SKIN TYPES
Skin Types and Conditions
Skin can generally be categorized into types: normal, oily, dry, sensitive, mature, and combination skin, determined largely by genetics. However, the skin’s condition can change depending on various internal and external factors.
NORMAL SKIN
Normal skin is balanced, well-hydrated, and well-supplied with blood, giving it a soft, supple texture and a fresh, rosy color. The term “normal” describes a healthy, balanced skin condition, also known as euderma.
Oily skin
Oily skin, also known as seborrhea, often appears thick, with enlarged pores and a shiny surface. This condition is usually due to increased sebum production, which can result from genetic factors, hormonal changes, certain medications, or stress.
Combination skin
Combination skin features mixed characteristics, typically with an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dry or normal skin on the cheeks. The size of the T-zone can vary widely, from a narrow strip to a broader area.
Dry skin
Dry skin, known as sebostasis, is often fine-pored, delicate, and dryer. It produces less sebum than normal skin, leading to a deficiency in lipids that help retain moisture. Additionally, an imbalanced collagen structure can contribute to dryness.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is typically dry, has fine pores, and is prone to redness. It reacts more quickly than normal skin to external factors, often resulting in irritation, itching, rashes, or inflammation.
Mature skin
As we age, skin undergoes changes. Depending on genetics, lifestyle, and external factors, these changes may occur earlier or later. Mature skin becomes more demanding, requiring extra protection and specialized care, and often shows the first signs of lines and wrinkles.
HORMONAL SKIN CHANGES
Changing Skin Types Over Time
Skin type can change over the course of a lifetime. If your skin was oily when you were younger, it may become drier after puberty, pregnancy, or during menopause.
Declining hormone activity in old age (menopause)
From the age of 25, estrogen production decreases continuously, which leads to a significant reduction in the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin cells (fibroblasts) of the dermis, especially after the onset of menopause. Studies have shown that collagen content in the skin is reduced by 30 percent five years after menopause. Without collagen and hyaluronic acid, the dermis can no longer fulfill its function as the skin’s elastic support structure.
