Understanding The 5 Basic Skin Types and Common Skin Problems

The skin is our largest vital organ and our first line of defense against bacterial and viral invasion. That’s the reason why we should know our skin types. The skin is made up of 3 main layers. The outer layer, called the epidermis, is as thin as a strand of hair. It consists of a protective layer of skin cells that continually shed and give way to new cells. Below the epidermis lies the dermis and hypodermis; two layers that produce oil, collagen, and elastin that give your skin support, elasticity, and shine. As you grow older, your skin starts to change. Factors including heredity, pollution, environment, medications, and stress all play a part in how your skin will appear, and how you look. A vibrant, healthy glow makes you look younger and more radiant, while a dull, dry, and flaky complexion adds years to your face. It is important to understand the different types of skin before treating it. There are 5 basic skin types: normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive.

1- Normal Skin

Look at any child below 8 and you can see the goal of every skin treatment system. The texture of the skin is soft, smooth and firm. Blemishes and other forms of hyperpigmentation are uncommon. Normal skin type has pores small to medium in size. The skin has an even tone all around and is of medium thickness.

2- Oily Skin

The basic characteristics of oily skin type are its shiny glossy appearance. It is common among adolescents and teenagers when hormonal activities are higher, and there is an increase in oil production.
The T-zone is the area where oil glands are more active than the other areas. Pores are medium to large in size and are substantially more susceptible to dirt and grime, resulting in clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, and blemishes.

3- Dry Skin

When the dermis does not secrete enough oil or sebum, the result is a rough, flaky or chapped appearance. The skin color is dull and it gets easily irritated or itchy. Dry skin type happens due to excessive exposure to the sun, sea, air, wind or pollutants, and moisture content or water is not sufficiently produced to keep the skin supple and moist.
It is also caused by improper skin-care habits such as using soap as a cleanser or not using a moisturizer for protection. Most importantly, as skin ages, it loses its natural ability to replenish moisture lost throughout the day. Tightness, itchiness, soreness and chapping of the skin are the usual symptoms of dry skin.

4- Combination Skin

Those with skin with 2 or more skin types on different parts of the skin are deemed to have combination skin. The most common combination skin is oily in certain parts of the face and then normal or dry in the other areas. Usually, the areas like the forehead, nose and chin (T-Zone) are oily and the cheeks and the eye contour areas are normal or dry.
This is the most common type of combination skin. Other combination skin types include dry cheeks or forehead and normal everywhere else or the other way around.

5- Sensitive Skin

Those with sensitive skin will realize their skin will itch, irritate and have other kinds of allergic reactions when they use certain skin care products. This type of skin usually overreacts to external factors like the weather, environment, skincare habits, and certain cosmetic range.

Common Skin Problems

Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Collagen, which makes up to 75% of the skin, works in tandem with elastin to keep the skin firm yet elastic, sort of like a connectivity tissue. Fine lines & wrinkles start to appear when collagen4 and elastin start to break down. As these supporting fibers start to diminish, so do the firmness and elasticity of the skin. The sun and the natural aging process also cause the skin to age, resulting in fine lines and wrinkles.

Enlarged Pores

Throughout the day, dirt and grime build up in the small crevices in our skin called pores. This debris can be in the form of sebum, makeup, airborne pollutants, or naturally shed skin cells. As the build-up increases in the area around the hair follicle, (simple terms: the tunnel leading down from the pore) this debris presses against the walls of the pores, causing them to enlarge. Many types of cleansers and toners work to remove the surface particles, but there is still debris at the root of our pores. This hidden debris if not removed, will still enlarge our pores.
Pores may become more obvious due to poor skin care and poor exfoliation. The hidden debris collects around the edges of the pores, creating the illusion of the pores being larger than what they seem.

Acne

Acne is a skin condition caused by the over-activity of the glands that secrete sebum on to the skin. When there is an increase of sebum, the area around the hair follicles gets clogged up.
The bacterium, called Propionibacterium acnes, that normally lives on the skin, thrives within the blocked pores. This infection causes inflammation of the skin, which is responsible for the redness and swelling of a spot resulting in Acne.

Blackheads/Whiteheads

Blackheads and Whiteheads are known as comedones, which are usually found on the face, upper neck, and chest area. Blackheads are also known as open comedones go together with open pores.
The debris that is stuck (called plugs) inside undergoes a process that results in the oxidation of melanin. Contact with air allows oxygenation to take place, turning the plugs black, further heightening visibility
Whiteheads also known as closed comedones, are pores filled with the same debris, only that the pore is not enlarged. Since the air cannot reach the debris, there is no oxidation but rather a small bump in the skin.

Hyperpigmentation/Skin Discoloration/Age

Hyperpigmentation happens when there is an overproduction or uneven production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment produced by the basal cells of the dermis called melanocytes. These cells coexist with other cells called keratinocytes, which are the dead cells forming the stratum cornium or epidermis (top layer of the skin).
Together they form a melanin unit. There are two types of melanin. One causes brown-black pigmentation, while the other causes red-yellow pigmentation.
“Many factors can cause over or uneven production of melanin. These include birth control pills, pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, sun exposure, drugs containing phototoxic agents, abrasions or acne.”
There are different types of Hyper-Pigmentation: Freckles are pigmented brown spots; melasma is an acquired irregular brown to grayish brown hyperpigmentation mainly on the face and occasionally on the neck.

Dull/Saggy Skin

As we age, our skin’s collagen slowly breaks down due to free radicals in our body wreaking havoc.
Our skin will start experiencing dehydration, uneven skin tone, and dull saggy skin after being exposed to these harmful radicals. Diminished amounts of collagen make the skin less elastic thus giving it a very saggy appearance.

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Reference: “Learn about the different types of skin”. Available at : https://www.almirall.com/your-health/your-skin/types-of-skin