Skin Types and Care

Beautiful skin = loads of compliments = heads turning around!

Every individual has his/her own skin type. It depends on genetic, environmental and hereditary factors. Diet plays and important role. Occupation affects the type of skin too. For example a journalist who stays outdoors most of the time have to face the harsh sun and hence would require more of sun screen based moisturizer and a good cleanser.

Similarly a person sitting in an air-conditioned office may develop dry skin as cool air causes depletion of moisture from the skin thus making it tight and stretched. In this case a good creamy moisturizer and a cold cream at night is a must to maintain the glow.

SKIN TYPES

It is important to find your own skin type so that you can select the right products to be used on your skin.

There are four categories of skin: Normal, dry, oily, combination (dry and oily) and "T-Zone".

1. Normal Skin: This type of skin is smooth in texture, elastic and supple with balanced proportion of oil and water. This type of skin is translucent and glows! It has tiny pores. Normal skin needs good care to maintain its velvety touch and glow.

Skin care recommended: Use a face scrub, which will remove any dead cells developed, then use a mild face wash to maintain the oil and water balance. A toner should be used followed by a mild moisturizer, which includes UVA/UVB sunscreen and antioxidant protection.

2. Dry Skin: This skin feels tight and stretched after a wash. It is flaky and develops wrinkles and lines at an early stage. Dry skin has less amount of moisture and sebum.

Skin care recommended: It needs a good moisturizer in the daytime and a good night cream as well. Night cream is very important as the skin is relaxed and rejuvenates faster than in daytime.

3. Oily Skin: This type of skin is greasy and prone to pimples, black heads, and white heads as it gathers dry dirt from the surrounding environment. Sebaceous glands secrete more sebum than required hence making the skin oily. This skin looks younger when you get old as it retains the moisture which otherwise gets depleted with age.

Skin care recommended: Oily skin requires thorough cleansing very regularly to remove the dirt, which stick to the oily surface. Use a gentle foam face wash that removes excess dirt. Next step is to use an astringent and then a very light moisturizer. At night wash your face again with an astringent followed by minimum quantity of light moisturizer.

Combination for dry and oily skin type with a "T-Zone": As the name suggests this type of skin is a combination of dry patches and oily patches. Forehead, chin and nose are oily whereas the rest of the area feels dry. Oily patches develop black heads, white heads and spots.

Skin care recommended: Use a strong astringent on oily areas. Use a mild moisturizer concentrating more on dry patches. At night apply moisturizer on dry areas.

Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin feels irritable, scratchy, itchy and forms redness when exposed to harsh environmental conditions like temperature above 28 degree Celsius or temperature below 10 degree Celsius.

Skin care recommended: Avoid using soaps or face wash. Stay away from strong chemical products as they might cause irritation. Wash your face with plenty of fresh water. Use a mild moisturizer, a sunscreen lotion and a good cold cream at night.