Understanding Skin Types – What sort of Skin do you have?
Each one of us desires gorgeous skin, but most of us don’t have it. Most of the time, the root cause of ‘bad skin is a lack of proper care. ‘But I do take care of my skin.’ some of you might argue. But do you take care of your skin according to its type? Do you even know what type of skin you have? You can also find out more about Skin Anatomy and Skin Conditions too.
Well, skincare only works if all the products you are using work in accordance with your particular skin type and not against it. Firstly, we have to determine your skin type, and then we’ll guide you through the process of taking care of your skin.
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Four Major Skin Types
There are endless classifications of skin types and colours, but we’ll stick to the main four skin types to keep things simple and understandable.
Normal Skin
First, congratulations as you have won the lottery when we talk about skin type. Normal skin is the one that is neither too oily nor too dry. It hits the perfect balance. You will have very few to no skin imperfections, no visible pores, no sensitivity, and your skin will age beautifully. The chances are that your skin looks radiant at all times. As we said earlier, you are blessed.
Oily Skin
If you always carry blotting sheets and powders in your bag, chances are you have oily skin. Your skin will produce excess oil at all times throughout the year. People with oily skin often struggle with acne, enlarged pores, blackheads, and shiny complexion. Don’t worry as we can keep the oiliness in check by using the right products. 
Dry Skin
As evident from the name, dry skin produces less oil and lacks radiance and vitality. If your skin feels tighter after washing your face and you feel a constant urge to moisturize, chances are you have dry skin. Prominent lines, premature ageing, redness, rough skin patches and lack of elasticity are issues people with dry skin deal with.
Combination Skin
You have got the best and worst of both worlds. If you have combination skin, your skin will appear oily in the T zone and dry on the cheeks. Enlarged pores, mild acne, blackheads and shiny t-zone are some of the most common issues people with combination skin deal with. Caring for combination skin is slightly different as you might have to use different products for different skin areas.
The Fitzpatrick Scale – Another Way to Classify Your Skin
The Fitzpatrick scale classifies the skin by its reaction to sunlight.
How does It Work?
The Fitzpatrick skin type, also known as phototype, is based on the skin’s melanin pigment. The melanin pigment determines what colour skin we have; white, brown, black etc. As a result of this pigment, all the phototypes react differently to sun exposure. This constitutional characteristic that we all have by the time we are born is the bases of this scale.
Fitzpatrick Skin Types
As per Fitzpatrick Sale, there are a total of skin types/phototypes. Let’s look at the characteristics of each:
Type 1
- Skin: Pale skin, typically describes as ivory
- Eyes: Light coloured eyes; green, blue and grey
- Hair: Hair colour is typically red or light blonde
- Reaction to the Sun: People with type 1 skin never have a tan. Their skin usually formes freckles when exposed to sun. In the case of excessive sun exposure, the skin will burn and peel.
Type 2
- Skin: Pale skin, typically classified as white
- Eyes: Dark Coloured Eyes; green, blue and grey
- Hair: Hair colour is typically blond
- Reaction to the sun: People with type 2 skin tan very rarely. They typically develop freckles when exposed to the sun. In case of excessive sun exposure, skin burns and peels.
Type 3
- Skin: People with type 3 skin generally have golden undertones and have light to beige complexion
- Eyes: Eye colour can either be light brown or hazel
- Hair: Hair colour typically ranges from dark blond to lighter shades of brown
- Reaction to the Sun: This skin type is prone to tanning and burning and might also develop freckles.
Type 4
- Skin: People with type 4 phototype have olive or light brown skin.
- Eyes: Medium to dark brown eyes
- Hair: Medium to dark brown hair
- Reaction to the Sun: People with type 4 skin will become tan with sun exposure. In some cases, the skin might burn as well.
Type 5
- Skin: Dark brown skin
- Eyes: Eye colour varies from dark brown to black
- Hair: Hair colour varies from dark brown to black
- Reaction to the Sun: This skin type never really freckles and tans very easily. It most likely will not experience skin burns.
Type 6
- Skin: People with Type six skin have deeply pigmented dark skin tones; dark brown to black
- Eyes: brownish-black eyes
- Hair: Hair colour is black to jet black
- Reaction to the Sun: People with this skin type never burns and tans darkly
Based on the description of all these six skin types, you can easily determine which skin type you are as per the Fitzpatrick scale.
How to Find Your Skin Type?
Well, go through our descriptions of various skin types, and you will easily tell which skin type you have. If you still find it confusing, you can always go ahead and visit a dermal clinician or dermatologist and get the exact answer. Remember, the key to good skin is the right skincare routine. And the right skincare routine can only be determined when you know your skin type for sure.
Skin Care for Different Skin Types
Normal Skin Type
You are lucky to be blessed with great skin. However, it doesn’t mean that you take it for granted and do not care for it. Sticking with the basics will do the job for you. Cleansing, toning and moisturizing your skin twice a day will work wonders. Use an eye cream. Don’t forget to top it off with sunscreen in the morning. Exfoliate it once a week.
