How to Determine Your Skin Type

There are many factors to take into consideration when we look at what type of skin a person may have. Aside from genetics things like what’s going on internally in our bodies and environmental factors are also part of the equation. Internally factors such as our state of health, hormones, and what we put in our bodies affect how we look.

This of course includes the health of our skin. Environmentally, we face things like pollution, second hand smoke and the sun which also affects our skin both health wise and visually.

There are 5 general categories that are used when we speak of skin types.

NORMAL SKIN

DRY SKIN
Does your skin:

Feel tight or itchy after cleansing?

Experience flakiness, rough or scaly patches?

Stay matte throughout the day?

Show premature signs of aging, such as dull skin, skin laxity or crepiness?

Easily irritated by external factors like changes in temperature or environment?

Dry Skin is a result of an under active or non productive sebaceous glands. With dry skin the oil glands either barely produce or do not produce at all enough oil to keep the skin naturally lubricated. Dry skin looks dull in appearance. In addition it may have a flaky look to it with dry patches at times. It tends to be itchy and sensitive. People with chronic dry skin have to hydrate their bodies by drinking a lot of water. And, it is suggested besides using moisturizing skin products people with this skin type should mist their faces with water to maintain its lubrication. Dry skin may be tight and lack elasticity. People with dry skin tend to have a sallow skin tone. They tend to wrinkle prematurely and their skin irritates at the drop of a hat. Dry skin is fragile and vulnerable to changes in temperature and humidity.

OILY SKIN

Does your skin:

• Get shiny, or oily all over?
• Have large pores?
• Dull, or shiny rough skin?
• Breakout in blackheads, pimples and other blemishes often?

Oily Skin is due to active sebaceous glands. It produces too much oil and the skin is over lubricated. Because too much sebum is produced the skin is greasy, looks very shiny and the pores are large and clogged. The texture is slippery but coarse do to the enlarged pores. It is acne, blackhead and other pimple problem prone. It does have acne eruptions frequently. This is due to the sebum trapped under the skin causing pus filled lesions called comedones. There can also be flaky patches on oily skin where the oil dries. Ironically though, this skin type retains a youthful appearance because oily skin is not prone to aging and wrinkles.

COMBO SKIN

Does your skin:

• Get shiny in the T-Zone, and stay tight or matte in the cheeks?
• Get noticeably oiler in warmer months, and notably dryer in cooler months?
• Breakout in blackheads, pimples or other blemishes often?
• Have enlarged pores in your T-Zone?

Combination Skin is dry in some spots, oily in others and even normal or sensitive in other spots. People with combination skin are frequently referred to as people with T- Zone faces. The T- Zone covers the forehead, nose and chin making the shape of a T on a combination skinned face. With combination skin the oil parts of the face are the forehead, nose and chin while the skin around the eyes and mouth are dry. In some cases the cheeks could be either oily or dry. As a result T-Zone would be treated with products to help with oil reduction the oily parts of the face while the other dry parts would be treated with moisturizing products. Most people are combination skin types. This is a very common type of skin.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Does your skin:

• Look red or blotchy a majority of the time?
• Breakout in an itchy rash or irritation when you try new products?
• Get red from touching your skin, or gently washing your face?
• Get easily irritated from external factors like changes in temperature or environment?

Sensitive Skin can be oily, dry or normal. Sensitive skin is more of a condition than a skin type per say. It is any skin type that is easily irritated. The typical reactions of sensitive skin are itching, burning, chaffing and stinging. It can be blotchy and irritated frequently and is prone to rashes and redness. There are also visible broken capillaries if the skin is light enough. A sensitive skinned person may wash their face and feel dry itchy and irritated after they do so.

Sensitive Skin can also reacts because of sensitivity to environmental conditions. Because of this, sensitive skin may require different special treatments and special products to remain in good condition through various affecting factors. This type of skin may also have allergic or adverse reactions to certain types of cosmetics with ingredients containing alcohol bases, synthetic ingredients, oil bases, fragrances and artificial colorants. Many sensitive skinned people have to use hypoallergenic products or those containing all natural ingredients to prevent skin reactions.

Your skin type determines the products and type of treatments you use on your skin. If you're having difficulty determining your skin type, call MaxAesthetics at 267-528-3859 for a free consultation.