February 11, 2021
Skin types and conditions - what's the difference?
by Leonie Poppe
It is very important to us to provide you with as much knowledge as possible and help you to better understand yourself and your body, especially your skin. To this end, we have compiled important information and prepared it for you so that you can easily recognize what your skin needs and how it works.
However, there may still be a few question marks, especially when it comes to skin type vs. skin condition. That's why I'd like to delve a little deeper here and explain to you what the difference is between these two very similar-sounding terms and what this means for you and your skin.
- What does skin type mean?
- What is the difference to the skin condition?
1 What does skin type mean?
Here alone there are already different specifications and also different interpretations of what a skin type actually is. Perhaps you are more familiar with the skin type from the description of the Fitzpatrick skin type scale. However, this takes a different approach to us. It mainly focuses on the pigmentation of the skin and how well it can protect itself against the sun's rays Protect .
Another approach is that a skin type shows the basic requirements of the skin, which are usually genetically determined. Here we are talking more about how much sebum the skin produces. Do the sebaceous glands work normally, excessively or are they rather sluggish? The varying activity of the glands ultimately leads to four different main skin types, which differ particularly in appearance, feel and care.
The four main classic skin types are:
In fact, as I have just mentioned, our genes play a major role here and we usually have to deal with this basis throughout our lives. So if we understand what our skin's basic needs are, we can address them very specifically. That's why it's so important to have clarity.
Of course, there are also other factors that influence your skin type. The most influential of these are our hormones! You can also find other factors here on our general skin type page.
Just as an example: If your hormone balance is unbalanced and your testosterone levels are too high, for example, this can lead to your sebaceous glands being stimulated and producing more sebum than you are used to. Nevertheless, your starting point in a normal state tends to be less oily skin.
In order to offer a comprehensible system here, we have decided on the four skin types mentioned above and supplemented them with another four skin conditions.
2 What is the difference to the skin condition?
That is now the ultimate question. What exactly is the difference?
We understand it like this: the four classic skin types form the basis. Each of us belongs to one of these skin types to a greater or lesser extent. If our skin is exposed to different influences, whether weather conditions such as cold, heat, dryness or humidity, nicotine, food, especially intolerances, it reacts accordingly.
This results in the four additional skin conditions that can occur in addition to one of the four main skin types:
These influences change our so-called baseline skin and can dehydrate it, for example. Please note that there is a difference between this and dry skin. We have already talked about this in our The difference between dry and dehydrated skin article.
However, they can also make the skin more sensitive or blemished, regardless of whether the skin was previously predominantly dry or oily , or whether it was combination skin . UV rays are another example. They cause the skin to mature, regardless of your skin type.
Skin conditions therefore change over time and throughout your life faster than your skin type does. This is because your skin type usually accompanies you throughout your life.
Understanding skin type and skin condition a little better is particularly important for the overall the overall understanding. This should help you know your skin's needs better and meet them with the right skincare products. Because regardless of skin type or skin condition, the right and appropriate skincare is crucial. And on our skin type pages, we explain how to care for your skin according to its various needs.
If you still have questions about your skin type or condition, we have developed a skin advisor to help you find the right answers with just a few targeted questions. We will accompany you on your way to your individual skincare range.
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Finally, I would like to tell you that looking at your skin and finding out what it needs is always a snapshot in time. So think about your skincare routine from time to time, check whether the products you are currently using cover everything, be mindful of your skin and, above all, be mindful of yourself.
Take care!
