When buying skin care products and beauty creams you must have noticed the several variations according to different skin types. Pick any cleanser, foundation, moisturiser or sunscreen, and there are vivid labels: “for oily skin”, “for dry skin” or “for normal skin”. Though women are accustomed to noticing these (men hardly notice), statistics show that many end up choosing highly unsuitable products for their skins. It happens because girls are often not entirely sure of their skin types, as most seek their beauty and skin advice either from the novice shop representatives or from amateur beauticians at salons, not from dermatologists.

Whilst women have still somewhat been indoctrinated about suitable beauty regimes, for men it’s rather a new territory. They have traditionally been least concerned about their largest organ (their skin), let alone knowing their skin type and taking proper care of it. However, in today’s dangerously polluted, stressful and competitive environment, skin care is becoming imperative for men and women alike, and so is the knowledge of skin type.

Your skin can easily change over time or with season, and so correct and constant evaluation is necessary. We all know that there are basically four types of skin: normal, dry, oily and combination skin. Some people have sensitive skin, but sensitivity is triggered by external (environment and surroundings) and internal (hormones, nutrients, etc.) factors. Also, don’t consider problems like sagging skin, fine lines, dark spots, dark circles to be part and parcel of your basic skin type, as everyone is susceptible to these problems with age. With proper care, you can delay their appearance for a considerable time.

Normal, dry, oily and combination — learn how to determine which type of skin you have

There are no medical tests to determine your skin type, but you can find out for yourself. Just carefully observe your face after washing it in the morning and during the day and you will know. People rarely have what is usually called a normal skin, as it is envisioned to be the ‘perfect skin’ with ‘no problems’. Normal skin means there are no severe or minor insensitivities, no excess oil production and barely visible pores with an even complexion. It has a clean and smooth appearance, and needs little maintenance. Many of you will agree that this skin type is difficult to find as everyone breaks into pimples from time to time and gets dark spots, wrinkles and fine lines as they age.

Most people have a normal plus skin, which means they have normal to oily (some areas of face might produce more oil than the rest), normal to dry (some areas might produce less oil), normal to combination (some areas produce moderate amount of oil), or normal skin with wrinkles, few pimples or sun damage. Individuals with normal skin type can wear makeup and apply creams without any major skin reactions.

If your skin cracks, itches, scales and becomes tight after washing, then chances are that you have dry skin. You might have fine pores, very less oil with patches of redness on face, arms and legs. The temptation to scratch would be very hard for you to resist and rashes could appear easily. This type of skin becomes very dry during winters, when humidity is relatively low. Also, showering several times a day with hot water and severe scrubbing could make it worse. Nevertheless, dry skin may be a mild condition, typically lasting for a few days to weeks, but if it gets severe and lasts longer then consult a dermatologist.

The exact opposite of dry skin is oily skin. Wipe your skin with a tissue immediately after waking up or at midday. If it feels greasy, thick, coarse and shiny, know you are an oil field. This skin type gives a lot of problems causing acne, enlarged pores and blackheads (when pores get clogged and inflamed). Heredity, hormonal imbalance, weather and your diet can play a major role in causing sebaceous glands to secrete excess oil. Be careful while using cosmetics, face gels and creams as these can badly react with your skin and pimples may erupt.

Last but not least, if your forehead, nose and chin (T-zone) gets oily while the rest of your skin feels normal or dry, then you have what is called a combination skin. It is best spotted when you see grease, zits, rosacea and dry skin all existing at the same time. Occasionally, this skin can become flaky, inflamed and blemish-prone and certain gels can severely irritate it. Combination skin is mainly attributed to genetics and products used routinely.

Now observe your face and figure your skin type. Remember, by age 20 you inherit a certain skin type, by 40 you have the skin you deserve and by 60 you have the one you’ve earned. So, take good care of yourself and keep your skin healthy, radiant and glowing.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, February 15th, 2015

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