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There are three main categories of skin conditions. The conditions are named oily, dry, and combination. Each condition will affect us differently and therefore it is wise 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. What consists of this skin layer are natural lipids, or fatty substances. They keep in moisture thereby leaving 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. Our best tip is to moisturize daily. Best to pat yourself lightly when drying off after showering. When the skin is still a little damp, apply the moisturizer all over your neck and face using upward strokes. It is important to note that the body's natural moisture barriers are maintained when your baths are short and lukewarm. Long and hot baths remove these essential barriers that let out this essential moisture.

The Need to Know About Oily Skin

What causes oily skin are sebaceous glands producing an excessive amount of skin oils, or sebum. The most plentiful amount of these glands are found in the neck, face, back and chest regions of the body. These oils are necessary for a healthy skin texture. When they are overproduced however, the oily skin symptoms of shininess, blemishes and pimples show up on the body.

The best way to treat oily skin is to be able to remove the excess oil while leaving intact those fatty acids that help maintain the proper functioning and protection of our skin. This is performed through gentle cleansing. The key here is to avoid soap as it strips away the skin's natural oils. One should use a cleanser that has a low pH level and does not provoke any skin irritation. There is no reason to overdo it. Washing oily skin effectively can be done with just two cleansing sessions a day.

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. What is mainly found along this area is the presence of skin that is overly shiny, a greasy appearance, and the abundance of pimples and/or blackheads. The other sections of the face are known to have a feeling of tightness after washing your skin. They will appear flaky and feel rough.

What is the way 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. Most importantly avoid bar soaps. They clog pores and overly dry the skin. One should use a sunscreen with UVA-protecting ingredients everyday. Using a skin treatment product such as a moisturizer loaded with antioxidants and including ingredients that mimic the structure of normal skin is the recommended way to eliminate the dry sections. Oily skin products that are irritant-free and are pH-correct are advised to be applied at least once a day. Facial skin products that have benzoyl peroxide are encouraged to be applied topically if one gets blemishes as part of their combination condition.