Skin Types
What are the different skin types?
Skin care routines do not need to be overly complicated, but they do need to be tailored to your skin type, and your skin type is determined by your genetics. To make building a routine as easy as possible, we can break skin down into 6 main groups:
Oily/ Acne Prone
Dry
Normal
Combination
Sensitive
Mature
Each group has its own set of traits which can help you to decide which category your skin falls into. It is likely that you are a combination of more than just one skin type
Although you can't change your type, skin becomes drier as we age and is also affected by other factors such as climate, lifestyle, your diet, seasonal changes and hormones.
How to find out your skin type?
Your skin type is mostly determined by genetics, but you can get a good idea at home with a simple cleanse-and-wait test. Start with a gentle cleanser, pat your face dry and leave your skin completely bare (no moisturiser, no serum) for about 30–60 minutes.
Then look and feel:
if your skin feels tight or looks flaky, you’re likely dry;
if it looks shiny mainly on your nose and forehead, you’re probably combination;
if it’s shiny all over and you’re prone to congestion, that suggests oily.
If it feels comfortable, with no obvious shine or tightness, you may be normal.
It’s also important to notice how reactive your skin is. If you often sting, flush, or go red easily (especially with new products, heat, or spicy food), your skin may be sensitive or rosacea-prone, which is less about oiliness and more about how your skin barrier and blood vessels behave. If you’re unsure, or your skin seems to change with seasons, hormones or stress, a professional skin consultation can help you understand both your skin type and your current skin condition, so we can tailor treatment and skincare specifically to you.
Oily/ Acne-Prone Skin
Common Traits
Excessive oil production
Shiny sheen across the forehead
Prone to blackheads and acne breakouts
Large, visible pores
Post-blemish hyperpigmentation
Scarring typically from nodules and cysts damaging the nearby skin
Types of`Breakouts
Whiteheads (Closed Comedones)
Comedones are considered non-inflammatory acne lesions and may be open or closed. Closed comedones or whiteheads are small plugged follicles, the contents of which are not exposed to the skin.
Blackheads (Open Comedones)
Open comedones or blackheads are small follicles with dilated openings to the skin allowing oxidation of the debris within the follicle leading to the black color. Though many believe these lesions represent dirt, they cannot be washed away and are not representative of poor hygiene.
Papules
Papules are typically found on the forehead & chin, giving skin a bumpy texture. They are small, red bumps with no visible pus. They can feel tender to the touch.
Pustules
Pustules can looking similar to papules in size and shape. They are filled with white or yellow pus, often having a red base and a white top.
Nodules
Nodules are large, painful, solid lumps beneath the skin. They develop deeper in the skin and can cause scarring.
Cysts
Deep, painful, pus-filled lumps. The most severe type of acne, often leading to long-term scarring.
The Fitzpatrick Scale
This is a scientific classification that identifies six different skin types according to the amount of pigment in the skin and the skin's reaction to sun or ultraviolet light exposure. These skin types are a guideline.
Some people may not fit exactly into one category. For example they might appear fair, but their skin may actually tolerate the sun better than most other fair skinned individuals.
Why is it important to know your skin type and Fitzpatrick type?
Knowing your Fitzpatrick skin type can help you make better decisions about how to look after your skin in the sun. Those with type l to 2 skin have higher chances of developing skin cancer.
Even so, every skin type needs sunscreen protection. Darker skin pigments need to be careful of treatments which may cause hyperpigmentation, such as deep chemical peels, laser treatment and cryotherapy.
Fitzpatrick Type I and II
Those with type I and Il skin have a much higher chances of developing skin cancer with prolonged sun exposure because their skin is more sensitive and less able to protect itself. Individuals with this skin type need to use a dedicated broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 50, every single day.
Whilst types I and Il are more sensitive to sun exposure, all skin types on the Fitzpatrick scale need sunscreen protection, so although Types V and VI never burn and are more resilient, they still need vital sun protection.
Fitzpatrick Type V and VI
Those with type I and Il skin have a much higher chances of developing skin cancer with prolonged sun exposure because their skin is more sensitive and less able to protect itself. Individuals with this skin type need to use a dedicated broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 50, every single day.
Whilst types I and Il are more sensitive to sun exposure, all skin types on the Fitzpatrick scale need sunscreen protection, so although Types V and VI never burn and are more resilient, they still need vital sun protection.