Identify Your Skin Type in an Easy Way
Women often wonder, How many types of skin are there? Understanding your skin type will give you a better idea of how to treat acne, and achieve beautiful, smooth, and clean skin. There are 4 types of skin: normal, oily, dry, and combination skin Your skin type is dictated by genetics. However, the condition of your skin can vary greatly, according to the various internal and external factors you experience.
The most important step in taking care of your skin is to understand your specific skin type, and how to adapt it to specific circumstances or seasons. Using skin care products that are too harsh (even if recommended for excess oil), can send signals to your skin that more oil is needed.
On the other hand, applying too much moisturizer can cause a decrease in the production of natural oils, which can make your skin drier. Taking the time to learn about your skin's specific needs will help you choose the right option, which will balance your skin for healthier, more radiant skin.
This skin type is usually caused by a genetic predisposition, but some habits can worsen your skin condition. Doing an analysis of your skin type and understanding how to properly care for it can help you achieve clear, healthy-looking skin for the rest of your life. Each type of skin has certain characteristics and properties, so it requires special attention.
Everyone's skin is unique, but some general skin types can help you identify your skin type and category. The three main skin types are Oily, Normal/Combined, and Dry. Here's a simple way to determine your skin type at home:
1. Normal Skin TypeWhat is normal skin? Normal is a term to describe balanced skin. The scientific term for a well-balanced skin condition is endemic. The T-zone (forehead, chin, and nose) may be a little oily, but overall sebum and moisture are balanced, and the skin doesn't look too oily or too dry.
How to identify normal skin
Normal skin has:
- fine pores
- Fresh and reddish color uniform transparency
- no flaw
- stimulate blood circulation
- Velvet texture, soft and smooth
- and is not susceptible to sensitivity.
As people with normal skin types, their skin can get drier.
It's not easy to determine the type and characteristics of normal skin, because they have different levels and expectations. When it comes to normal skin, women don't generally describe their skin as dry to oily. When dryness and greasiness appear, they occur infrequently and tend to be easy to remove or treat. In terms of pore size, normal skin types have small pores that do not enlarge or are easily visible.
Normal skin is usually not very shiny, and also doesn't crack or peel easily. Normal skin types usually show very few lines and wrinkles on the face, and the skin tone is even, with no visible blemishes.
Those of you who have normal skin types should use beauty products that do not make the skin too oily and avoid products that are too drying for the skin. While normal skin types require less care than other skin types, it's important to stick with regular skin care products, which are gentle on the skin.
Normal skin is not a synonym for flawless skin, even those who classify their skin as normal skin sometimes face issues with freckles or other skin problems. Skin also changes over time, meaning that women who don't have current skin problems are more likely to experience problems, due to age and life events, including pregnancy and menopause. If your hormone levels change for any reason, or you use products that make your skin sensitive, you may have hormonal acne.
2. Oily Skin Type
Glowing skin (especially in the T-zone and chin area), enlarged pores, and freckles are all signs of oily skin. Plus, you may find that your makeup has worn off.
Oily skin is a type of skin with increased production of sebum. Excess production is known as seborrhea. Excess oil can often clog the pores of the skin. But the good news is that oily skin makes you look younger, and your skin is more supple because it has natural moisture and is less prone to wrinkles.
How to identify the various types of oily skin?
Oily skin is characterized by:
- pores look enlarged
- sparkle
- skin is thicker and paler: blood vessels may not be visible
Oily skin is prone to blackheads and different forms of acne.
With mild acne, large amounts of blackheads appear on your face, and often on your neck, shoulders, back, and chest.
In moderate to severe cases, papules (small bumps without a visible white or black head) and pustules (moderate lumps with a visible white or yellow spot in the middle) appear and your skin becomes red and inflamed.
Those of you with oily skin are likely to see a lot of shine on your face and may experience severe acne.
Causes of Your Skin Become Oily
You might ask yourself: Why do I have oily skin? Oily skin is a result of genetic factors and hormonal changes that are experienced in human life. You have a genetic predisposition with active oil glands to produce higher amounts of sebum, an oily substance that helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. This oil travels from deep within the epidermis to the surface of your skin through the pores and hair follicles. When your body is experiencing fluctuations in hormone levels, it indicates the production of androgen hormones (male hormones that are present in both men and women).
Androgen production stimulates increased sebum production, but when oil is produced in excess, it can enlarge the size of your skin's pores, and lead to blockages that lead to acne and acne scars. Oily skin is more prone to breakouts and may have a lot of blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules or papules. Your pores may be more visible due to their enlarged size, and your skin may appear oily all day long. If you wear make-up, your make-up might smudge easily.
Oily Face Treatment DIY
Many people who struggle with oily skin choose products that promise to dry out their skin, such as acne treatments that contain harsh ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, but these can be counterproductive. Ingredients that dry out the skin can trigger your skin to work harder to produce more oil, making it even more oily.
