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Three main categories encompass all the skin conditions. The conditions are named oily, dry, and combination. They all affect us differently and it is best to know how to treat each one.

The Need to Know About Dry Skin

Dry skin is caused by a lack of moisture in the outermost layer of the skin. This layer consists of a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. They prevent moisture from escaping. This in turn leaves the skin soft and supple. When this substance is removed and moisture escapes, common symptoms result in feelings of skin tightness, rough skin, fine lines or cracks, and in extreme cases deep fissures that can bleed.

The ways to prevent this from happening are shown through these helpful tips. First moisturize daily. Without rubbing too hard with your towel, pat yourself dry after showering. With your skin still a little damp, apply the moisturizer in upward strokes across the whole face and neck. We recommend that your baths be short and with water that is lukewarm. As relaxing as they are, long, hot baths remove the skin's natural moisture barriers that are so important in preventing dry skin.

The Need to Know About Oily Skin

What causes oily skin are sebaceous glands producing an excessive amount of skin oils, or sebum. These glands are most found in the neck, face, chest and back regions. These oils under normal levels are essential for healthy skin. It is when they are overproduced we get the oily skin symptoms of shininess, pimples and blemishes.

The right balance in treating oily skin is removing the excess oil while not scrubbing off those fatty acids that are the natural protectors of our skin. In a nutshell this is accomplished through gentle cleansing. It is best to avoid soap as it is prone to stripping the skin of its natural oils. One should use a cleanser that has a low pH level and does not provoke any skin irritation. Overdoing it is not necessary. Two times a day is enough to wash oily skin effectively.

The Need to Know About Combination Skin

Combination skin is the third main skin condition. As the name says, this condition involves a mixture of both oily and dry skin affecting different parts of the body. Generally, the oily parts of the face are found on what is called the T-zone area. This zone covers the forehead running down through the nose, mouth, and chin. The attributes found along this area are overly shiny skin, a greased appearance, and the presence of blackheads and pimples. The remaining sections are characterized by a feeling of tightness after washing. They will look flaky and feel rough.

How to treat this tricky skin condition? The best first step is to wash with a gentle, water-soluble cleanser that leaves your skin without feelings of dryness or tightness. Mildly foaming or gel-based cleansers are known to work best for combination skin. A necessity for proper cleansing of this skin type is to avoid bar soap. They clog pores and overly dry the skin. One should use a sunscreen that has UVA-protecting ingredients daily. Using a skin treatment product like a moisturizer full of antioxidants and including ingredients that resemble the function of healthy skin is the advised route to eliminate the dry sections. Oily skin products that don't cause irritation and are pH-correct are advised to be applied at least once a day. Facial skin products that have benzoyl peroxide are advised to be applied topically if one is prone to blemishes as part of their combination condition.