There are three main categories of 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. This layer consists of a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. The skin being its natural state of soft and supple derives from these substances locking in the moisture and preventing it from escaping. These substances locking in moisture can be removed resulting in dry skin that has symptoms such as fine lines or cracks, a feeling of skin tightness, and a rough rather than a smooth texture. In extreme cases deep fissures may pop out that have the potential to bleed.

The ways to prevent this from happening are shown through these helpful tips. Our best tip is to moisturize daily. After your shower pat yourself without rubbing too hard with the towel. Apply the moisturizer with upward strokes all over your face and neck when your skin is still damp. 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. 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. 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. The right product should be 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

The third type of 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 consists of the forehead running along down 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 other sections of the face are known to have a feeling of tightness after washing your skin. They will look flaky and feel rough.

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 on combination skin. Most importantly avoid bar soaps. They too easily can clog your pores and they dry your skin much more than just a gentle cleanser. One should apply a sunscreen with UVA-protecting ingredients daily. Using a skin treatment product such as a moisturizer full of antioxidants and including ingredients that resemble the function of normal skin is the advised way 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 encouraged to be applied topically if one is prone to blemishes as part of their combination condition.