So let's get started with a few facts.

You are born with your skin type it is your genetic predisposition & so, therefore, it cannot be changed. What does change are the conditions that can be associated with that skin type for example oily shine, dryness, or ‘sensitivity’.

There are actually only three majority skin types meaning that the ‘majority of your skin’ is made up of its related characteristics. These are; Lipid dry, Oily & diffused redness, so guess what?! That ‘Normal skin’ or ‘Combination skin’ that you see on the side of skin care packaging or categories in stores doesn’t actually, truly exist! It’s a deemed ‘easier’ way for you to be able to pick the ‘right’ product for you with little professional help & therefore sell you more skincare.

It is hard to establish your skin type yourself which is why there are many skin health professionals like me that are out there to help you do this & prescribe you what your skin needs.

I am going to, however, break down these three skin types & give you examples of the ‘conditions’ you might see on your skin in each.

Lipid dry:

This skin type literally means that you are lacking oil from your skin. It will often appear ‘shiny’ because of the compacted cells. There will be very little evidence of ‘open pores’ present & therefore little oil flow. It can be visibly dry with skin looking flaky, feeling rough & sometimes red & aggressed. It can take on a ‘dull/sallow/grey’ appearance. It may feel ‘uncomfortable’ & you will feel like you want to reach for your moisturiser regularly.

Oily:

Ah, my favourite skin type! And one that is fairly rare for me to see in the clinic. The opposite to lipid dry, this skin type has more than its fair share of oil flow which can create many, irritating skin conditions for those who have it.

There will be a very ‘coarse’ texture to the skin with lots of visible ‘open pores’ present so all that lovely oil can pump onto the surface of the skin.

That can mean that those ‘pores’ can become blocked easily with the oil sticking dead cells together so blackheads, blocked pores & spotty outbreaks will be present. A permanently oily shine will be present meaning that if you are a make-up wearer it will be tricky to keep this on your skin. In some cases, there can be a yellowish hue to the skin tone. The joy is that this skin type tends to fare better when it come to the aging process.

Diffused redness:

If I had a £1 for every time someone has told me they have ‘sensitive skin’ over the years I would have put my feet up a long time ago. Most people will experience elements of sensitivity to their skin at some time or another. Remember that for your skin to fall into that skin type, it has to be represented by the ‘majority’ of your face, neck & chest. So for a skin to be truly ‘sensitive’ it would present as being red most of the time, maybe have some permanently dilated capillaries (thread veins) present, and can be inflamed, hot & ‘reactive’ to the environment and products. Just because you fall into the diffused redness skin type, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will also get the skin disorder Rosacea although you maybe at higher risk as this is a vascular disorder.

The takeaway here is that you will know and understand the patterns of behavior of your skin, but it is useful to get an expert to give you a true insight into your majority skin type and what to expect from it as the seasons change and your age. It is also vital to be able to determine which products your skin needs and you should have this reassessed regularly. This is then a much more sustainable way to purchase skin care since you are buying exactly what your skin needs rather than wasting money on things that just aren’t suitable.

 


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Louise Thomas skin care

www.louisethomasskincare.co.uk