by Vanessa Anne

Created on: May 24, 2009   Last Updated: May 25, 2009

Skin types are classified under four headings:

Dry skin Dehydrated skin Oily skin Acne skin

DRY SKIN

Symptoms of a dry skin include tautness, very fine wrinkles, itchy patches of skin, very fine skin texture, usually no enlarged pores due to reduced oil secretion, skin becomes red and irritated very easily, skin is thin and sensitive, prone to allergies, broken capillaries (little red veins) tend to appear at an early age, natural oil secretion is minimal. In severe cases skin may even appear flaky and scaly.

Possible causes:

Hormonal imbalance; Incorrect diet; Climate; Incorrect skincare products and Thyroid disorders.

DEHYDRATED SKIN

Symptoms of a dehydrated skin include excess oil production throughout the day; usually two to three hours after cleansing. This occurs due to the fact that the skin is in need of water and will then compensate by producing excess oil. Skin consists of 70% water, should the skin dehydrate, it will appear sallow, dull and oily. Texture tends to be coarse and skin is rather thick with deep wrinkles and has a rubbery feel to it.

Possible causes:

Lack of sufficient water intake; Incorrect skincare products; Excessive sun exposure; Air conditioned environment; Incorrect diet and Extreme weather conditions.

OILY SKIN

Oily skin tends to have an uneven skin colour; blotchy appearance; enlarged pores due to excess oil secretion; rubbery, shiny or thick appearance; unhealthy colour and a tendency to towards blackheads and pimples. These skins are often dehydrated, which is one of the main causes of oily skin. Skin will produce excess oil to compensate for lack oil water.

Possible causes:

Lack of sufficient water intake; Incorrect skincare products; Incorrect diet; Hormonal imbalance and Extreme weather conditions.

ACNE SKIN

The skin is oily, enlarged pores, blotchy, uneven skin texture and colour, pimples, pustules, blackheads and difficulty in healing. Excessive oil production is seen, combined with blackheads, pimples and pustules.

Acne Vulgaris: The most common form of acne; usually affects people from puberty to young adulthood. The condition can be recognised by exacerbated amounts of pustules and pimples, constant out-break of slow healing pustules and a very red or purple hue to the skin.

Acne Rosacea: A skin disease of adults (more often women) in which blood vessels of the face enlarge resulting in a flushed appearance. Acne Rosacea will occur at a more mature age; usually around the ages of 30 to 50. The appearance of the skin is red, inflamed, can be painful and itchy; especially around the cheek areas.

Causes of acne:

Acid imbalance in the body; Hormonal imbalance; Colon disorders; Incorrect diet; Incorrect skincare products; Lack of sufficient water intake; Use of certain medications and Smoking and illegal drugs.

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