Getting to know your skin type and how to care for them is a very huge step. Many people have suffered from different skin problems; breakouts, irritations, uneven skin tones, severe acnes and lots more, all because of their ignorance towards their type of skin and how to care for their skin
While I was in my teens, I had a normal skin type; my face was smooth and clear off any sort of acne or irritations. Infact, I could use any skin care product on my face and entire body. But as I approached my adult year, I started having a oily skin type; I could barely use any how products on my face most especially, now to a combination(Oily and sensitive) skin type. This would lead me to sharing the various kinds of skin type and how to care for them
Various Skin Types:
Normal Skin Type:
The scientific term for well-balanced OR Normal skin is eudermic. The T-zone area (forehead, chin and nose) may be a bit oily, but overall sebum and moisture is balanced and the skin is neither too oily nor too dry. They have:
- very fine pores
- a good blood circulation
- a velvety, soft and smooth texture
- fresh, rosy colour uniform transparency
- no blemishes and is not prone to sensitivity.
As a person with normal skin ages gradually, their skin can become dryer if not taken care of properly
Oily Skin Type:
The word ‘Oily’ is a term used to explain a skin type with intense sebum (oil secretion of the sebaceous gland) production. An over production is known as seborrhea.
Oily Skin may have –
- Enlarged pores
- Dull or shiny, thick complexion
- Blackheads, pimples, or other blemishes
To care of oily skin Properly, you should:
- you have to wash your face regularly, no more than twice a day and after you sweat a lot.
- Use a gentle cleanser and don’t scrub.
- Do not pick, pop, or squeeze pimples on your face. They may take longer time to heal.
- Look for the word “non-comedogenic” on skin care products and cosmetics. This means it won’t clog pores.
What can trigger an oily skin
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes and imbalances
- Durgs
- Stress
- Comedogenic cosmetics (makeup products that cause irritation)
Dry Skin Type:
Dry skin Type ranges from skin that is a little bit drier than normal, through very dry skin to extremely dry skin.
Mild Dry skin
Mildly dry skin can feel tight, brittle and rough and look dull. Skin elasticity is also low.
Very dry skin
If the dryness is not treated, skin may develop:
- mild scaling or flakiness in patches
- a rough and blotchy appearance (sometimes it appears to be prematurely aged)
- a feeling of tightness
- possible itchiness
It is also more sensitive to irritation, redness and the risk of infection.
Extremely dry skin
Certain areas of the body; particularly hands, feet, elbows and knees – are prone to:
- roughness
- chapping with a tendency to form cracks
- scaling
- frequent itchiness
Extremely dry skin is most commonly found on the elderly or on severely dehydrated hands.
Dry skin may be caused or made worse by:
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes
- Aging
- Weather conditions such as wind, sun, or cold
- Ultraviolet radiation
- Indoor heating
- Long, hot baths and showers
- Ingredients in soaps, cosmetics, or cleansers
- Medications
Combination Skin Type:
Your skin can be dry or normal in some areas and oily in others, such as the T-zone (nose, forehead, and chin). Many people have this type. It may need slightly different care in different areas.
Combination skin can have:
- Pores that look larger than normal because they’re more open
- Blackheads
- Shiny skin
- The oilier parts of combination skin are caused by overproduction of sebum. The drier parts of combination skin are caused by a lack of sebum and a corresponding lipid deficiency.
Sensitive skin type
A sensitive skin is a skin that is easily irritated and is more reactive than normal skin. Identifying and observing symptoms such as
- Redness
- Itching
- Burning
- stinging
- Dryness
helps in determining skin condition. For some individuals, sensitive skin is a permanent condition, for others, sensitivity is triggered by certain internal and external factors. This occurs when skin’s natural barrier function is compromised, causing water loss and allowing penetration of irritants.
Check out the next post on how to care for my skin type
