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SKIN TYPES & SKIN CONDITIONS

Baumann Skin Types

 

At Skinderm Aesthetics, weare using quite a comprehensive methods in regards to determine specific skin types, skin conditions, skin disorders and skin diseases (Dyer & Foy, 2022; Michalak-Stoma et al., 2021). The way we mapping your skin will narrow it down to best available treatments for your skin conditions.

 

Skin assessment methods in use are:

  • Baumann Skin Scale, developed by Dr. Leslie Baumann MD, to determine skin types.

  • Fitzpatrick Skin Phototypes, developed by Dr Thomas Fitzpatrick to determine skin reaction to sun exposure with regards to degree of burning and tanning

  • SCORAD (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis)

  • GAGS (Global Acne Grading Scale)

  • PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index)

  • BSA (Body Service Area)

  • Glogau Scale, developed by Dr Richard Glogau to determine photo ageing

  • MASI (Melasma Area Severity Index)

  • MelasQoL (Melasma Quality of Life)

  • Skin Scanner

  • Wood's Lamp

  • Dermatoscope

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Skin types is mostly the skin we were born with, or in other word we inherited the skin types from our biological parents. Although there are several different skin types with specific characteristics in each types, however, it's down to whether it's secrete lipids (oil) or alipid (lack of oil). Based from these two major characters, leads to 16 different skin types. Yes, 16! (see the diagram above). Let's take a look closer for the major two types for significant differences. 

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Many of us self-diagnosed our skin types. If you wish to find what's best treatment available and best products to target your skin concerns, seek professional qualified skin therapist. It will save your time, frustration and money. At Skinderm Aesthetics, skin analysis and consultation perform thoroughly from time to time. This is due to our obligation as a dermal clinician to educate our patient and community for better skin health. We aim for you and the community to be able to decide what's best for your skin with adequate knowledge, whether you'll be our patient or not. 

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Regardless skin types and conditions you have, in most cases its linked with the internal underlying body systems. During consultation and skin analysis, we will ask questions in regards to your medical and medication history. The more accurate details you provide, the better chance we can target to treat your skin concerns. 

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DRY SKIN

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Dry skin also known as xerosis can be mild  that is hardly noticed or can be severe that it leads to skin breakdown, severe itching and infection. The first clinical sign of skin dryness is a dull complexion, lack of radiance, sometimes can also feels tight, red patches and the skin surface may feels rough in texture. This is due to a rough surface is less able to refract light than a smoother surface. Dry skin is characterized by the lack of moisture in the outermost layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum (SC). Dry skin is also lack of lipids (oil)  that it needs to retain moisture. For the skin to appear and feel normal, the water content  of the SC must be greater than 10%. When skin becomes too dry, the outer  skin layers stiffen and may develop cracks. The cracks become fissures into the skin that become irritated, inflamed and itchy. Fine lines and wrinkles appears to be significant on fry skin types. Pigmented skin mostly linked with dry skin too. Dry skin occurs more during the fall and winter months because of low humidity and excessive bathing in hot water. It's often called 'winter itch' due to the condition worst during these season. Dry skin types also related to sensitive skin condition such as eczema, dermatitis, etc (Rajkumar et al., 2023). 

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Our skin is the first-line defense as a barrier and it can be impaired by many factors such as harsh products, medication, stress and even environmental changes such as too long hot shower, air conditioning, friction from clothing, pollution and frequent air travel. Dry skin is a result of decreased water content in the SC which leads to abnormal desquamation of corneocytes (Murphrey et al., 2022). 

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Billions of dollars a year are spent worldwide on moisturising skincare products. The symptoms of dry skin can be treated by increasing the hydration level of the SC with occlusive or humectant ingredients and by smoothing the rough surface with an emollient. Moisturisers are products designed to increase hydration of the skin. They often contain lipids such as ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol (Lim, 2021). 

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While the ultimate purpose of all moisturisers is to enhance the hydration state by increase water content inthe SC, moisturizing ingredients operate in distinctly specific ways. Occlusives coat the SC and reduce Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL); humectants attract water from the atmosphere and from the underlying epidermis to hydrate the skin; emollients soften and smooth the skin surface (Rajkumar et al.,  2023).

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OILY SKIN

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Oily skin has characteristics of shiny/oily appearance on the T-zones (forehead, nose and chin) and it's the most common complaint. Other appearances of this type is thick skin. Over production of oil is also known as seborrhea. In addition, many of patients with oily skin complaint of large pores as well. Excessive sebum (oil) secretion is the major influence for oily skin type, and this condition mostly related with higher testosterone which influenced the cells producing oil called sebocytes (Tortora, 2018).

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The causes of oily skin can be trigger from genetics, hormonal changes, stress, medication taking and comedogenic cosmetics. Oily skin commonly related to acne skin condition due to the clogged in the hair follicles, therefore, it's also prone to comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). 

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The most common mistake people do with oily skin is to strip the oil too harsh. The best thing you can do is to regulate your oil production, not stripping it all completely as we need those oil to lubricate our skin and this oil is our skin's barrier. The more you are trying to get rid of your oil, the more oil your skin will produce. This can lead to more oily skin with dehydrated state. 

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To taking care of oily skin can be manage with simple steps such as do not over wash and do not over-exfoliating your skin. Instead of using too high surfactant cleanser, if you have oily skin with acne you better off choosing a gentle cleanser. Look for the word 'non-comedogenic' in the skincare products and cosmetics so it won't clogged your pores. 

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NORMAL SKIN

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Normal skin is rare to find and this type of skin is characterised with a balance of oil and moisture on the skin, barely visible pores, no severe sensitivity, no or very few imperfections and a radiant complexion. If you lucky enough to be in this category of normal skin, consider yourself lucky. Maintenance with regular facial treatment every 4 to 6 months can help you to preserve your skin for longer. 

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REFERENCES

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Dyer, J. M., & Foy, F. M. (2022). Revealing The Unseen: A Review of Wood's Lamp in Dermatology. The journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 15(6), 25-30. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9239119/

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Lim, K. M. (2021). Skin Epidermis and Barrier Function. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(6), 3035. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22063035

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Michalak-Stoma, A., Malkinska, K., & Krasowska, D. (2021). Usefulness of Dermoscopy to Provide Accurate Assessment of Skin Cancers. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 14, 733-746. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S305924

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Murphrey, M. B., Miao, J. H., & Zito, P. M. (2022). Histology, Stratum Corneum (In StatPearls ed.). StatPearls. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30020671/

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Rajkumar, J., Chandan, N., Lio, P., & Shi, V. (2023). The Skin Barrier and Moisturization: Function, Disruption, and Mechanisms of Repair. Skin pharmacology and physiology, 36(4), 174-185. doi:https://doi.org/10.1159/000534136

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Tortora, G. (2018). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (2nd ed.). Wiley.

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