What skin type do I have? That is an important question for choosing the skin care that suits your skin. It is also useful to determine the condition of your skin. This way you know better what your skin needs. Recognizing skin conditions is also important for proper treatment. You can determine your skin type, skin condition and possible skin diseases by comparing your own skin with descriptions of the different skin types, skin condition and skin conditions. You will learn about possible causes of dry or oily skin and what you can do yourself to bring and keep your skin in balance.
Contents
- Dry skin
- Combination skin
- Sensitive skin
- Normal skin
- Fat skin
- Dehydrated skin
- Skin aging
- Skin diseases
Dry skin
You can recognize dry skin or dehydrated skin by flaky skin, chapped skin, rough skin, burning skin or prickly skin. Your skin will feel tight and tight and it may be itchy. You may also have red spots. Dry skin is caused by a lack of fat (sebum), which gives the skin its natural protective layer.
Sun and smoking can dry out the skin. / Source: Unsplash, Pixabay
Causes of dry skin
Soap, acid, alcohol and (chlorinated) water dissolve the natural protective layer of the skin, so that the moisture in the skin evaporates more quickly. Drinking alcohol can also dry out your skin, as can smoking, air conditioning, central heating, cold, sun and wind. Another cause is taking a long, hot shower and then rubbing yourself dry with a rough towel. In addition, products that seal your skin, such as mineral oils, can dry out your skin. They place an impermeable layer over your skin, so that your skin can no longer remove waste products and absorb nutrients. This causes her to dry out. Dry skin can also be hereditary and caused by hormonal changes, such as during menopause. Dry skin is more common with certain (skin) conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, hypothyroidism and diabetes. The skin also becomes drier due to skin aging.
What to do about dry skin?
First of all, you protect dry skin by supplementing the natural fat layer with a natural cream, ointment or oil. You can also eat nuts and oily fish. These contain healthy fats (omega-3), which find their way through your body to your skin. It also helps to shower with lukewarm water (30 degrees Celsius) no more than once a day for a maximum of 5 minutes. Instead of soap, use a shower cream or oil with a greasing effect and pat your skin dry with a soft towel after showering. If you take a bath, do this for a maximum of 15 minutes. After bathing and showering, rub your skin with a cream, ointment or oil. Use a vegetable oil, such as almond oil, to cleanse your skin. You can also help your dry skin by quitting smoking, consuming alcohol in moderation and not swimming in chlorinated water too often.
Most people have combination skin. / Source: Lecreusois, Pixabay
Combination skin
Most people have combination skin. This skin type can be recognized by somewhat shiny skin on the forehead, nose and chin (T-zone) and somewhat drier, tighter skin on the cheeks. Pimples and blackheads occur in the so-called T-zone. Treat the oily areas like oily skin and the dry areas like dry skin.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is irritated skin, prickly skin, burning skin or troubled skin. The skin feels tight, itches or flakes. There may also be a rash in the form of red spots on the skin or red bumps. These can also indicate skin conditions.
Tips for beautiful skin
For healthy, beautiful skin, it is best to choose care products without fragrances (perfume), soap, preservatives, alcohol, dyes and chemical sun filters. These substances in cosmetics and skin care products are a major cause of an allergic reaction in the skin. Natural products such as mint and eucalyptus can also irritate the skin. So be careful with skin care products that contain these ingredients. In addition, a skin condition can be the cause of sensitive skin. An example of this is rosacea. Your skin can also be sensitive in itself, in which case there is no clear cause. If you have sensitive skin, choose products with anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredients, such as argan oil and coconut oil.
Normal skin
Normal skin can be recognized as clear skin, soft skin, smooth skin and elastic skin. It feels smooth, soft and supple and has a fresh complexion and healthy glow. The pores are invisible and there are no pimples or blackheads. You can take care of normal skin with a moisturizing cream or skin oil. In winter, normal skin also requires more nutrition and protection with a natural cream or oil.
With oily skin you are more likely to suffer from impurities / Source: Giuliamar, Pixabay
Fat skin
You recognize oily facial skin as shiny skin. The pores are clearly visible and you are more likely to suffer from pimples and blackheads.
What to do about oily skin?
Good cleansing is very important for oily skin. This purifies the skin of excess sebum and dirt. Use a cleansing product that maintains the skin’s natural oil layer. This means that the sebaceous glands are not extra stimulated, which actually worsens oily skin. In addition, do not shower too hot, because this has the same effect on the sebaceous glands. Just like soap products. Also eat yeast, wheat oil, beans and nuts, as these contain vitamins B2 and B5. A deficiency of these vitamins can cause oily skin. Drink plenty of water to remove waste, stop smoking and get enough sleep and exercise.
