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Three main categories encompass all the skin conditions. The conditions are named oily, dry, and combination. They all affect us differently and it is best to know how to treat each one.

The Need to Know About Dry Skin

Dry skin is caused by a lack of moisture in the outermost layer of the skin. This layer consists of a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. They prevent moisture from escaping. This in turn leaves 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.

To prevent this from happening here are some helpful tips. Our best tip is to moisturize daily. 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. It is worth noting that short, lukewarm baths are much better for dry skin than long, hot ones that strip away the body's natural moisture barriers.

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. The neck, face, chest and back regions contain the most amount of these glands. The overproduction of these natural and healthy oils give way to the oily skin symptoms of pimples, shininess and blemishes.

To treat oily skin you want to be able to remove the excess oil without removing the fatty acids that keep our skin protected and functioning properly. How to do this is through gentle cleansing. What to do here is avoid soap because this is what effectively removes the skin's natural oils. One would be best with a cleanser that has a low pH level and does not provoke any skin irritation. There is no reason to overdo it. Washing oily skin effectively can be done with just two cleansing sessions a day.

The Need to Know About Combination Skin

The third type of skin condition is called combination skin. As the name says, this condition involves a mixture of both oily and dry skin affecting different parts of the body. Mainly this condition causes oily areas to be found along what's called the T-zone. The area this zone covers starts with the forehead and then runs down the nose, mouth and chin. The attributes found along this area are overly shiny skin, a greased appearance, and the presence of blackheads and pimples. The other sections of the face are known to have a feeling of tightness after washing your skin. They will appear 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 for combination skin. Most importantly avoid bar soaps. They clog pores and overly dry the skin. One should apply a sunscreen with UVA-protecting ingredients everyday. Using a skin treatment product like a moisturizer loaded with antioxidants and including ingredients that resemble the function of healthy skin is the best 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 daily. Facial skin products that have benzoyl peroxide are advised to be applied topically if one has a tendency to get blemishes as part of their combination condition.