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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

The cause of dry skin has to do with a lack of moisture in the outermost layer of one's skin. What consists of this skin layer are natural lipids, or fatty substances. They prevent moisture from escaping. This in turn leaves the skin soft and supple. 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. Moisturizing your skin daily is our first and foremost tip. After your shower pat yourself without rubbing too hard with the towel. With your skin still a little damp, apply the moisturizer in upward strokes across the whole face and neck. 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. This is performed through gentle cleansing. The key here is to avoid soap as it strips away the skin's natural oils. One should use a cleanser that has a low pH level and does not cause 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

Combination skin is the third main skin condition. As the name mentions, this condition is marked by a combination of dry and oily skin affecting different areas of the face and body. Generally, the oily parts of the face are found on what is called the T-zone area. 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 remaining parts of your skin are known to have a feeling of tightness after washing. They will appear flaky and have a rough texture.

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 best for combination skin. Avoid bar soaps at all costs. They too easily can clog your pores and they dry your skin much more than just a gentle cleanser. One should apply a sunscreen that has UVA-protecting ingredients everyday. Using a skin treatment product such as a moisturizer full of antioxidants and containing ingredients that resemble the structure of normal skin is the recommended way to eliminate the dry sections. Oily skin products that are irritant-free and are pH-correct are recommended to be applied at least once a day. Facial skin products that consist of benzoyl peroxide are advised to be applied topically if one has a tendency to get blemishes as part of their combination condition.