How to Determine the Different Types of Skin

No two skins are the same. We inherit our basic skin type from our parents. This genetic disposition can be influenced by a range of other factors, and it means that most people experience fluctuations in skin type as they age.

Hormone changes create the most noticeable changes upon the skin’s surface. Greasy skin during puberty, and dry skin during the mid-life, are common side-effects of our maturing monthly cycle. Menstruation, pregnancy, using the contraceptive pill, the menopause and HRT all lead to changes in skin texture.

The skin is a signboard for our internal well-being; changes on the exposed face act as evidence of imbalance.

In addition, factors such as stress, environment, diet, how effectively we digest our food and the cosmetics and skin care products we use on our skin all contribute to its eventual texture and moisture content. Other lesser factors include illness, changes in the weather, lack of exercise and anxiety.

Normal skin

Normal skin – that is, balanced skin that is neither too greasy nor too dry – is rare. And yet as babies we all start out with perfect skin. As children our skin is fairly thick, has been invisible pores and feels velvety soft. Oil and moisture are evenly distributed across its surface and when blotted with a tissue, there is evidence of a light moisture but no greasy residue. Modern diets, stress and over-exposure to the sun, along with hormone changes as we age, mean that this equilibrium is almost impossible to maintain.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to abandon yourself to fate. There is a great deal you can do to harmonize your skin type, enhance problem skin and embrace a new luminescence.

First, you need to test the condition of your skin. Forget what you’ve been told in the past, your complexion may well have changed since then.

First, fold a tissue into a square and gently pat your forehead, turn it over and pat your cheeks. If the tissue shows no sign of oiliness or moisture, then your skin is too dry. If it appears to be covered in a film of grease, your skin is oily. If the tissue is slightly moist but does not appear greasy, your skin is well balanced.

Dry Skin

These are the most typical skin type, and eight in ten women will find their skin has become excessively dry at some point in their lives. You can tell if your skin is dry because it is likely to feel tight or look flaky. Trust yourself, you are the best judge of your own skin.

Dryness is caused by a lack of sebum, the skin’s natural oily lubricant, and leads to a thinning of the epidermis which means that tiny capillaries can often be seen through the translucent surface. Fine wrinkles and flaky dry patches are also often a problem. Skin of this type is unlikely to have/enlarged pores.

This is skin that chaps easily, feels tight across the cheeks and forehead and is prone to itching and irritation.

The condition is likely to be worsened by exposure to detergents, sunshine, air-conditioning, poor diet, central heating and smoky environments.

The key to treating and caring for dry skin is encouraging it to normalize and retain more moisture.

Oily Skin

Oily skin is the result of excess of sebum production due to over-activity of the sebaceous glands caused by hormonal changes in the body, exacerbated in certain congested areas during the monthly cycle.

The best way to assess how oily your skin is to use a small strip of sellotape placed on your skin. The marking on the tape shows exactly how oily the skin is. If the tape seems barely sticky and is covered in a thick residue when you pull it away, your skin is very oily.

Very oily skin is evidence of disharmony and stagnation in the skin. Characteristically, oily skin appears shiny, with visible open pores, a coarse texture and a sallow complexion. It is prone to clogging up and is therefore, more vulnerable to pimples, blackheads and acne.

The greasy surface is also a trap for dust and dirt, and regular washing is crucial if spots are not to form. There is also a tendency for make-up to slide off the skin. Oily skin tends to become a little less oily with age.

The advantage is that wrinkles are less common on oily skins, and so this sort of skin looks younger longer.