Skin care begins with understanding your skin type and properly addressing its needs.
A walk down the beauty aisle can be fun but overwhelming when it comes to choosing a product. There's no point in spending hundreds of dollars on skincare products if the formulas don't work for your skin type.
Have you ever wondered” what is my skin type?”
Skin is the largest organ of the human body and unique for every person just like our DNA. The function of the skin is to provide a protective barrier to the internal organs from the outside environment
In order to protect it effectively, first we need to figure out the type of skin we have.
In order to know your skin type, you should have knowledge about all the skin types.
Tada!!Here is the guide to all the types of skin.
Skin colour of a person is determined by the amount of melanin whereas the type is determined by the production of sebum, an oily substance produced in the sebaceous glands.
Sebaceous glands produce oil(sebum), to keep the skin moist, that mixes with fat molecules, called lipids, to form a protective coating on the skin’s surface. These lipids help hydrate the skin and protect it from potentially harmful pathogens, such as bacteria and fungi.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology(AAD), the five main types are:
Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, sensitive
P.s Acne can affect any skin type
Normal skin - There is no excessive dryness or oiliness on this skin. It has a regular texture, no visible imperfections, and a smooth, soft appearance; it does not need any special care.
Oily skin– A person has oily skin if the skin produces more sebum than it needs. Sebum is the reason why you would have shiny and oily faces even after repeated cleansing,if you have oily skin. Oily skin is more common in young adults under the age of 30. They have large pores that can easily become clogged, making them acne or blackhead prone.
Dry skin – Dry skin can be seen if the skin produces less sebum than it needs. Your skin may look dull and feel tighter than normal.Causes for dry skin include hormonal changes,genetics, weather conditions, medications or usage of wrong skin care products. Dry skin with cracks is exposed to bacteria easily and makes it more susceptible to infections if not properly managed.
Combination skin - People with combination skin have oily skin in some areas and dry skin elsewhere. This is because sebaceous glands and sweat glands are not evenly distributed throughout the body. The reason why some people have oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) but dry cheeks is this. It is the trickiest skin type to take care of.
Sensitive skin - Unlike other skin types, sensitive skin is not determined by how much sebum a person’s skin produces.It has been reported that up to 70 percent of women and 60 percent of men have sensitive skin to some degree1
Other skin situations include
Acne-prone skin
It can pop up on any skin type and attack at any age.You probably have acne-prone skin if you experience frequent outbreaks. This means that your pores clog more easily than other skin types, making you more prone to whiteheads, blackheads, and pustules.
Dehydrated skin
You might get confused dehydrated skin with dry skin.This has nothing to do with the skin type.It simply means that your skin is thirsty and requires additional hydration.
Seeing a qualified aesthetician or dermatologist can help you figure out what type of skin you have. However, you can conduct your own skin type test at home. Here's how to do it.
Facewash Test To Find Skin Type
Try the "Facewash test " at home. This helps you find your skin type in just 30 minutes!
Step1: Wash your face with a mild soap or cleanser.s
Step 2: Pat dry with a cloth that does not irritate your skin and ease your skin's surface and wait for 30 minutes without applying any product.
step 3: Analyse your skin based on how it feels:
- Oily skin:If your skin appears shiny after 30 minutes, you most likely have oily skin. The shine is the excess sebum(natural oil) on your skin.
- Dry skin:If it feels tight and rough or scaly, you most likely have dry skin. You might have an urge to apply something to ease the irritation on the skin. This happens when the skin's Ph level is not balanced.
- Combination skin:If the shine is limited to your T-Zone, you most likely have combination skin. The T-zone is your forehead, nose and chin area.
- Normal skin:If your skin feels moisturised and pleasant but not oily, you most certainly have normal skin.
