November is National Healthy Skin month! Perhaps the best thing you can do to ensure your skin is healthy is to schedule your yearly comprehensive exam. At Savannah River Dermatology we want to ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep your skin healthy on a daily basis. This includes making sure your skin gets the nutrients and protection it needs as well as establishing a skincare routine. But, where do you start? Start by identifying your skin type.
One of the first steps in keeping your skin healthy is identifying what type of skin you have. As your body’s largest organ, your skin is complex and has specific needs that are unique to you. Using skincare products that work well for your friend or even a family member may be disastrous for you. This is due to your body’s natural sensitivities and skin type. Did you know that there are actually 5 different skin types? These include: sensitive, normal, dry, oily, and combination skin.
The 5 Skin Types
- Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use
- Normal skin is clear and not sensitive
- Dry skin is flaky, itchy or rough
- Oily skin is shiny and greasy
- Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others
How do you figure out what skin type you have? Try using the “bare-face” method to examine your natural skin without any products. Cleanse your face with a mild cleanser and pat dry, refraining from applying any moisturizers, treatments or other products. After about thirty minutes, examine your face. Does your skin feel tight or appear flaky? You most likely have dry skin. Is your skin shiny on your nose and forehead? Most likely you have normal to combination skin. If your skin is also shiny in other areas like your cheeks, you may have oily skin. Since you used a mild cleanser, you may not be able to immediately tell if your skin is sensitive. However, if you experience inflammation or irritation when trying certain skincare and cosmetic products, you likely do have sensitive skin.
All skin is slightly different and it is good to bear in mind that your skin sensitivity may vary slightly with the season. If you have specific questions regarding your skin type or how to best care for it, please contact our office for more information or to set up a consultation. We can be reached at 706-691-7079. Savannah River Dermatology is located in the CSRA at 575 Furys Ferry Rd, Augusta, GA 30907.