Identifying Your Skin Type

We're sure it doesn’t come as a shock to learn that not everyone has the same skin type. You may even be aware of the four main skin types: dry, oily, combination, and normal. Even after knowing the different skin types, though, you might not know how to identify your own. We'll do our best to inform you of the different types so that you can come to a conclusion about your skin type. However, if you want to know definitively, you should see a skin care professional.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is just as it sounds, it lacks moisture. Or, scientifically, it lacks sebum; which is the oily secretion of sebaceous glands. Further, sebum has lipids that retain moisture and makes a protective shield against outside influences. When your skin has the right amount of sebum, your skin is well balanced regarding moisture level, but also, sebum helps protect against outside influences too. For example, if you live in a climate that is dry, such as Colorado, appropriate levels of sebum will help prevent your skin from drying out. Another thing to note, all skin gets drier with age.

Oily Skin

Oily skin is just the opposite of dry skin: overproduction of sebum. The scientific name for overproduction of sebum is seborrhea. There are a number of things that cause excess sebum: genetics, stress, medication, imbalance of hormones, and make-up. Some indications of oily skin are: shiny skin, acne, large pores, and red bumps without visible signs of white/blackheads (these are called papules).

Combination Skin

Lastly, combination skin is where you have a combination of any of the aforementioned three skin types. Probably the most common combination is oily plus either of the other two. People tend to have an oily T zone, the areas right above the brows down between the eyes and to the nose, as well as, their chin. Contrastly, people will either have normal or dry cheeks.

How to Identify Your Skin Type

It’s important to note that skin type can, and usually, changes over time. You may have had a higher production of sebum as a teenager than you do later in life. We stated earlier that all skin gets drier with age. Further, there are many other factors that contribute to skin condition, such as: climate and pollution. Another important component is hydration, do you drink enough water? What’s your daily skin care routine? If you frequently go to bed without cleaning your face, that can lead to breakouts due to dirt and build up on the skin. Skin care professionals and dermatologists determine skin care by evaluating the following: skin aging, skin color, skin sensitivity, and sebum and sweat production.