Your skin type is your skin’s set of unique characteristics, and it’s useful information when you’re searching for the most suitable skin-care products — especially since the wrong products can make skin concerns worse. Skin type is also used by dermatologists when they’re making treatment decisions.
Your skin type is based on factors like moisture level, oiliness, and sensitivity. It’s often determined by genetics but can change with age, health conditions, nutrient deficiencies, and more.
In general, there are five main skin types, per the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD):
Normal
Oily
Dry
Combination
Sensitive
There is some debate about whether sensitive skin is a skin type. People with sensitive skin may experience stinging, burning, pain, itching, or tingling when exposed to a normally harmless stimulus.
Some board-certified dermatologists, like Corey L. Hartman, MD, the founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama, says that sensitive skin is a quality that can be seen in normal, oily, dry, or combination skin. For that reason, he says that there are four main skin types.
Some dermatologists and beauty experts have their own systems that include more than five skin types. For example, Renée Rouleau, an aesthetician (a skin-care professional who provides treatments like facials) based in Austin, Texas, says there are nine.
Leslie Baumann, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, says there are 16.
These more detailed systems allow for combinations of skin qualities, which allows you to identify more specific skin needs and concerns. For example, the Baumann Skin Type System is based on four parameters: hydration, sensitivity, pigmentation, and elasticity.
People can have a skin type of any combination of these parameters, bringing the total to 16 possible skin types. The overarching goal is for clinicians to be able to make more customized product recommendations.
There isn’t an official number of skin types, because different classification systems use different skin parameters. Some systems are more generalized, while others — like Dr. Baumann’s — are more detailed.
Here, we’ll focus on the five skin types outlined by the AAD. It’s a great start in learning more about your skin.
If You Have Normal Skin …
Normal skin tends to be balanced — neither oily nor dry. At its healthiest, normal skin is smooth, radiant, and hydrated, with no inflammation, says Baumann.
To care for normal skin, start with the basics:
Wash twice daily with a gentle cleanser
Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen in the morning
Moisturize at night
Those with normal skin can apply just about any product or ingredient without developing issues, Hartman says.
That may not be all you need, depending on your life stage or skin concern like discolorations or fine lines and wrinkles. You might choose additional products to brighten or stimulate the production of collagen (a type of protein) to address lines.
If You Have Dry Skin …
Skin becomes dry when it loses water faster than it gets replaced. This causes skin to appear dull and feel tight, flaky, and rough, Hartman says. If the skin loses too much moisture, it may crack, itch, burn, or sting.
Environment:Deodorant soaps and harsh cleaning products strip moisturizing oils and fats from the skin. Cold, dry climates or a job that requires frequent handwashing or harsh chemicals (such as nursing, cooking, and housekeeping) also makes the skin prone to dryness.
Medications:Dry skin is a potential side effect of certain medications, such as statins and diuretics.
Health Conditions:Diabetes, thyroid disease, and kidney disease can cause excessively dry skin. In addition, dry skin is a common symptom of skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, ichthyosis, and seborrheic dermatitis (scalp eczema).
Nutrient Deficiencies:Skin needs vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. If you don’t get the vitamin D, vitamin A, niacin, zinc, or iron your skin needs, it can become dry.
Age:As we get older, our skin makes less sebum (an oil that hydrates and softens skin), with a dramatic drop by the age of 40. Skin that produces less oil is more prone to dryness.
Skin Color:People with brown, black, or fair skin are more likely to have dry skin that those with a medium complexion.
In general, dry skin is best suited to cleansers and moisturizers that include ceramides, the building blocks of the skin barrier, Hartman says. When choosing moisturizers and sunscreens, look for thicker formulas like oils, ointments, and creams.
If over-the-counter (OTC) moisturizers don’t do the trick, see a dermatologist. They may prescribe a moisturizer with stronger active ingredients.
Hartman advises that dry skin types avoid alcohol-based products because they can worsen dryness and lead to irritation, bumps, and redness.
To help your skin heal and prevent it from drying out even more, wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and body wash and use warm but not hot water.
If your dry skin is caused by a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, you’ll need to treat the condition to see improvements. Visit your dermatologist for a targeted treatment plan.
If You Have Oily Skin …
“Oily skin has a shiny appearance, and it can feel greasy, particularly in the oil-rich areas of the face called the T-zone,” Hartman says.
You may also notice that you have larger pores. The more oil in your skin, the larger the openings tend to be, Hartman explains.
In addition, people with oily skin tend to be more prone to acne, as excess oil often contributes to clogged pores.
Genetics and hormones are the likely culprits when oily skin develops.
Those with oily skin should steer clear of oils and emollients (ingredients that form a film over your skin to seal in moisture). Instead, choose products that are gel-based, which provide a lightweight moisture. Some people may find that they don’t need a moisturizer at all.
If you opt for a moisturizer, Baumann recommends one with salicylic acid and retinol. Salicylic acid helps break down pimples and clears debris that can clog pores. Retinol is a form of vitamin A that boosts cell turnover to help keep skin clear.
Wash your skin with a gentle face wash twice daily and after sweating. Steer clear of harsh scrubs or alcohol-based cleansers, which can trigger your skin to ramp up oil production.
If You Have Combination Skin …
Combination skin is both dry and oily. You may notice that your skin is most oily in the T-zone because these areas have more oil glands, whereas your cheeks or jawline may be on the drier side, says Hartman. This can sometimes result in acne in the T-zone, though the location of blemishes and breakouts is individual.
To best treat combination skin, use products that target different areas of your face instead of smoothing products all over. For example, use products that are suitable for dry skin in the dry sections of your face and products designed for oily skin on the T-zone.
For some people, that may include skipping moisturizer on oily areas of the face, such as the nose.
Moisturizers with ceramides are best for drier areas of the face, while products that contain salicylic acid or retinols are ideal for oily spots.
If You Have Sensitive Skin …
Sensitive skin is prone to irritation, redness, stinging, burning, and itching when exposed to stimuli that normally shouldn’t trigger a reaction.
Some people have sensitive skin because of genetic differences in the skin barrier (the outer layer of the skin that protects the delicate skin inner layers from harmful bacteria and chemicals).
People with sensitive skin have a weakened skin barrier, which allows moisture to escape and allergens to enter into skin, making it more prone to reactions.
You’re more likely to have sensitive skin if you have certain skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, and rosacea.
You can also develop sensitive skin from skin-care products that cause irritation (such as retinols or retinoids) or allergic reactions, which temporarily weaken the skin barrier.
People with sensitive skin should opt for fragrance-free skin-care products. Some ingredients in products designed to address the signs of aging, such as retinoids or retinols, may cause irritation for sensitive skin.
A dermatologist can help you choose products that align with these skin goals and provide advice on how best to apply them to minimize potential irritation.
Thicker moisturizers like creams and ointments seal in moisture. If you have sensitive skin due to a skin condition like eczema, look for ingredients in moisturizers like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, oats, or shea butter.
People with sensitive skin also benefit from doing a patch test before using any new skin-care products. To do a skin patch test, apply a small amount of a new product to the inside of your arm daily for a week. Watch for potential skin reactions, such as redness or itching.
If your skin sensitivity is caused by a skin condition like rosacea, consult a board-certified dermatologist for advice on caring for your skin.
