Skin Types Explained

Acne Prone Skin breakouts occur when the oil glands attached to the hair follicles on the skin produce too much oil, causing the skin around the follicles to rupture and become inflamed. Acne is most common in those with oily or combination skin.

Combination Skin will present characteristics of both dry and oily skin since the distribution of sebaceous and sweat glands is not homogeneous. The area with most oil is usually the T- zone (forehead, nose, and chin), while the skin on the cheeks is normal or dry.

Dehydrated Skin occurs due to your body losing more water than it is taking in. This can be caused by not drinking enough water or sweating too much causing you to lose water. If your skin is dehydrated, you may notice itchiness, dullness, under-eye circles, sunken eyes, and/or more noticeable fine lines.

Dry Skin generally produces fewer natural oils than other types of skin. This may cause it to appear dull and become rough, flaky, or even scaly. It often feels tight or less elastic, noticeably dehydrated, and may be prone to showing more visible fine lines. In addition, it may become itchy or irritated.

Mature Skin is characterized by looseness, wrinkles, dryness and fragility. With age, the body naturally slows production of collagen, sebum, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. These all serve to maintain skin barrier function, which improves skin elasticity and moisture. Additionally, mature skin often develops dark spots as a result of prolonged exposure to UV rays. Skin that has been exposed to significant amounts of UV radiation may experience signs of aging.

Normal Skin is essentially skin that is well balanced; it is not too dry or oily, not too sensitive and has very few imperfections. Characterized by small pores, an even skin tone and soft texture, normal skin is what many would consider to be the ideal skin type.

Oily Skin (seborrhea) is a common cosmetic problem that occurs when oversized sebaceous glands produce excessive amounts of sebum giving the appearance of shiny and greasy skin.

Skin sensitivity is often attributed to impaired skin barrier function or an overactive immune system. It can be caused by a genetic predisposition, such as rosacea or eczema, and certain allergies. Those with dry skin often have increased sensitivity because dryness does harm to the skin’s natural protective barrier. Sensitivity can also be triggered or worsened by environmental irritants and allergens such as animal dander, pollen and makeup. Skin can have minor or severe sensitivity, identified by blotchiness, patches of redness, peeling, itching or burning. If you find that skin care products or certain fabrics irritate your skin, or if you develop contact dermatitis easily, you likely have sensitive skin.