The difference between skin types & skin conditions

When asked 'do you know what skin type you are' do you actually know?

Over 90% of people don't know what their skin type is and get confused when picking skincare products. 

Skin types can be confusing, especially if companies advertise products for sensitive skin and claim it is a skin type- it's not.

Today I will be putting it all out on the table so you won't have to wonder if you are using the right products for you. I will be talking about the difference between skin types and skin conditions and how it is good to know about your skin's needs.

What are skin types?

The skin is the outer covering of the body, it is the largest functioning organ.

The skin has multiple layers, and skin types are created by how our skin functions within those layers.

What are the skin types?

There are 4 different skin types: Normal, Oily, Dry and Combination; and You can have up to 2 different skin types at once therefore falling under the combination category.

Normal skin:

When I ask customers what skin type they thin they have, normal skin is what comes out of 99% of their mouths. Normal skin is the least common skin type.

If you have normal skin you have the least problematic skin.

Normal skin is characterised with small unnoticeable pores, even skin oil secretion and no flaky patches.

 

Oily skin:

In my opinion oily skin is the most problematic skin type, as it attracts a lot of acne and infection due to the over secretion of sebum.

If you have Oily skin you will have larger open pores, over secretion on sebum (the bodies natural oils) and in most cases pimples or acne.

Dry skin:

Dry skin is more common in older people, as we age the skins oil production lessens therefore leaving the skin a lot drier.

If you have dry skin you will have small pores, tightness or itchiness of the skin and most likely flaky dry patches.

Combination skin:

Combination skin is the most popular skin type, because a lot of people have oily T-zones, and normal skin. 

If you have combination skin it means you have two of the above skin types together. You might have dry cheeks and oily nose, or oily chin and normal skin every where else.

What are skin conditions?

Skin conditions are conditions that effect the skin, these can be permanent, seasonal or one off occasions where the skin changes.

What are the different skin conditions?

There are many different skin conditions, naming them all would take years so here are the most popular ones.

Sensitive skin:

So many people get confused with sensitive skin, and think it is a skin type. Its actually a skin condition and should always be treated before skin types.

If you have sensitive skin you may have redness when using products, you most likely will react to product that have a lot of fragrance and chemicals in them, you could feel tingling or stinging when applying products. If you have sensitive skin try to avoid products that have fragrance and soap in them as they can make your skin worse

Dehydrated skin:

Dehydrated skin gets confused with dry skin quite a lot. 

The difference is that dry skin lacks natural oils (sebum) and dehydrated skin lacks water.

9 out of 10 people have dehydrated skin.

You can get dehydrated skin from not drinking enough water, you can also get it from being in air-conditioned or heated places a lot. Heaters and air conditioners draw out the moisture from you skin, therefore leaving it dehydrated and parched.

Rosacea:

There are difference types of rosacea, the most common being redness of the face.

Rosacea is a skin condition where the capillaries in you skin have broken close the the skins surface, therefore causing blood to appear and causing redness at the skins surface. 

Rosacea can also cause sensitive skin due to the broken capillaries, the skin may react to products a lot easier.

Eczema:

Eczema is a recurring but non infectious skin condition that effects 1 in 3 australians throughout their life. It is where the skin becomes dry, red, itchy and scaly in particular places and can be quite painful when using products that contain chemicals and fragrance. 

Eczema is quite popular in todays society, with a lot of products on the market specifically created for eczema and dermatitis it is easy to control.

Acne:

Acne is where the skin is covered in a lot of pimples, they can be spread out in difference parts of the body, or all together in one particular place. There are a lot of reasons to why acne is present, from hormone levels, not drinking enough water and eating the right food. Acne is most popular in oily skin types.