Three main categories encompass all the skin conditions. The conditions are called oily, dry, and combination. The symptoms are different for each condition and it would be best to learn how to treat them separately.

The Need to Know About Dry Skin

The cause of dry skin has to do with a lack of moisture in the outermost layer of one's skin. What consists of this skin layer are natural lipids, or fatty substances. They keep in moisture thereby leaving the skin soft and supple. If these substances are removed, dry skin results with symptoms such as a rough rather than smooth texture, skin tightness, fine lines or cracks, and in extreme cases deep fissures that have the potential to bleed.

The ways to prevent this from happening are shown through these helpful tips. Moisturizing your skin daily is our first and foremost tip. Best to pat yourself lightly when drying off after showering. Apply the moisturizer with upward strokes all over your face and neck when your skin is still damp. It is worth noting that short, lukewarm baths are much better for dry skin than long, hot ones that strip away the body's natural moisture barriers.

The Need to Know About Oily Skin

Sebaceous glands in the skin producing an excessive amount of skin oil, or sebum, are what cause oily skin. The most plentiful amount of these glands are found in the neck, face, back and chest regions of the body. The overproduction of these natural and healthy oils give way to the oily skin symptoms of pimples, shininess and blemishes.

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. In a nutshell this is accomplished through gentle cleansing. What to do here is avoid soap because this is what effectively removes the skin's natural oils. One would be best with a cleanser that has a low pH level and does not cause 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

The third type of skin condition is called combination skin. As the name says, this condition involves a mixture of both oily and dry skin affecting different parts of the body. Usually what is found are oily areas covering what is called the T-zone. This zone consists of the forehead running along down 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 other sections of the face are known to have a feeling of tightness after washing your skin. They will appear flaky and feel rough.

How then to treat correctly this tricky skin condition? To begin with use a gentle, water-soluble cleanser that does not leave you with feelings of skin tightness or dryness. Mildly foaming or gel-based cleansers are known to work the best for combination skin. A necessity for proper cleansing of this skin type is to avoid bar soap. They overly dry your skin while also clogging the skin's pores. One should apply a sunscreen that has UVA-protecting ingredients everyday. Using a skin treatment product such as a moisturizer loaded with antioxidants and including ingredients that resemble the structure of healthy skin is the best route to eliminate the dry sections. Oily skin products that don't cause irritation and are pH-correct are best applied at least once a day. Facial skin products that have benzoyl peroxide are advised to be applied topically if one gets blemishes as part of their combination condition.