What's the skinny on skin types?

Skin type is determined by genetics and ethnicity. The amount of oil secretion in the skin is a key factor for defining a skin type. The cosmetic giant Helena Rubenstein was the first to divide skin into four categories: Normal, Combination, Dry and Sensitive.

The distinction regarding skin type is whether or not you have excessive oil production. This factor determines if you can use products that contain oil. Today, licensed estheticians and skin therapists work with these five skin types:

• Dry skin: Feels dry and tight, has a dull color, small tight pores, texture can be rough, spots of flakes, and prone to wrinkles. This skin type does not produce enough oil.

• Normal skin: Feels soft, moist, and plump. Free of blemishes, normal pore size, and has a healthy color. Little or no wrinkles or fine lines. This skin type has a good oil balance.

• Combination skin: Feels a little dryer or oilier a short time after cleansing. Forehead, nose and chin, (T zone area) is oilier with larger pores in this area. The outer areas of the face can be dry. This skin type has oily and dry areas at the same time.

• Oily skin: Feels greasy, looks shiny, and pore size is larger over most of face. Skin texture is course with comedones and possible breakouts. Little wrinkling is present. This skin type has excessive oil production.

• Sensitive skin: Feels delicate, thin, and blood capillaries can be visible. Erythema (redness) is present. Vulnerable to skin reactions. Easily irritated through friction, or heat. This skin type has areas of dry or areas of balanced oil production.

The advanced field of dermatology has emerged with a broader range of skin differences. Dr. Leslie Baumann, author of The Skin Type Solution, and Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at the Miller School of Medicine identified sixteen skin types, http://www.drbaumann.com/. The Baumann Skin Typing System (BSTS) measures four factors for typing your skin:

• oily vs. dry
• sensitive vs. resistant
• pigmented vs. non-pigmented, and
• wrinkled vs. tight.

BSTS reports four very different subtypes of sensitive skin:

1. Acne subtype: develops acne, blackheads, or whiteheads
2. Rosacea subtype: develops recurring flushing, facial redness, and hot sensation
3. Stinging subtype: develops stinging or burning of skin
4. Allergic subtype: develops redness, itching, and flaking of skin.

Dr. Wendy Roberts, a specialist in cosmetic dermatology and the needs of ethnic skin, is founder of Desert Dermatology Skin Institute and pioneered the Roberts Skin Type Classification System (RSTCS) http://www.wendyrobertsmd.com/. The RSTCS identifies skin type characteristics and provides data to predict the skin’s likely response to insult, injury, and inflammation for individuals of global skin types.

Having knowledge and information about your skin type empowers you to know how to care for your skin, by using skin care products that are most beneficial for your skin type.