Skin conditions have three main categories. The conditions are named 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

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. 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. 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

Oily skin is caused by an excessive amount of oil, also known as sebum, that is produced by the sebaceous glands. These glands are most found in the neck, face, chest and back regions. 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 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. How to do this is through gentle cleansing. It is best to avoid soap as it is prone to stripping the skin of its 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 main skin condition is called combination skin. As the name proclaims, this condition affects people who have a mixture of dry and oily skin on different parts of their body. Mainly this condition causes oily areas to be found along what's called the T-zone. This zone covers the forehead running down through the nose, mouth, and chin. These areas are most likely going to end up with characteristics of being shiny, feeling greasy, and consisting of pimples and blackheads. The remaining parts of your skin are known to have a feeling of tightness after washing. They will appear flaky and have a rough texture.

How then to treat correctly this tricky skin condition? For starters wash your face with a gentle, water-soluble cleanser that doesn't leave your skin feeling tight or dry. Mildly foaming or gel-based cleansers have been known to work the best for combination skin. Avoid bar soaps at all costs. They clog pores and overly dry the skin. One should apply a sunscreen that has UVA-protecting ingredients on a daily basis. Using a skin treatment product like a moisturizer loaded with antioxidants and containing ingredients that resemble the structure of healthy skin is the advised route to eliminate the dry sections. Oily skin products that are irritant-free and are pH-correct are best 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.