skin types
TYPES OF SKIN
Skin can be divided into various types according to its texture. It is essential to know the various types of skin, so that its treatment can be done accordingly.
- Normal skin
- Dry skin
- Oily skin
- Combination skin
- Sensitive skin
Normal Skin
Has a fine even texture with a supple and smooth surface. It has a proper balance between oil and moisture contents and is therefore moist and neither oily nor dry. It looks clear and does not develop spots and blemishes. Characterised by visible average sized pores oiliness and dryness may fluctuate but neither dominates, fine to medium, even texture. It reflects good health and needs gentle treatment.
Dry skin
Has a dry parched appearance and has a tendency to flake easily. It is prone to fine lines and wrinkles this is due to the inability to retain moisture as well as the insufficient production of sebum by the sebaceous glands Characterised by pores are almost invisible, fine texture, often with broken capillaries, often sensitive.
Dry skin often has problems in cold weather and ages faster than normal or oily skin. Constant protection is very important. It needs a moisturiser during the day and a good cream at night.
Oily skin
This type of skin is caused by the over secretion of sebum making the skin surface oily. The excess oil on the surface of the skin attracts dirt and dust from the environment. Oily skin has enlarged pores (due to trapped oil) and is prone to black heads, white heads, spots, pimples and such, skin will never be clear. This type of skin needs to be cleansed thoroughly. Often characterised by an oily t-zone and dry cheeks thicker texture, signs of blemishes (whiteheads/blackheads)
Combination skin
This type of skin is very common. As the name suggests, it is a combination of both oily and dry skin with certain areas of the face oily and the rest dry. Usually there is a Central oily panel consisting of the forehead, nose and chin and a dry panel consisting of cheeks and the areas around the eyes and mouth. The oily central panel is referred to as T - Zone. In such cases, each part of the face should be treated accordingly - the dry areas as for dry skin and the central panel as for oily skin.
Sensitive skin
This type of skin has a fine texture and is very sensitive to changes in the climate. The capillaries often close to the surface, flushed appearance, often dehydrated skin breaks out at change of seasons and may be itchy. There may be moderate oil production.
Aging: One cause of the appearance of aging is daily skin dehydration (our old friend dry skin), which slows blood circulation and makes skin paler, thinner and less elastic. Over time, chronic dehydration results in the appearance of fine wrinkle lines.
Teenagers, on the other hand, tend to have extremely oily skin which is prone to infection. The treatment for that is also frequent moisture replacement to prevent blemishes. Sebaceous glands are underactive in older people and overactive in younger people. Both conditions can be exacerbated by too little moisture in the skin.
Skin types: The need for added external water is greater in darker-skinned individuals whose skin produces more oil (lipids or sebum) than lighter-skinned individuals. Since oily skin (sebaceous gland secretions) unbalances the skin's moisture level and skin requires an 80% moisture balance to function optimally, more frequent water replacement is advisable for darker-skinned individuals.
