This post is all about what you don't know about normal skin but should.
Did you know that normal skin
doesn't exist at all?
Well it does but not technically...
It's so uncommon that it's not even considered a medical term.
Normal skin is actually very rare because there are many intrinsic and extrinsic factors that throw the skin off balance.
Which is why it's a skin type that has constantly been more associated with babies than adults.
What is Normal Skin?
Normal skin which is also known as eudermic skin, refers to a skin that has a well-balanced oil-to-water ratio.
This means that the skin produces the ideal amount of sebum and receives the ideal amount of water to keep the skin healthy.
Board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo comments that normal skin isn't common and that most of us don't have it.
In her 40 years of dermatology practice, she has found that the vast majority of her patients under 30 have combination skin and the ones over 40 feel that their skin is dry.
The debate among dermatologists as to whether "normal" skin is an actual skin type or not continuous.
"Normal" skin isn't a medical term which is the reason why so many experts on the field disregard using the term in the first place.
According to dermatologists, the biggest problem with the term "normal" is that it's too broad which won't help anyone when figuring out what skin care routine and skin care products would work best for their skin to achieve a healthy state.
However, they do use the term as a guideline when it comes to prescribing skin care products because it's a term created by skin care brands.
If you have this skin type, since it's so rare and uncommon you're one of the lucky ones.
Your skin almost never feels oily or dry and you barely break out, this doesn't mean you should ignore taking care of your skin but more on this later...
The Science Behind Normal Skin
Normal or eudermic skin is often referred as "well-balanced" which basically means that the skin has a balanced oil-to-water ratio.
Across your whole face the sebum production and moisture content levels are stable; this skin type naturally balances the two types of moisture it needs.
The first type of moisture is oil which comes from sebum produced by the sebaceous glands, located in the dermis, to keep the surface of the skin moisturized.
While the second type of moisture the skin needs comes from water.
NMF, also known as natural moisturizing factors, are substances within the skin that draw water from the atmosphere to the stratum corneum and into the corneocytes to hydrate it.
It's responsible for maintaining an adequate amount of moisture in the skin.
Unfortunately, thanks to prolonged contact with water, common skin care products and environmental factors, NMF can be easily compromised.
The good news is that the skin has the capacity to replenish NMF but needs energy to do so.
Characteristics of Normal Skin
The characteristics of normal skin are:
Healthy Skin: The skin has the right oil-to-water ratio which means that sebum production and moisture content in the skin are balanced, this causes normal skin to be neither too oily nor too dry but perfect.
Even and Smooth Skin: The skin has very minimal to no imperfections which make its tone even and clear and its texture soft and smooth; a sign of good skin elasticity.
Plumpled Skin: The skin looks plumped thanks to a good blood circulation which nourishes skin cells by providing oxygen and nutrients while getting rid of waste.
Small Pores: The pores are small mainly because the levels of sebum production are low, the elasticity is increased around the pores, the hair follicles are thin which makes them hardly visible and well genetics.
No Skin Conditions: The skin is free of greasy patches, blackheads, breakouts, flaky areas and severe sensitivity. Although, individuals with normal skin are free of skin conditions that are common to other skin types, they should follow a skin care routine to maintain their skin healthy and prevent premature aging.
All of the characteristics of this skin type are found in young individuals, however, as these individuals with normal skin age their skin becomes drier.
How to identify Normal Skin?
If your skin:
- Looks healthy and has a natural glow.
- Has a balanced production of sebum.
- Has pores that are barely visible.
- Has a skin tone that is even.
- Has a skin texture that it's smooth.
- Has minimal to no breakouts and sensitivity.
- Shows no signs of premature aging.
Then congratulation because you have normal skin and have officially hit the genetic jackpot!
If you are unsure whether your skin type falls into more than one of these characteristics, identify your skin type with this guide in a matter of minutes.
How to take care of Normal Skin?
Even though normal skin has minimal to no skin concerns, this doesn't mean you don't or won't have skin issues.
It's a must to take care of your skin to prevent skin concerns (or worsening them) and premature aging.
The best way to take care of normal skin is to follow three important steps: Treat skin issues immediately, maintain the health of your skin and protect your skin from further and future damage.
TREAT
Depending on what your skin needs you need to treat it accordingly.
Make small adjustments to your skin care routine to tackle the skin issues you're concerned about.
Pick skin care products that you can incorporate into your skin care routine easily so that you can make quick decisions.
MAINTAIN
If you don't have any skin concerns or conditions you still need to take care of your skin.
Use skin care products with beneficial ingredients, have a healthy diet and protect it from environmental stressors to maintain it healthy.
PROTECT
The key to keeping your skin healthy is to protect it from environmental stressors.
The most common environmental stressors are UV rays, blue light radiation and pollution which expose the skin to free radicals causing premature skin aging.
Minimize exposure to environmental stressors, adjust and improve your lifestyle habits and use skin care products with antioxidants and make sure your sunscreen is broad-spectrum.
What Products Does Normal Skin Need?
Skin care products that are not meant for your skin type and using them incorrectly cause breakouts and premature aging.
Avoid using skin care products that are abrasive, harsh and contain aggravating ingredients because you'll cause tears and damage your skin.
Whether it's to improve skin texture, hyperpigmentation spots or premature aging, the skin care products normal skin needs depend on your skin concern, expectations and preferences.
Follow a basic skin care routine which incorporates the usage of a gentle cleanser, a non-irritating exfoliant, a toner with nourishing ingredients, a moisturizer with restoring and soothing ingredients and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF no less than 30.
If you have normal skin, here's a skin care routine for your skin in detail.
If you want to take your skin to the next level, consider using an antioxidant serum to deeply nourish and defended your skin from environmental stressors, a hyaluronic acid booster to replenish moisture in the skin and retinol to minimize signs of aging by improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
If you feel that your normal skin tends to lean more on the dry side, use hydrating and recovery skin care products.
On the other hand, if you feel that your normal skin tends to lean more on the oily side, use hydrating and balancing skin care products.
Unlike other skin types, don't feel confined to follow these guidelines as you can also choose skin care products based on your preferred texture.
Bottom Line
If you have normal skin, then yes you're one of the lucky ones that has amazing and almost perfect skin.
You probably don't even have to worry about it but remember to not take this skin type for grant it and take care of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Normal skin looks very healthy because it has a perfect balance of oil, also known as sebum, and water which all skin types need to function properly.
This means that the T-zone, which are the areas with the most sebum secreting glands on all of your face made of the forehead, nose and chin, produces the right amount of sebum.
While NFM maintains an adequate amount of moisture in the skin.
If there's an imbalance in hydration by either oil or water it causes the skin to become dull, weak, sensitive and have fine lines and wrinkles.
Normal skin is considered to be a balanced skin type, meaning that it’s neither too dry nor too oily.
You know that you have normal skin if your skin has these characteristics:
- Your complexion is well-balanced and therefore looks extremely healthy.
- Your pores are barely visible.
- Your tone is even and texture is smooth.
- You have almost no imperfections.
- Your skin is not sensitive.
- Your skin has a natural glow.
You have normal skin because skin type is determined by your genetics which you inherited through your parents, it's just another characteristic they passed onto you.
But it can change with time thanks to internal and external factors such as health issues, hormones, age and environmental factors.
Yes, you can have normal skin with acne because normal skin, just like any other skin type, is susceptible to a wide range of skin conditions; acne being one of them.
Although normal skin doesn't usually suffer from any major skin conditions, certain factors like hormone fluctuations, exposure to UV and using the wrong skin care products can cause a severe impact on your skin's health if it's not proactively being taken care of and protected.
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