, 25 Jan. 2018
  • These glands secrete sebum (oil) through the pore opening, which helps keep your skin soft and protected.
    — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 31 Oct. 2019
  • Acne forms as a result of a hair follicle that’s been clogged due to excess sebum and dead skin cells.
    — Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2021
  • These stains are typically caused by dirt and soil, or by the skin and sebum rubbing off on pressure points.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
  • In shaving cream, this degreaser breaks down sebum, the oil your skin produces.
    — Wired Staff, WIRED, 1 Nov. 2006
  • Squalane is derived from squalene, a lipid that’s part of our skin’s natural sebum.
    — Melanie Rud, Peoplemag, 13 Oct. 2022
  • However, your hair can start looking overly shiny when there’s a buildup of sebum.
    — Kayla Blanton, Health, 25 Apr. 2023
  • Plus, as trichologist Abbey Yung explains in a video on the topic, your scalp's sebum production is a function of your hormones, so 'training' your hair won't change the hormone function.
    — Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2024
  • And the compound acts on oil-producing skin cells to reduce sebum production; this is useful because sebum and dead skin cells can clog pores, creating a moist environment that helps bacteria to thrive.
    — Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sebum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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