Skin Type and Conditions

Skin Types:

1. Dry Dry skin is characterized by a lack of oil. This results in superficial dehydration and an increase of expression lines.

What are the causes of dry skin?

• Not enough water intake

• Forced heating.

• Aging

• Environmental factors

• Over exfoliation

How to recognize dry skin?

• Rough to the touch

• Skin feeling discomfort; tight, sensitive.

• Lack of suppleness

• Flakes, if dehydrated

How to care for dry skin?

Chose a Milk Cleanser so you are not over stripping the skin and a creamy exfoliant (one to two times a week max). Add a hydrating serum for extra barrier support and endure you're using a moisturizer hydrating ingredients such as: Hydramucine Cream.

2. Oily

Oily skin is characterized by an excessive sebum (oil) secretion.

How to recognize oily skin?

• Excess oil production

• Thick and irregular skin texture

• Pores generally enlarged.

• Shiny look

• Dull complexion

• Skin is oily to the touch.

How to care for oily skin?

Do not overuse cleansers, exfoliants and stripping ingredients such as: charcoal, tea tree, witch hazel etc. This will only cause the skin to increase its production of oil to rebalance itself. Instead, opt for products with ingredients that help reduce excess oil and that leave a matte finish. For this we recommend: Daily SPF30 Lotion

3. Sensitive

Sensitive skin means your skin is more prone to reactions such as redness and itching. Most people who have sensitive skin notice occasional or frequent itching, burning and stinging of patches of skin.

What are the causes of sensitivity?

• Heredity

• Environmental stress (pollution, cold, sun, wind)

• Chemical stress (aggressive treatments/ unsuitable skin care)

• Physical stress (rubbing, harsh mechanical exfoliants)

• Emotional stress

• Compromised barrier function

• Hormonal fluctuation

• Sun exposure

• Medication

How to recognize sensitive skin?

• Redness

• Itchiness or discomfort

• Flakiness

• Major dehydration

• Tightening sensation

• Blotchiness

• Premature lines and wrinkles

How to care for sensitive skin?

Just as it is important to use products and ingredients aimed at sensitive skin, recognizing and avoiding behaviors that could contribute to the sensitivity is also beneficial:

• Avoid intense heat including hot showers, baths, and saunas

• Exfoliate using mild, non-physical exfoliants such as: Intensive Exfoliant Gel

• Do not aggressively rub the skin

• Spicy foods and/or alcohol may exacerbate the condition

• Avoid facial steamers

• Moisturize: Sensiderm Cream

Skin Conditions

Common sensitive skin conditions:

• Erythema is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficial capillaries. It can occur with any skin injury or inflammation.

• Erythrosis is a permanent redness on certain parts of the face, such as the nose or cheeks. It is linked to the dilatation of the blood vessels.

• Couperose (vasodilation / increased blood flow) is a chronic skin condition caused by the weakening of the blood vessels, located mainly on the cheeks and nose.

• Cyanosis (vasoconstriction / reduced blood flow) is a bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from an inadequate amount of oxygen in the blood.

• Rosacea (medical condition when in crisis) is a long-term skin condition that typically affects the face. It results in redness, pimples, swelling, and small and superficial dilated blood vessels. Often, the nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin are most involved. A red, enlarged nose may occur in severe disease, a condition known as rhinophyma.

Common acne conditions:

• Comedogenic skin: Comedones, or blackheads, result when oil, blocking dilated pores and covering their opening, oxidizes and turns a dark color when it comes into contact with oxygen.

• Asphyxiated skin: Identified as oily skin, asphyxiated skin is unable to liberate sebum adequately to the outside. The sebum solidifies and obstructs the pores, producing micro cysts called "miliums": small deposits of grease, visible on the surface of the skin that are trapped inside the skin.

• Acne: Caused by an excessive production of sebum, initiated by sebaceous glands. The sebaceous hypersecretion leads to obstruction of the pores and the formation of comedones. Inflammation then follows, causing redness and acne to appear on the surface of the skin.

Different Forms of Acne

• Papules are small, red, raised bumps caused by inflamed or infected hair follicles.

• Pustules are small red pimples that have pus at their tips.

• Nodules are solid, often painful lumps beneath the surface of your skin.

• Cysts are large lumps, found beneath your skin, that contain pus and are usually painful.

Different aging conditions

• Skin atony on both the face and body is often associated with the loss of fat. The deterioration or reduction of collagen and elastin in the dermis are another cause of skin atony. While anyone can get loose skin, it is more likely to occur in people as they age. People who have lost significant amounts of weight are also more susceptible.

• Line and wrinkles on the face are some of the most visible signs of aging. They're caused by the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin. As we age, our bodies can't produce enough collagen to replenish what has been lost, so the skin begins to lose its strength and elasticity over time.

• Pigmentation spots are caused by an increase in melanin. Melanin is the natural pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their colour. Several factors can trigger an increase in melanin production, but the main ones are sun exposure, hormonal influences, age and skin injuries or inflammation.

Causes of skin aging 10% is genetic or hormonal. 90% is environmental such as:

• Free radicals

• Sun exposure

• Tobacco smoke and environmental pollutants

• Aggressive treatments / inappropriate skin care products

• Physiological aging

• Lifelong effects of gravity

• Glycation

We know this is a lot of information! So, we welcome you to book a Discovery Facial with our skincare experts to discuss your skin type, condition and any concerns you may have.

Book a Facial!