Dehydrated skin
Dehydrated skin is not so much a skin type, but a skin condition. You can have dry, dehydrated skin, but also oily, dehydrated skin. Dehydrated skin has the same characteristics as dry skin. You can recognize dehydrated skin by flaky skin, chapped skin, rough skin, burning skin, itchy skin or prickly skin. To see if your skin is dehydrated, push your skin slightly upwards with your finger. If thin crackle lines appear, your skin is dehydrated.
Restore dehydrated skin
You can restore dehydrated skin with products that regulate the skin’s moisture balance, so that the skin can retain moisture better. Substances with moisture-retaining properties include orris root, hyaluronic acid, collagen, glycolic acid, jojoba oil and olive oil. If you have dry skin in addition to dehydrated skin, it is important that you restore the skin’s natural protective layer so that the moisture in the skin cannot evaporate. Substances that can help your skin with this are vitamin C, vitamin B5 and vitamin B3.
Skin aging is characterized by wrinkles, dry skin and dull skin. / Source: Geralt, Pixabay
Skin aging
Although aging skin is not really a skin type, it does have specific characteristics. In addition to showing wrinkles and lines, it becomes weaker, duller and duller under the influence of natural aging processes and can feel dry and rough. In addition, it may show imperfections. This is because the processes in the skin take place less optimally.
Dull skin
As we get older, the renewal process of the skin cells slows down. This reduces the skin’s ability to renew and repair itself. Furthermore, the number of blood vessels in the skin decreases, so that the skin receives fewer nutrients and can remove fewer waste products. These changes in the skin make it look duller and sallower and may show imperfections. In addition, the production of pigment changes, which can cause pigment spots. To stimulate the renewal process of the skin cells, you can use prickly pear oil. You can stimulate blood circulation in the skin with facial yoga. To prevent pigment spots as much as possible, use a sunscreen without perfume, alcohol and chemical sun filter. These can irritate and dry out the skin, disrupt hormones and cause pigment spots.
Dry skin
Because the skin is less able to retain moisture and the number of sebaceous glands decreases, you get dry skin as you get older. You can take care of this with products for this skin type.
Sagging skin and wrinkles
Sagging skin and wrinkles are the result of reduced production of collagen and elastin. Because the epidermis and subcutaneous fatty tissue become thinner with age and the muscles in the face relax, the skin can sag as you get older. Facial yoga helps keep the muscles in your face as strong as possible and firm the skin.
Accelerated skin aging
The action of free radicals accelerates the natural aging process. Because as we age, our body produces fewer substances that counteract free radicals (the so-called antioxidants), so the aging process is strengthened under the influence of free radicals. To counteract this process, antioxidants must mainly be supplied from outside. Examples of antioxidants are vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B3, flavonoids, which are found in green tea extract, pomegranate oil and grape seed extract, and betalain, which can be found in prickly pear oil.
Skin diseases
In addition to determining your skin type, it is important to determine whether you may have a skin condition that needs to be treated by a doctor or dermatologist. Below you will find the characteristics of a number of skin diseases and you can read more about these skin conditions.
Psoriasis and skin fungus
The skin disease psoriasis is characterized by red patches with flakes. / Source: Hans, Pixabay
Early psoriasis can manifest itself as red spots on the skin with white flakes that are sometimes painful and itchy. Skin fungus is also characterized by red spots with flakes and usually itching.
Vitiligo
White spots on the skin may be due to the autoimmune disease vitiligo. This causes a lack of pigment in the skin, causing a pattern of white spots.
Eczema, rosacea and acne
Eczema is an itchy skin rash with redness, swelling, flakes, bumps, blisters, cracks or crusts. Rosacea can be recognized by redness, small dilated blood vessels (rosacea), bumps and pimples. The condition can resemble acne, but usually does not occur before the age of 30. Acne can mainly be recognized by pimples that can be red and inflamed. If subcutaneous inflammation occurs, scars may be left behind later.
Stretch marks and pregnancy mask
Stretch marks are initially red and later whiter stripes on the skin because the subcutaneous connective tissue has been torn. This skin problem usually occurs during pregnancy, when the skin has to stretch in a short time with the growing belly, buttocks and breasts. A pregnancy mask is also a typical phenomenon during pregnancy. This skin condition can be recognized by dark brown spots on the skin, which usually disappear after delivery.
Skin cancer
A serious disease of the skin is skin cancer. This skin condition is not easy to recognize, but there are things you can look out for, such as a rough spot that won’t go away, a wound that won’t heal, or a change in the color or size of a pre-existing skin lesion. You can recognize troubled moles by their shape, color and size. If the birthmark is (more than) half a centimeter in size, asymmetrical in shape, has jagged and irregular edges or different colors or if the spot changes color or itches or bleeds, it may be wise to consult a dermatologist.
