Women's Healthcare Topics

Beauty Skin Care


Skin Types

Wind, humidity, and dry air can really ravage our sensitive skin. It can make our skin feel itchy, raw, and on the opposite end of the gamut, oily. But lucky for us, there are many lotions and creams available to counteract the damage daily weather conditions do to our skin. Moisturizers can truly help if you know which lotions are designed for which type of skin.

First of all, knowing the difference between body lotion and body cream is half the battle. Body lotion can be poured on the hands. This thin lotion is for everyday use to help moisturize and condition the to keep it looking healthy and radiant. Body cream is thicker than lotion, and was deliberately created for those rough patches, like elbow, knees, and heels. Body cream is designed to soothe the driest areas of our skin.

With that knowledge in mind, it is really important to know what kind of skin type you have. Many people tend to think that they have normal skin, but unfortunately, the fact of the matter is, normal skin is very rare. To find out what kind of skin you have, press a tissue to your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. Wait 30 minutes. Then, look at the tissue. You will be able to tell by the remnants on the tissue what kind of skin you have. Here are some of the most common skin types, and the lotions that will help care for that particular type of skin.

Normal Skin Type
Normal skin is a result of balanced pH levels in your body. However, that does not mean you should skip a daily routine of moisturizing your skin. If you are one of the fortunate people who have normal skin type, you can use any kind of lotion you like. But you may be wondering, what constitutes normal skin type? Normal skin type has:
  • very few blemishes. (Acne is not a problem.)
  • no itchy dry spots.
  • a soft and supple appearance and touch.
  • beautiful pigment and texture.
  • no oily sheen.
Any kind of popular body lotion will help keep normal skin attractive and looking brilliant. Try any of the regular Bath and Body Works body lotions. They have plenty of different scents to choose from and they keep your skin smooth and beautifully fragrant. Just remember to use lotions that contain vitamin A, C, and E to keep that perfect skin soft and smooth.
Sorry to report, but oily skin is genetic. That means that if your mother has oily, skin chances are you will, too. An over-abundant secretion of the sebaceous gland causes oily skin. And, it can honestly be a problem. Oily skin type has:
  • an oily or wet sheen to it, especially around the forehead, nose, and chin.
  • blemishes (blackheads and pimples) that can easily be seen and often times hurt.
  • a soft and greasy feel.
  • large pores usually around the nose, cheeks, and chin.
There are special lotions designed especially to dry out oily skin. Try Kinerase Body Lotion. It is pricey, but said to work very well. And, on a positive note, oily skin is less prone to wrinkles. Hey, that's something!

Dry Skin Type
There are many features that contribute to the problem of dry skin. Genetics, cold weather, excessive bathing, and allergic reactions, all play a role in dry skin. Dry skin is rough and sometimes scaly. It can be itchy and uncomfortable if not properly taken care of. This type of skin, due to lack of oils, is the most likely of the skin types to be prone to wrinkles later on in life. Dry skin:
  • is extremely sensitive to heat and cold.
  • appears dull.
  • may flake especially on the cheeks.
  • has one bonus: acne is rarely an issue.
If you have dry skin, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Dry skin needs lots of love and attention if you wish to soothe the problem. This is where body creams come in handy. They are very helpful in battling the everyday evils of dry skin. Like mentioned before, body creams are thicker than lotions and help the driest area of your body. Creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHA's) exfoliate the dry outermost layers of skin, while moisturizing the new layers. So, look for creams that contain AHA's, such as NeoStrata. If you have extra-dry skin you may want to consider messaging special moisturizing cream into the skin at night before you go to sleep. Baxter's Enriched Night Cream removes scratchy dead skin while you sleep.


Also call dermatitis, Eczema is a very common skin condition that is associated with dry skin. It is characterized by dry skin rashes that itch profusely. Eczema can only be diagnosed by a physician. So, go to a dermatologist if you have an itchy skin rash that:
  • is very red.
  • has appeared before the age of 5 years old.
  • is patchy or bumpy.
  • disappears then reappears later.
  • appears all over your body.
There are lotions that are specially designed to treat Eczema, such as Elta Tar Psoriasis and Eczema Relief, Great Scott Skin Cream, and Dermarest Eczema Medicated Lotion. However, check with your doctor before trying any of these products to make sure that your skin condition is, in fact, eczema.

To keep you skin healthy and looking its best, it is vital to apply the correct lotions to match your skin type. That way, you can soon attain the strong, vigorous skin you have always dreamed about.