Dry Skin Type
Your skin is dryer than usual. Get your hands on intensely moisturizing products. Don’t use any products which are excessively drying. Use a moisturizing face wash, a high-quality hydrating toner and an intensely hydrating moisturizer. Don’t forget to use mists throughout the day and apply sunscreen regularly. Make sure to use a mild exfoliator once a week. Start your anti-ageing routine early on, as dry skin is more prone to premature ageing. Please do not overdo it. While we are at it, do not forget to hydrate your skin internally, drink loads of water and consume plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Oily Skin Type
First things first, don’t wash your skin ten times a day. It might seem counterintuitive, but over-washing your face will result in more oil production. Wash it twice a day with a mild face wash. Use a toner to balance the pH levels of your skin. Get your hands on a good quality water-based moisturizer. You need to moisturizer your skin even if it’s oily. Just choose a product that is meant for people with oily skin. Use spot treatments for the areas with acne. Getting facials done by a dermatologist is also a great way to get rid of skin congestion. Use an oil-free sunscreen every day.
Combination Skin
You have the best and worst of both worlds. As you have an oily t-zone, I would recommend staying clear of any rich cream-based products. Go for light face washes and toners. You can use two moisturizers. Apply a thick moisturizer to your cheek area if it’s excessively dry and a gel moisturizer on your t-zone. The same is the case with masks; a hydrating mask is great for the cheeks, while a clarifying mask will work wonders for your t-zone. Make sure to wear oil-free sunscreen at all times during the day.
Skin Types FAQS – Frequently Asked Questions about Skin Types
What are the four types of skin?
- The four main types of skin are; oily, normal, dry, and combination.
What are the six skin types?
- As per the Fitzpatrick scale, there are major skin types. These skin types are based on the sensitivity to sun exposure and natural melanin production of your bodies.
- How can I identify my skin type?
- If your skin feels dry after washing your face and appears tighter all the time, you most likely have dry skin.
- If your face is extremely oily during the summers and somewhat shiny throughout winters, your skin is oily.
- If your forehead, nose, and chin area is oily, but your cheeks are dry, you have combination skin.
- If your skin is neither too oily nor too dry, you have hit the jackpot and are blessed with normal skin.
- Which skin type is best?
- Normal Skin Type is the best skin type. It looks nearly perfect and is easy to maintain.
What does dry skin look like?
- Dry skin lacks glow and typically appears dull. It might have dry skin patches, prominent fine lines and uneven skin tone. Moreover, the skin is irritated very easily.
What skin colour is the most attractive?
- All skin colours are beautiful in their own way. So, whatever skin colour you have, you are attractive. You just need to learn how to take care of your skin properly.
What is skin type V?
- Here are a few characteristics of people who have type V skin:
- Skin: Dark brown skin
- Eyes: Eye colour varies from dark brown to black
- Hair: Hair colour varies from dark brown to black
- Reaction to the Sun: This skin type never really freckles and tans very easily. It most likely will not experience skin burns.
How do you classify skin colour?
- Skin colour is typically classified by using the Fitzpatrick scale.
What is my skin tone?
- One of the easiest ways to determine skin tone is by checking your veins’ appearance beneath your skin in natural light.
- Blue/Purple Veins: cool skin tone
- Green/Greenish Blue Veins: warm skin tone
- Neither Green nor Blue (you cannot easily tell): neutral skin tone
What is normal to combination skin?
- If the skin on your cheeks is balanced and is not too oily or dry, and you have an extremely oily t-zone, your skin classifies as normal to combination skin.
What is the best cleanser for combination skin?
- Ideally, it would be best to visit a dermatologist to get the best recommendation as per your skin type. Make sure to use something gentle and avoid creamy products.
How do I know if I have sensitive skin?
- Typically, people with sensitive skin have some redness on their face. Red bumps, rashes and flushing typically accompanies it. This skin type gets easily irritated with new skin products.
What is Colour complexion?
- Complexion refers to the colour of a person’s skin. For instance, if you have light skin, your complexion will be referred to as pale or fair.
Can we change your skin type?
- Yes, your skin type can change over time due to environmental factors, age, hormones and other health-related issues.
What does healthy skin look like?
- If you have an overall smooth skin texture, you have healthy skin. Your skin won’t have a lot of problems that people with problematic skin go through.
Is mature skin a skin type?
- Mature skin is not a skin type. It is a skin condition that requires specific care.
Is it better to have oily or dry skin?
- Both have their pros and cons. Typically, oily skin ages better than most skin types. On the other hand, you won’t have acne problems, and large pores of you have a dry skin type.
What is a skin disorder?
- A skin disorder is any skin disease that affects the appearance and function of the skin. It is typically caused by allergies, irritants, genetic makeup, certain diseases, and immune system problems.
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