Know Your Skin

Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the body, with a total area of about 20 square feet. ... Skin has three layers: The epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone. The dermis, beneath the epidermis, contains tough connective tissue, hair follicles, and sweat glands.

Skin: The body's outer covering, which protects against heat and light, injury, and infection. Skin regulates body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D.

There are 5 different skin types: Which do you have?

·        Oily skin. The skin secretes natural oils to keep itself moisturized, but for people with oily skin, this process can go into overdrive, especially if they have larger pores. ...

•         Dry skin. ...
•         Sensitive skin. ...
•         Combination skin. ...
•         Normal skin.

Understanding skin Skin types and conditions

There are four basic types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily and combination skin. Skin type is determined by genetics. The condition of our skin can, however, vary greatly according to the various internal and external factors it is subjected to.

Understanding the four skin types: normal, dry, oily and combination

If you need help with identifying your skin type the skin test may be a useful tool. 

Normal skin

‘Normal’ is a term widely used to refer to well-balanced skin. 

Normal skin is well balanced: neither too oily nor too dry.

Dry skin
‘Dry’ is used to describe a skin type that produces less sebum than normal skin. As a result of the lack of sebum, dry skin lacks the lipids that it needs to retain moisture and build a protective shield against external influences.

Dry skin can feel tight and rough and look dull.

Oily skin
‘Oily’ is used to describe a skin type with heightened sebum production. This over production is known as sebaceous.

Oily skin has a glossy shine and visible pores.

Combination skin
'Combination' skin is, as the name suggests, skin that consists of a mix of skin types.

Skin types vary between the T-zone and the cheeks on combination skin