While sebum is usually looked at as a curse or a bad thing, sebum can actually be a helpful thing in the right amounts to the skin.  It is only harmful in excessive amounts and when it begins to become hard and clog the pores.  But if you have excessive amounts, obviously, you don’t look at it as a good thing at all, which is why some processes that dry out the skin have been so popular.  Many believe that sebum is the only culprit for acne and it should be completely attacked and gotten rid of.

Sebum, in its right amounts, is actually responsible for your skin’s moisture and supple feeling in many cases.  It can also protect skin from the bacteria and fungi that can cause skin damage in general as well as acne.  It has even been said to reduce body odor and protect the immune system from major damage.  It is found in literally every follicle and pore in the body, and it surrounds hair to keep everything in working order. 

But bacteria is a greater culprit for acne than is sebum.  It traps sebum so that it becomes hard in the pores, and it causes ultimately blackheads, future acne, and other problems.  You should definitely clean your skin on a regular basis to keep excess sebum at bay as well as to kill of bacteria that may trap it.  But you should be careful and regulate the amount to which you regulate the oils.  Just remember that it is a good thing and a necessary thing in the right amounts.