How To Determine Your Skin Type: The Beautician Answers

2023 Author: Jessica James | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:20

Dermato-cosmetologist Viktoria Britko told the difference between different skin types and how to define your own.

Victoria Britko

Dermatocosmetologist

The structure of the skin and features of the sebaceous glands

The skin is the largest organ that works on the border of the external and internal environment, performing a protective function. It is “responsible” for keeping warm, evaporating moisture, removing harmful substances from the body, and touching. Several layers are distinguished in the skin: "dead" - horny, dermis and subcutaneous fatty tissue, consisting of fat cells, bundles of connective tissue, blood vessels and nerve fibers.

The type does not depend on the structure, but on the work of the sebaceous glands and their number. The glands are of two types: connected to the hair and independent of them, opening to the skin surface through the follicle. The first is characteristic of the skin. One square centimeter can contain from 4 to 380 sebaceous glands, which secrete up to 20 g of secretion per day, which protects against harmful microorganisms and forms a lipid barrier.

In total, skin types are distinguished: oily, combination, dry, normal. In some sources, they also designate sensitive. But it is not present in all classifiers. I'll tell you about each type in more detail.

Bold

Oily skin looks very tight and loose. It is characterized by enlarged pores, a tendency to form blackheads and increased greasiness due to the active work of the glands. In adolescence, she brings a lot of problems to her owners, as she is prone to the formation of inflammation and rashes. But there are also pluses. On oily skin, wrinkles are formed much later - excess sebum protects against moisture loss. The main rule of caring for oily skin is thorough cleansing. When choosing cosmetics, make sure that there is no alcohol in the composition - it provokes even more greasiness.

Find effective products for oily skin here.

Dry

Unlike oily, dry skin is usually thin, delicate with barely visible pores. It does not shine, is susceptible to peeling and quickly reacts to the absence of cream in the "beauty diet". From time to time, owners of dry skin suffer from a feeling of tightness and redness. The main disadvantage of this type of skin is early wrinkles. They may appear as early as 25, and for some even earlier. When choosing care for dry skin, you need to rely on proper nutrition, hydration and protection from UV radiation.

See here for your personal experience of dry skin care.

Normal

Normal skin is a rather rare type. It is not as dense as oily, but also not as thin as dry. It is characterized by dullness, small pores in the central part of the face, normal greasiness and resistance to external stimuli. She responds normally to changes in care, temperature, phases of the menstrual cycle. With such skin usually there are no problems in adolescence, and the aging process occurs evenly.

Combined

This is the most common skin type, characterized by enlarged pores, increased sebum production in the T-zone (forehead, chin, nose) and dry cheeks and other areas.

Skin type test

Wash your face with a soft foam without aggressive surfactants. Pat dry with a towel and refrain from using the cream. After two hours, apply a thin paper towel to your face and press lightly on your cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead. Then evaluate the result.

If there are no greasy spots left on the napkin, you have dry skin, if traces are visible in the T-zone - combined. With mild oily spots, we are talking about normal skin. Oily will leave noticeable marks on the napkin.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that after thirty years, the skin type may change. Oily, for example, is more likely to become normal.