Skin Types
Knowing your skin type is the first step in ensuring your skin stays healthy and full of vitality. Below we list the five main skin types and how you can best manage yours.
The main skin types
Skin types are grouped into five categories:
- Normal
- Oily
- Dry
- Combination
- Sensitive
Each group has its own characteristics, such as texture and tone, but they can be challenging to setermine.
Normal Skin
Normal skin is generally the healthiest type of skin, with a good balance between oil and moisture. Pores are small and barely visible, and the skin has few breakouts, while the texture is smooth, supple and neither oily nor dry to the touch.
Normal skin needs little treatment, but a daily routine is important for maintaining overall skin health.
Oily skin
If you have oily skin, it’s probably due to an over secretion of sebum - that is, the oil that is produced in the subcutaneous glands of the skin. Sebum is important to all mammals as a protective covering for the skin, but unfortunately it can wreak havoc if it’s overproduced, as is often the case with teenagers reaching puberty.
Unfortunately, oily skin can not only block the pores of the skin, leading to blackeads, whiteheads, pimples or acne, but also attracts dust and dirt from the environment. It’s important that oily skin is thoroughly cleaned every day with a good cleanser, and a toner is used to help reduce the size of pores.
In some cases, excessive oil can build up in the subcutaneous glands, leading to small cysts. Although these are not usually dangerous, they can be painful if they become enlarged.
Dry skin
Unlike oily skin, dry skin is often the result of a low production of sebum, and often fails to retain moisture as a result. Dry skin also ages faster than other skin types because the dehydration it suffers can more easily lead to fine lines and wrinkles.
If you have dry skin, it’s not enough to only moisturise once a day. Make sure you use a good day cream in the morning and a deep hydrating night cream as well. Drinking a lot of water can also help, as this increases the overall hydration level of the body.
Combination skin
Combination skin consists of both dry and oily skin. Usually the ‘T-zone’, or the area of the chin, nose and forehead, are oilier than the cheeks, eyes and mouth, which tend to be the dry areas.
It’s important that skin care products especially designed for combination skin are used in this case, because each zone requires different treatment.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is possibly the most difficult to maintain of all the skin types, due to the reactions it often has to skin care products, environmental factors such as harsh weather, excessive sun exposure and other treatments such as waxing.
For people with sensitive skin, it helps if products are used that do not contain any perfumes, dyes or chemicals. Be sure to choose a range of skin care products that are designed for sensitive skin, ad protect your skin as much as possible for the weather, particularly wind and sun.
Regardless of skin type, it’s important that as much as you can, your skin is protected daily from UV exposure. Buy the best sunscreen that you can and apply it every day. I you know you’re going to be out in the sun for more than 10 minutes, make sure you also wear a hat and UV rated sunglasses.
