Effective care for your skin type
Compared to other parts of your body, do you know your face is more gentle and delicate?
Even then, are you aware that the optimum pH of your skin is only about 5.5? Well, the reason for the slight acidity of our skin is that it is part of our body’s natural defense against viruses and bacteria.
Babies and children are more susceptible to skin infections as their pH level is neutral at 7.0. When we grow older, we have more hair on our bodies, our sebaceous glands and sweat glands become more active to improve our body’s defense against harmful substances and other pollutants. However, as we aged, our skin pH increases again and weakens our skin.
Therefore, never use soap for your face because most commercial soaps are very alkaline (pH 9 - 12) and therefore strip your skin of moisture and protective acid layer, which dries your skin and render it vulnerable to bacteria. Use proper facial cleanser to ensure your skin remains at optimal level at all times.
Although your skin is determined by genetics, you can still do a lot more because how fast you age depends how much you care for your skin. To care for your skin properly, you got to know which category of skin you belong to so as to get the best results. Basically, there are a few skin types.
1. Normal Skin
Normal skin is plump, smooth and looks healthy. It has a good balance of oil and moisture, so it is neither greasy nor dry. The pores are small and the skin is usually free of blemishes.
Take good care of the skin by regular cleansing, toning and moisturizing.
2. Dry Skin
Skin is dull, patchy, feels tight and tends to flake easily as the skin is short of moisture as the oil glands are unable to generate enough sebum for lubrication.
Use cleanser to clean and toner to close the pores and retain moisture. Remember to moisturise and moisturise. Constant protection is required or else the skin will age faster compared to other skin types.
3. Oily Skin
Shiny and greasy in texture, skin is prone to blackheads and clogged pores. On the up side, such skin is less prone to wrinkles due to the texture.
Cleanse thoroughly to ensure pores are free from accumulated grease and grime because they are attracted to the skin very easily because of the excess oil on the surface.
4. Combination Skin
It is a mixture of normal to dry and oily skin where the greasy part of the face is the T-zone area (forehead, nose and chin) while the dryness is usually found on the cheeks.
Strike a balance by treating each area separately. Cleanse the T-zone area thoroughly and moisturise the dry patch carefully.
5. Sensitive Skin
It is delicate skin that is reactive to internal and external conditions, such as genetics, allergies, stress and the environment causing inflammation and infections.
Avoid the cause of the irritation, which could be foods, pollen, animal fur and sun and use natural skin care products that are fragrance free and chemical free so as not to over stimulate your skin. Use a gentle cleanser, give more hydration and minimise exfoliation.
Start early to care for your skin so that you can age gracefully and beautifully. It is always much easier to slow down the ageing process with constant care than to ‘repair’ your skin later on.
Tags: effective care, Skin, skin types, type of skin
