Understanding the key differences between skin types vs skin conditions. Take a peek:

Choosing the right skincare products is vital to achieving a healthy and glowing skin. When choosing products for your skin, you need to buy products that cater specifically to your skin type as well as your skin condition. For this, you need to understand the difference between skin types vs skin conditions.

SKIN TYPES VS SKIN CONDITIONS

Everyone has a skin type. Not everyone is aware of their skin type but it will usually fall under any one of these types: normal, dry, oily, and combination skin.

Now, anyone with the above skin types can suffer from some skin conditions at one time or the other. Skin conditions could vary from aging skin to sensitive skin, acne and breakouts, pigmentation, and blemishes. Thes what we know as skin conditions.

Now let’s learn more about and compare the different skin types vs skin conditions.

THE SKIN TYPES

Normal Skin

Normal skin is considered to be the healthy, well-balanced skin type. The skin is neither too oily nor too dry as the sebum and moisture level of the skin are well-balanced. Normal skin can be easily identified by its fine pores, soft and velvety texture, and blemish-free skin. It is not prone to sensitivity but can become drier with age if not properly taken care of.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is a genetic skin type, which means you are born with it. People with this skin type can use heavy emollient moisturizers or facial oils to compensate for the lack of oil in the skin. When buying skincare products for dry skin, look for ingredients like shea butter, ceramides, and plant oils, etc.

Oily Skin

Oily skin type produces a high level of sebum, giving rise to an increase in acne breakouts and blemishes. Different causes can trigger the overproduction of sebum like genes, hormonal imbalances, and stress factors. Oily skin is also prone to blackheads and whiteheads and is often characterized by visibly enlarged pores, shiny and thicker skin.

Combination Skin

Combination skin is as its name suggests, a combination of oily and dry skin types. People with this skin type have an oily T-zone (forehead, chin, and nose) and normal to dry skin on the cheeks area. The T-zone will usually have visibly enlarged pores. The T-zone is oily due to the overproduction of sebum and the dry cheeks are a result of lack of sebum and moisture.

THE SKIN CONDITIONS

Aging skin

No matter what skin type you have, all the skin types will come to age at one time or the other. As we age, skin loses its volume and elasticity, giving way to fine lines and wrinkles. Though we cannot halt the aging process, we can slow down its progression by reducing the skin’s exposure to the sun and preventing free radicals that bring on aging skin.

Sensitive Skin

Skin that is easily irritated is referred to as sensitive skin. They are less tolerant to harsh skin products and extreme temperatures. Damage in the natural skin barrier causes skin sensitivity, resulting in loss of moisture and creating an easy pathway for the irritants to penetrate.

Pigmentation

Pigmentation is an obvious sign of sun damage that is often difficult to treat. Overexposure to the Sun’s UV rays is what causes it. The best way to prevent pigmentation is to use an effective daily sunscreen and re-apply it every two to three hours.

Dehydration

Dehydrated skin is a skin condition that anyone can have. There are a number of causes for this condition. Sun damage, over-exfoliation, or overuse of harsh irritating products that can damage the skin barrier are usually the causes . If you are experiencing dryness with breakouts, it may be a sign of dehydrated skin. Using hydrating water-based and gentle pH balancing products can restore the dehydrated skin.

SKIN TYPES vs SKIN CONDITIONS: EVALUATING THE DIFFERENCE

Everyone is born with a skin type. In fact, our genes determine our skin type. But not everyone has a skin condition. Skin conditions can affect you at different times depending on some external and internal factors.

External factors include your diet, skincare products, pollution, and harsh climatic conditions. Internal factors include hormonal imbalances, stress, and the aging process.

All these elements can affect the level of sebum, moisture, and sweat that your skin produces, thus altering the condition of your skin.

Understanding your skin type is the first step to a proper skincare routine. Once you pick the right products for your skin type, the next step is to get the products that are targeted for your skin condition.

With the right skincare regime, your skin will be radiant and beautiful once again.

Want to know how to tackle your skin conditions? Go here. To shop for your skin type or concerns, go here.