A little snippet on what you are about to read :
A healthy body is a safe home for your soul same as healthy skin is a haven for the body.
Leaving out the people in the fame industry, a lot of us don’t give skin care a lot of thought. Especially in our twenties- when we’re out in the world figuring out everything, contemplating on our skin and it’s safe-keeping turns into an afterthought.
So then, when do we think about it? When it becomes tangible and noticeably skin related problems arise. Or when we start to realise that we’re at a more serious age and the youth will fade in the coming years. FYI, that’s sort of late!
Relatively, when you have an event to attend and right that morning you have a blemished pimple on your forehead- Ouch! Hurts just thinking about it.
We make do with instant remedies, that may or may not help the arised discrepancy on your skin- but that’s just a temporary solution.
What we really need to understand is, skin care is important long term and you can tend to it properly when you have knowledge on your skin-type. You can have your own skin routine once you know what type of skin you do have. And with this piece of writing we want to let you know how to do just that!
Why is it important to know your skin Type?
As newborns, our parents made sure to take endless precautions to tend to our tender and sesnsitive skin. Later when puberty hits and hormonal changes come in, most of us discover- acne, blemishes, rash issues & so on. That coming to our attention we seek out medical treatments for it. Growing up we pass by instances where we should ideally start tending to our skin and have healthy routines for it. Although thankfully because of the booming beauty & skincare industry and it’s marketing, we have it in our sights and minds.
Your skin comes in contact with the rest of the world first and foremost; it protects you from the harmful rays, holds body fluids in to prevent dehydration, prevents detrimental microbes from entering the body and so forth. It is entirely on us to take care of it. To do that effectively we need to know the type of skin we possess, is it oily? Is it dry? Is it too sensitive or is it rough? Is it prone to change with change in seasons? Having this knowledge will help us in tending to our skin more pro-actively.
Now let’s come to the point (or several points)!
Skin & it’s types :
Skin plays a really prominent role in your appearance! It has a texture; it can be soft, calloused, have a lustre or be on the rougher side- you can say it has it’s own personality!
When you think about skin care your mind immediately takes you to your face, but it’s your whole body enveloped in that outer tissue- which protects you till the end of time.
Skin types are categories that people use to describe how oily, dry, or sensitive their skin is. It is determined by the amount of sebum (oil that the body produces to keep the skin moisturised) according to Dermatology.
Medically defined, there are 5 main skin types :
- Dry
- Oily
- Combination
- Sensitive
- Normal
Skin problems range from a small blemish on the face to fungal infections or hazardous skin conditions that are injurious to health. Once someone recognises what skin type they have, they can learn how to care for it. Always remember to go to a dermatologist to get it checked whenever there’s a requirement.
To identify your skin type immediately- wash your face with a mild face wash and wipe it with a soft cloth, then observe how your skin feels simultaneously after. Take notes of changes every few hours till you can confirm. Simple!
Let’s see how to determine our skin type generally, according to Dermatology + Research Assosciations :
1. You have DRY SKIN if :
The production of sebum is less than the body needs which leads to having dry or excessively dry skin (the latter would require medical treatment).
Indications:
-
skin feels tight or dry, especially after bathing
-
flakes, itches, or cracks and patches
-
looks dull, rough, or ashy
Your body needs more moisture in this case and having a skin care routine & a diet inclining towards it might be helpful.
2. You have OILY SKIN if :
Your body produces excessive sebum than it needs, leading to having an oily texture.
Indications:
-
skin feels greasy
-
looks shiny, especially around the nose and forehead (the t zone)
-
has large pores that clog easily
-
is prone to pimples or blackheads
The skin in this case needs to be cleansed frequently, and having a skin care routine & a diet inclining towards that might be of help.
3. You have COMBINATION SKIN if :
Some areas of the skin are prone to dryness and others are oily or may have a greasy structure (mainly the forehead, nose and chin- known as the T zone tend to get oily). Skin might change texture seasonally as well.
Skin care here, should be adaptable and tend to both equally and effectively.
4. You have SENSITIVE SKIN if :
Your skin gets irritated or inflamed easily. Many things can cause sensitive skin, from underlying health conditions to environmental factors. There can also be a genetic cause or it can be allergy prone. Usage of any new product can cause blemishes or redness on the sensitive skin.
Indications:
-
wrinkled, rough texture
-
Redness
-
Swelling
-
Open sores
-
Peeling skin
Conditions that cause sensitive skin are rarely serious. You can usually keep your symptoms under control with a few simple changes to your skin care routine.
5. You have REGULAR SKIN if :
Your skin is not noticeably oily, dry, or sensitive. This type produces enough sebum to keep the skin evenly hydrated without becoming greasy. People with normal skin have even complexions with few blemishes. Ah the lucky ones!
To keep the skin healthy and maintained this way, a light skin care routine that nurtures the skin should be in order.
Conclusion :
Now that you have an idea on how to understand your skin type better, your very next step is to take really good care of it . Because we aren’t in a video game and unfortunately that doesn’t give us the ability to change skins. Accept yourself and your skin in all it's natural beauty. Be proud of it and take good care of it.
