What To Know About Your Skin Type

Ever find yourself wondering ‘what is my skin type?’ One size usually does not fit all when it comes to skincare, but knowing your skin type will help you find the best products for your needs. If you find yourself wondering ‘how do I know what my skin type is?’ please visit ZO’s Regimen Finder. 

Read on to see the most common skin types and ZO Skin Health’s product suggestions for optimal skin health. 

One size does not fit all when it comes to skincare...

Dry Skin

Dry skin is often characterized by lacking both lipids and water. Dry skin can be caused by an impaired skin barrier resulting in trans-epidermal water loss leading to skin dehydration. Climate factors such as dry winds and arid conditions can also cause dryness. Some patients may experience dry skin seasonally, but summer dryness is also common when the skin is constantly exposed to damaging UV rays and air conditioning.

Like all skin concerns, dry skin must be addressed from the inside out through exfoliation and skin barrier support. The ZO® Getting Skin Ready® protocol for dry skin includes the following:

• Hydrating Cleanser – cleanses while hydrating the skin and minimizes dryness.
• Exfoliating Polish – instantly sweeps away dead surface cells to reveal softer, smoother skin and enhances product penetration.
• Calming Toner – contains a blend of lightweight hydrators + soothing ingredients to help restore dry skin.

Oily Skin

Patients with oily skin produce excess sebum—a substance that helps moisturize and protect the skin but can be detrimental to skin health when overproduced. It can cause sebum-induced disorders like breakouts, redness, and seborrheic dermatitis. If your skin is often shiny or greasy at the end of the day and your pores look visibly enlarged, you may characterize your skin as oily.

Minimizing excess sebum is necessary to prevent sebum related disorders and maximize overall treatment results. The ZO Getting Skin Ready® protocol for oily skin includes:

• Exfoliating Cleanser – Targets excess surface oil while exfoliating away dead skin cells.
• Dual Action Scrub – Provides both chemical and physical exfoliation to dissolve and slough off dead skin cells and oil that can lead to clogged pores.
• Oil Control Pads – Reduces excess surface oils while clarifying skin and minimizing the appearance of pore size.

Sensitive Skin

Different people have different levels of skin sensitivity. If a patient experiences reactions like redness, itching, or blotchiness, a sensitive skin type is often claimed and soothing, calming products can be suggested to help alleviate the skin.

True skin sensitivity can be caused by a genetic disorder or cases of skin diseases like eczema. It can also be triggered by environmental factors, like UV damage and allergens. This skin type needs specialized care that is specific to these issues, which can vary from patient to patient.

Effectively increasing skin’s tolerance to certain chemicals and ingredients is the solution to preventing skin sensitivity, and that can be achieved through committing to skin barrier function repair. The ZO Getting Skin Ready® protocol for sensitive skin includes:

• Gentle Cleanser – Refreshing gel cleanses away impurities without drying out the skin.
• Exfoliating Polish – Instantly sweeps away dead skin cells to promote healthy microcirculation and cellular turnover.
• Complexion Renewal Pads – Moistened, textured pads gently exfoliate while encouraging hydration restoration + retention.

For a more customized approach to your healthy skin journey, consult with your ZO® physician to get started or build up on your current protocol.