In this blog post, you'll learn everything about different skin types. You've probably heard terms like combination skin, dry skin, or maybe even the T-zone before. But if you don't really know what they mean, you've come to the right place. We'll explain how you can categorize yourself within this framework and which skincare is best suited for you. Read on!
What does “skin types” actually mean?
Did you know that skin is the largest organ of our body? In fact, the cutis, as it is scientifically called, is also considered an organ, in addition to the internal organs. And as is often the case, it varies from person to person and is classified into so-called skin types.
But why do we do that? It's simple: both genetic and environmental, climatic, and other external factors act on the cutis daily. Depending on its nature, these can have different effects.
In this blog post, we will focus primarily on facial skin, as it is even more sensitive than other areas of your body. Nevertheless, we want to briefly draw your attention to another way of classifying this spectacular organ.
This classification is based on how sensitive the cutis is to the sun. In 1975, scientist Thomas Fitzpatrick developed a classification that determines the skin's natural sun protection based on various characteristics. Here's a brief overview of what it entails:
| Type | Skin color | Self-protection time |
| I | very fair | 10 minutes |
| II | fair | 10–20 minutes |
| III | medium fair | 20–30 minutes |
| IV | brownish/olive-colored | 45 minutes |
| V | dark to light brown | 60 minutes |
| VI | dark brown to black | 90 minutes |
Generally, it's good to know your own skin type. This helps you to always be perfectly prepared. Only then can you choose the best sunscreen – we explain exactly how in the linked article.
In short: Depending on your skin type, you need to apply sunscreen at different intervals. If you don't, the risk of sunburn is very high.
4 facial skin types
After this brief introduction, we would now like to delve deeper and examine the face in detail. Your skin type becomes apparent during puberty. Nevertheless, it should be noted that various factors will influence your cutis throughout your life, and therefore your skin's appearance can always vary. We have briefly summarized what these can be for you:
- hormonal changes (birth control pill, menstruation, pregnancy)
- stress
- smoking
- alcohol
- climate (cold, heat, humidity)
- incorrect care
- allergies or illnesses
But now to the specific types. We will now introduce you to the four well-known types – dry, oily, normal, and combination skin – and explain what characterizes them.
Dry skin
Most of us probably know the feeling: winter has arrived, and due to the heating and low humidity, our face becomes increasingly dry and perhaps even itchy in a few places. People with a dry skin type live with this condition all year round. This is because the epidermis produces less sebum.
As a result, important lipids, i.e., certain fats, are not present in the quantity your skin needs. They are actually there to build a natural barrier so that moisture is not lost and environmental influences cannot cause damage. This can cause your epidermis to crack and even hurt. This condition can worsen over time with insufficient care.
By the way: Statistically speaking, more women have dry skin than men. This is because, due to the female sex hormone estrogen, pores are finer and produce less sebum.
In addition, most people's skin becomes increasingly dry over the course of their lives. This applies to all skin types. Generally, it can be said that this type is not only found in the facial area, but also in other areas of the body.
You can find more information in these articles:
Oily skin
The complete opposite of the dry type is oily skin. This term is used for the epidermis that produces more sebum than necessary. This leads to enlarged pores and a tendency towards a shiny complexion.
Furthermore, these people are more prone to acne and blackheads. If this is also the case for you and you want to learn more about covering pimples and co., read on in our articles about skin impurities and oily facial skin!
This might sound a bit intimidating or depressing for anyone who thinks they have this type of skin. But the positive aspect of this type is that your epidermis is particularly robust and resilient. In addition, it is less sensitive to sun exposure than dry skin. Often, not only the face is affected, but also the chest and back – basically, anywhere there are many sebaceous glands.
Combination skin
You're probably guessing it already: This skin type is a combination of dry and oily skin. This is also often where the term T-zone comes into play. This refers to the forehead area as well as around the nose and chin region. This area is primarily characterized by an oily epidermis. In addition, pores can be enlarged here and there may be more skin impurities.
The rest of the face, especially the cheeks, cannot be clearly defined. Some people have no noticeable features here. Others, however, tend to have rather dry epidermis. In general, combination skin is mainly found in younger people, i.e. from teenage years onwards.
Over the course of life, the two skin types gradually equalize. The epidermis itself becomes increasingly drier as less moisture is produced. By the way: With combination skin, not your entire body is affected, but really only your face.
Normal skin
Finally, we come to so-called normal skin. However, this term – we want to say this at this point – should be treated with caution. After all, every skin type is normal and completely natural. However, at some point, it was agreed to define an epidermis that shows no extraordinary characteristics as normal.
This skin type is characterized by a face that is fine-pored, rosy, and smooth. It is neither greasy nor tight from dry patches. This form is primarily observed in children.
However, adults can also exhibit this type. This is rather rare, as most people belong to the first three types due to various factors (stress, hormone balance, or genetics). Furthermore, it must be said that even the normal type can tend to a certain dryness with age.
Characteristics of your skin type
We have already mentioned some specific characteristics of the different skin types. To help you get a concise overview of all of them, we have created the following table for you.
Nevertheless, if you are unsure, it is best to consult a dermatologist, who can carry out a detailed analysis and better assess what is specifically going on with you. For a first overview, you can check your skin using the following characteristics:
| 4 Skin Types | Characteristics |
| Dry |
|
| Oily |
|
| Combination |
|
| Normal |
|
Which skincare suits your skin type
Have you already figured out which of the 4 skin types you have? Perfect. Then all that's left is for you to find the right skincare. For normal skin, it couldn't be simpler: all you need here is a mild cleanser to remove environmental dirt or your make-up, and sunscreen. We recommend this for all skin types, by the way.
For dry skin, on the other hand, you primarily need very rich products that provide you with moisture. You should also make sure to use very mild and, ideally, unscented cosmetics. This minimizes the risk of irritating your skin.
With oily skin, the opposite is true. It's best to use light creams that are not too rich or even re-oiling. Additionally, for cleansing, you should, for example, use facial toners or toners that help to refine enlarged pores and regenerate your skin.
If you have combination skin, you've probably already realized that the best cleansing and care consists of two parts. This is because the heavily oily part requires a different treatment than the rest of your face. For example, only dab your T-zone with toner that soothes your skin.
For the rest, you should use a moisturizing cream. Are you looking for the perfect cosmetic products now? Then we have a variety of options in our online shop that are exactly right for your type!
You now have a clear overview of the four main skin types – dry, oily, combination, and normal skin – and their specific requirements. Depending on this, you can now specifically choose the right products to optimally care for and protect your skin. Remember, if you are unsure, consult a doctor to perfectly tailor your care to your individual needs.
Further links:
www.dr-loentz.de/hautarzt-bad-schwartau-hauttypen-und-ihre-pflege
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauttyp
www.apotheken-umschau.de/.../pflege-was-braucht-ihr-hauttyp
