Is It Really Necessary To Know My Skin Type?
Is your skin type Dry, Normal/Combination, Sensitive or Oily? Whenever I ask this question and a woman answers I don’t know, then she typically has normal/combination skin. Believe me, those who have dry, oily or sensitive skin, know who they are.
Normal/Combination skin is the ideal and may feel slightly dry or slightly oily within 2 hours after cleansing. If your body produces oil that may be a little more or a little less than you need, you’re still within the normal range. Normal to Dry combination skin has dry cheeks and a normal T zone. Normal to Oily combination skin has normal cheeks and an oily T zone.
When your skin is Dry, you know that it doesn’t produce enough facial oil. That “less than enough” oil production means that your skin will feel dry and tight within seconds after cleansing. Generally, this type has very tight pores and spots of dry, flaky skin.
If your skin is really shiny or very oily within 2 hours after cleansing, then you have Oily skin. This person knows that her body has over active sebaceous (oil) glands, and her face produces too much oil. This type has enlarged pores, is generally oily all over, and is prone to outbreaks or acne.
Women with Sensitive skin know their skin type because their reactions may be itching, splotchiness or swelling. Today, almost all popular cosmetic companies have developed a group of products that are hyper-allergenic. Designed to work for dry sensitive or oily sensitive skin, these products are specially formulated to be very mild and gentle.
When your skin care products are not made for your skin type, you can expect some type of negative reaction. You can depend on dry skin flaking, peeling or even cracking open; many years of using the wrong products will result in skin that wrinkles 10 to 20 years earlier than it should. That explains the importance of using proper (pH balanced) facial skin care items as early and consistently as possible.
Oily skin can expect more severe and longer lasting problems if their cleanser contains too much oil. Those problems may be facial acne that becomes infected as bacteria attaches itself to oily skin or where hair folicles that are unable to grow past the surface level (because of overgrown skin cells), and may develop into infected cysts. The lasting problems may be permanent dark pimple discolorations or extremely enlarged pores that equal an uneven skin surface.
Sensitive skin may develop allergic reactions that resemble eczema with the accompanying blotchiness and itching. Another reaction may be first degree burns and scarring from products that are too strong for your skin type. This type needs to test new products, by using it behind an ear and waiting 24 hours to see if there will be a reaction before full facial use.
The average of normal/combination skin type doesn’t suffer with problem skin, but a lot of other people do. Products for your skin type will leave your skin feeling fine, normal, not too dry, itchy or oily. Knowing what type skin you have and only using appropriate products means you’ll minimize or eliminate those severe problems and eventually the cost of a dermatologist.