It's important to lightly exfoliate, as the buildup of oil can cause dead skin cells to get trapped in the pores of your skin and cause acne blemishes. While you may be tempted to use tougher products and coarser loofahs, it's important to use products that contain gentle exfoliators, such as the salicylic acid found in Bio Clarity products. Salicylic acid is a natural exfoliant that gently exfoliates dead skin cells that can lead to clogged pores.
Oily skin and acne
Excessive sebum production can cause acne, and those of you with oily skin often struggle with whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. Salicylic acid is an acne treatment that many dermatologists recommend, for those with mild to moderate acne. It sinks deep into the pores, clearing them of accumulated sebum, dead skin cells, and impurities that can lead to breakouts.
Oily and Aging Skin
Those with oily skin will be lucky in terms of signs of aging. Oily skin creates fewer wrinkles, meaning you will look younger. Oily skin types tend to have thicker skin because of genetics, and this thickness means fewer fine lines, as their skin is less prone to dehydration.
Habits and Lifestyle Changes
Those of you with oily skin can't change your genetics, there are daily habits that can lead to decreased oil production and excess shine on your face. Re-evaluating your diet may be helpful, as there is a proven correlation between food and acne.
Use moisturizer
If you have oily skin, you may think that you don't need a moisturizer, but ignoring it can make your skin oilier. Using a product to dry your face signals the oil glands under the skin to start producing and pumping out more sebum, thereby worsening the skin condition. Look for a moisturizing cream that is light and oil-free to keep your skin soft and well-hydrated.
Make Up Routine
Oily skin types should stay away from thick and heavy cosmetics, which can clog the pores of the skin. Use oil-free products made for oily skin types, and make sure you remove makeup every night before bed, and before going to the gym. Also, be sure to clean your makeup brushes regularly to avoid spreading bacteria on your skin's surface.
Rest Your Face.
Those with oily skin are bound to often face acne blemishes, and it might be tempting to opt for these lesions, but this practice can make acne breakouts worse for oily skin. Your fingers can easily spread bacteria and make small pimples big, so it's best to look for skin treatments that can help treat pimples well.
3. Dry Skin Type
Dry skin tends to look scaly and can look a bit dull. You may not have very prominent pores, but fine lines are often noticeable.
Dry skin will feel tight during the day and may experience flaking. Dry skin is mostly caused by genetics, environmental factors such as lifestyle & diet, hormonal changes, and climate. Dehydration is also a major cause of dry skin, so drinking plenty of water and avoiding diuretics such as alcohol and caffeine can make a significant difference in the appearance of your skin.
Causes of Dry Skin
The cause of dry skin can be linked to several factors. Dry skin is hereditary, as a genetic predisposition can affect the amount of sebum that is produced in the skin's oil glands. The sebum is responsible for keeping your skin soft and supple.
Many people think that dry skin is caused by a lack of moisture, even though the moisture content of dry skin is generally the same as that of oily skin. Adding water to dry skin types is counterproductive to treat this skin condition.
The moisture of the skin depends on the supply of water in the deeper layers of the skin and sweat.
Skin is constantly losing water through:
- Sweating: the active loss of water from the glands caused by stress, heat, and activity.
- Trans-epidermal water loss: a natural and passive way in which the skin diffuses about a liter of water each day from the deeper layers of your skin.
Dry skin caused by lack of:
- Natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) - mainly urea, amino acids, and lactic acid - which help bind in water.
- Epidermal lipids such as ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol are required for healthy skin protective function.
As a result, the function of the skin barrier becomes disturbed.
How to Identify that Your Skin is a Dry Skin Type
Dry skin ranges from slightly drier than normal skin, from dry skin to extremely dry skin. The distinction can usually be distinguished by:
1. Slightly dry skin
Slightly dry skin can feel tight, brittle, rough, and look dull. Skin elasticity level is also low.
2. Dry skin
If dryness is not treated, skin can develop:
- tight feeling
- itchy
- light scaling or peeling on patches
- Rough and blotchy appearance
- Sensitive to irritation and risk of infection
3. Very dry skin
Certain areas of the body – especially the hands, feet, elbows, and knees – are susceptible to scaly, calluses, rhagades, and frequent itching.
Extremely dry skin is most common in the elderly or severely dehydrated hands.
If you have dry skin, you may experience a tight feeling in your skin. There may also be scaly or flaking patches. Those with dry skin generally have pores that are barely visible and may suffer from premature wrinkling and common skin irritations.
The Importance of Moisturizer for Dry Skin
It is important to find a moisturizer that can help your dry skin replenish its vitality. It is important to follow a skincare routine with gentle products such as acne care products made from natural ingredients.
Those with dry skin often have mild allergic reactions and tend to benefit more from creams than lotions. Moisturizers, because they contain more oil, make them thicker and more moisturizing.
