WHATS YOUR FACE SKIN TYPE? -A GUIDE TO KNOW YOUR SKIN BETTER

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We often wonder what really our face skin type is! Especially when we see it breaking out, or we are trying to find the right products for our skin.

In general, face skin types are differentiated into:

1) Oily skin: Oily skin type is generally shiny skin, with more visible open pores, coarse in texture and shows an uneven skin tone with more pigmentation in skin folds like nose and lip corners. On mild pinching it appears shiny or reflects more light from skin surface.

2) Dry skin: Dry facial skin type is due to less active oil or sebum secreting glands. It has a dry or rough feel on touch, and has more prominent wrinkles or fine lines. On skin pinch, it has a dry and non shiny feel.

3) Combination skin: Most of us fall in this category of facial skin type where the T zone (forehead and nose area) is oilier that rest of the face.

4) Normal skin type: This is defined as a balanced skin with optimal oil secretion. It feels tight, neither too dry and stretchy nor too oily and dull.

Other factors that affect skin oiliness

Interestingly our skin doesnt behave the same way across all age, seasons and places- which means, our skin can act differently as we age or change places.

1) WEATHER: In dry or cold weather conditions when weather has less humidity, skin of combination skin type individuals tends to make more oil. Hence a lot of us can experience acne breakouts in such weather conditions. In humid or hot weather conditions, skin makes lesser oil and people with oily or combination skin type feel better in such weather as their acne prone skin tends to calm down. However this experience is highly subjective and affected by the skincare products or actives one is using at that point.

Generally oily or combination skin people are more acne prone and requires more mindful usage of skin care products. Using harsh skin drying agents like AHA/BHA or retinol too frequently might lead to skin barrier irritation and increased skin sensitivity.

Also, many people with oily skin type tend to make a common mistake of not using a moisturiser on their face. They feel their skin is too oily hence leave it bare post facewash! In these cases, the skin oil glands tend to become overactive sensing the skin to be too dry post facewash and as a result these individuals feel their skin getting oilier as the day passes. To ameliorate this situation, using a light watery or gel based moisturiser post facewash helps.

2) AGE: Ageing tends to reduce oil gland activity hence a lot of people feel their skin getting drier as they age. This also calls for change of skin care products and actives to suit the demands of their changing skin type.

3) MENSTRUAL CYCLE: To complicate the situation for women, menstrual cycle can also affect oiliness of our skin. Just before periods as level of estrogen and progesterone in body drops, the skin oil glands can become overactive and make your skin oily and more acne prone.

4) SMOKING: Cigarette smoking can affect skin oiliness by causing increased levels of hormones like androgens and cortisol in body which trigger our oil glands and also the chemicals in tobacco smoke like cyanide, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide can change skin oiliness and lead to more acne breakouts.

5) DAIRY PRODUCTS: Dairy products can also make our skin oilier by increasing sebum production in skin. There are multiple theories behind this finding including hormonal elements in dairy products that can lead to overactivation of facial oil glands and clogging of pores.

Finally, your dermatologist can help you understand your skin type better and choose the

right products for you. Understanding your skin type helps you keep your skin acne free and maintain it well to prevent signs of ageing, appearance of too evident open pores and keeping uneven skin tone due to oiliness of skin in check.

Get in touch with our expert dermatologists at Aiconic Skin Clinic to dive deeper into a healthier skin care by understanding your skin better!