The 4 Main Skin Types

  1. Oily

  2. Dry

  3. Combination

  4. Sensitive

Oily

Oily skin is characterized by overactive sebaceous glands that produce excess sebum, which results in the shiny complexion that is associated with having oily skin. The excess oil on the skin creates an ideal environment for acne causing bacteria to thrive, causing dead skin cells to be trapped within pores, leading to frequent breakouts.

For oily skin types, lightweight, oil free, noncomedogenic are the best to use to avoid adding more oil to already congested skin. Here is a list of some products that work best for clearing up oily skin.

Salicylic acid: is oil-soluble which allows it to penetrate deep into pores to dissolve excess sebum, clear out blockages and reduce redness.

Glycolic acid: helps exfoliate the surface of the skin to prevent dead cell buildup.

Niacinamide: helps regulate oil production.

Benzoyl peroxide: helps kill acne causing bacteria, but can cause over-drying if used too much.

Dry

Dry skin is characterized by underactive sebaceous glands that produce an insufficient amount of sebum, which results in a rough and flaky complexion with less visible pores and a tendency to cause irritation and sensitivity. The lack of moisture on the skin can cause it to be more prone to inflammation and irritation from acne treatments. For dry skin types, hydrating, gentle, and barrier repairing products work the best to maintain moisture while treating acne without causing dryness or flaking.

Here are some products that work best for dry skin.

Lactic acid: a gentle alpha-hydroxy acid that exfoliates while also moisturizing the skin.

Mandelic acid: offers milder exfoliation with larger molecules that work slower and more gently.

Hyaluronic acid: helps draw water into the skin, and works well when paired with a gentle benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid.

Combination

Combination skin is characterized by having both oily and dry areas on the face, typically with an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) with areas such as the cheeks remaining dry. This can make trying to adhere to both skin types quite a challenge. This skin type can experience breakouts in the oily zones due to the excess production of sebum, while the dry areas might feel tight and flakey. For combination skin types a multi-targeted approach is essential. This might entail using different products on different areas of the skin or choosing products that are versatile and can address both oily and dry skin types.

Salicylic acid: works well for targeting oily, acne prone zones by penetrating pores and controlling oil.

Lactic acid & Polyglutamic acid: can hydrate drier areas.

Niacinamide: regulates oil production while strengthening the skin barrier.

Sensitive

Sensitive skin is characterized by a weakened or easily disrupted skin barrier that reacts to certain products, environmental factors and stress with redness, stinging, burning, itching or irritation. Traditional acne products contain harsh or irritating ingredients that can trigger flare-ups inflammation or even conditions such as rosacea or eczema. For sensitive skin types, gentle, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic products with minimal ingredients work best to treat acne without triggering skin irritation.

Azelaic acid: this acid is well suited for sensitive skin because its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial white also being gentle on the skin.

Mandelic acid: offers mild exfoliation with larger molecules that work slowly and causes less irritation.

Niacinamide: can help to calm irritation.

An important note is to introduce new skin products slowly and to patch test before fully committing to a product.