The more oil found in a moisturizer, the better it can absorb the entire epidermal barrier to help hydrate your skin's tissues. Before adding a daily moisturizer to your skin regimen, be sure to test it on a small area of your skin, to ensure you don't have an allergic reaction.
Can Drinking Water Moisturize Your Skin?
While drinking water is quite important for holistic health, the widespread myth that increasing water intake can improve skin conditions is not entirely true. Drinking more water doesn't improve dry skin, but it does ensure that your body is healthy, so it's important to drink the recommended amount of water each day.
Worried about Bathing
Try not to take too long for a warm bath. Warm water can strip oil from your skin, and spending long periods underwater can dry it out even further. Save water and your skin by limiting showers to five minutes in warm water.
Seborrheic dermatitis
This skin condition is characterized by a red, scaly rash that may itch. Pimples can be found anywhere on your body, but like acne, they tend to be found in areas saturated with oil glands. You may find that your scalp and eyebrows are showing more dandruff, and you may have scales on the sides of your nose.
Combination Skin Type
If you have combination skin, chances are your skin looks oily throughout your T-zone, and you may be prone to dry skin on your cheeks. The pores on your nose may appear larger than on your cheeks.
In combination skin, skin types vary in the T-zone and cheeks. The so-called T-zone can differ substantially – from a very thin zone to a larger area.
Combination skin is characterized by:
1. Normal cheeks tend to dry
2. Oily T-zone (forehead, chin, and nose)
3. Enlarged pores in this area maybe with some impurities
Combination skin has two or more different skin types on the face, and it usually appears with dry, scaly skin in some areas of the face, with excess oil in other areas. Many people mistake them for having oily skin, when in fact they have combination skin. Unless your skin is oily all over, there may be areas of dry or normal skin, which would qualify your skin as combination skin.
Many people have a combination skin type, which is quite difficult to identify and treat. The skin will often appear shiny in the T-zone, which includes the forehead, nose, and chin. This area tends to have more active oil glands than other parts of the face, like the cheeks. Dealing with dry and oily skin means finding the perfect skin care regimen and strong enough to exfoliate without irritating the skin.
Use Two Different Moisturizers
Using a moisturizing product is fine, but with combination skin, it can be difficult to find the right balance between cream to treat dryness on the cheeks, and the oily areas of the T-zone. In these situations, it is a good idea to add 2 different moisturizers to your skin care regimen. Use a heavier moisturizer on your cheek area, or skin that is too dry, and use a lighter moisturizer on the oily areas of your face.
Stick to Natural Ingredients
Those with combination skin often find that harsh chemical-based treatments such as those containing benzoyl peroxide can dry out dry areas of the face, and cause oily skin areas to increase excessive sebum production and lead to acne.
Be sure to Exfoliate
Exfoliation is very important for women who have combination skin. Dead skin cells on dry skin will be exfoliated, while clogged pores will be opened and cleaned.
4. Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is a type of skin that is easily irritated by various aspects, which can generally be tolerated by a balanced skin type, such as skin care products, or high and low temperatures. If your skin is easily irritated or inflamed, or itchy, dry, or red easily, congrats! You have won the sensitive skin lottery. Your skin may react to new products, so it's easy to rinse with heat. People with sensitive skin can also get sunburned or experience conditions such as eczema or rosacea.
For some people, sensitive skin is a permanent condition, for others, sensitivity is triggered by certain internal and external factors. This occurs when the function of the natural barrier present in the skin is disturbed, causing water loss and allowing irritation. These symptoms are exacerbated by various factors that most often affect facial skin, ranging from sunlight to some of the ingredients in your cosmetics and facial cleansers.
Sensitive skin types may exhibit the characteristics of dry skin, oily skin, or combination skin, but they also face a significant amount of irritation and redness. Normal skin types may also have sensitive skin, but this usually doesn't overlap. Those with sensitive skin types should avoid harsh chemical skincare, which can be caused by other skin conditions like rosacea or allergies. Sensitive skin gets inflamed easily, so it's important to choose the right natural skin care products for sensitive skin, to avoid any adverse reactions.
Unlike skin types, skin conditions can vary widely throughout your life. Many internal and external factors determine skin condition including climate, pollution, medications, stress, heredity that affects sebum levels, sweat, and natural moisturizing factors that your skin produces and the products you use, and the skin care choices you apply.
Skin care products should be selected according to your skin type, and able to cope with your skin condition. Dermatologists and other skin care professionals determine a person's skin type condition by measuring the following factors.
Are Allergies the Same as Sensitive Skin?
More severe allergies can sometimes cause breathing difficulties and nausea. If you are allergic to dust, it doesn't mean you have sensitive skin. When it comes to skincare, you may be allergic to certain ingredients, but your skin may not be sensitive. Maybe you can adapt to another product that does not contain that ingredient. If you have sensitive skin, your skin tends to react to harsh chemicals and skin products.
Summary
If you need help identifying your skin type, a skin type tester can be of great help. If you need further advice on how best to treat it, contact your dermatologist or pharmacist.
