What is Mixed Skin
A non-uniform skin is defined as mixed, which has very dry and dry areas alternating with impure, acneic and oily areas. The peculiarity of the mixed skin is therefore to present simultaneously characteristics similar to dry skin and oily skin.
Features
Having ascertained that the mixed skin is not homogeneous, because it is characterized by very dry spots interspersed with other distinctly oily and greasy ones, we see therefore how the different types of skin are distributed in the various parts of the face and what are the main characteristics.
Oily Skin
At sight, a mixed skin appears shiny and oily, especially at the level of the nose, forehead and chin; in these areas the skin may even show the typical acne blemishes, therefore blackheads, white spots and large pores.
Curiosity
Precisely because of the particular distribution of impure and acneic areas - which among other things most of the subjects that complain of this disorder have in common - it is said that the mixed skin is oily in the so-called T zone of the face, which includes chin, nose and forehead .
Dry skin
In the area of the cheeks, in the eye contour, along the perimeter of the lips and on the neck, the skin tends instead to show different characteristics: it appears dry, arid, desquamated and fragile to the touch.
The composition of the hydrolipidic film of a mixed skin is variable in the different areas of the face.
Causes
The mixed one is therefore a very particular type of skin and, in some ways, unique in its characteristics.
In the most arid areas of the mixed skin (cheeks, neck, periocular area and lip contour), it seems that the functioning of some of the thousands of sebaceous glands has gone haywire; otherwise, in the T zone, the glands present here produce abnormal amounts of secretion, as if they were to compensate for the lack of sebum in the drier facial features.
The influence of genetic predisposition is extremely important in this type of skin: not surprisingly, mixed skin is an element that often unites members of the same family.
Among the various causes, we cannot forget the importance of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme : probably, an exaggerated concentration of this enzyme in the hair follicles of certain areas of the face, and its lack in other traits, can determine the particular "spot" alternation of the drier and fatter areas of the mixed skin.
Do not forget, then, the importance of using cosmetics that are adequate for your skin type, non-irritating and delicate: some cosmetic products are in fact formulated with abrasive agents that are too aggressive, such as to alter the natural hydro-lipid film of the epidermis.
Even an excess of cleansing is a wrong attitude, sometimes responsible for mixed skin: exceeding with the use of some cosmetics, especially if of poor quality, can cause a thinning of the skin, which inevitably becomes more sensitive, fragile and dry.
How to recognize it?
How does Mixed Skin differ from Oily Skin?
Erroneously, many people with mixed skin are convinced that they have oily skin and therefore resort to aggressive treatments that, in reality, do nothing but make the problem worse.
Therefore, a simple observation of the same after normal daily cleansing may be sufficient to recognize and discriminate the mixed skin from oily skin: in fact, in a short time the T area will appear shiny and oily, unlike the other areas of the face that will look more opaque.
Moreover, those who suffer from mixed skin and use detergent products for oily and impure skin, will perceive different sensations on the various areas of the face: the T zone, probably, could draw - at least in part - a benefit, since it is less shiny and oily; on the contrary, the areas characterized by dryness will be accompanied by the typical sensation of "pulling skin", since the product used is too aggressive for these areas.
On the other hand, if products are used for normal or dry skin, the feeling of well-being will be perceived only by the areas in which the skin is, in fact, dry; while the areas of the face characterized by oily skin will become shiny in a very short time.
However, if you are not able to establish your skin type, before proceeding with any type of cosmetic treatment, it is always good to ask the advice of your doctor or a specialist who will not only identify the skin type of each patient, but also indicate which treatments and products best suit his treatment.
Cosmetic treatment
Unfortunately, there is no standard cosmetic treatment for combination skin: each case is unique, therefore the problem must be carefully evaluated by an experienced eye. Indeed, it is true that usually the areas characterized by oily skin are forehead, nose and chin, but not necessarily so in all individuals. For example, there are people with mixed skin in which the chin is not shiny and oily, but dry and sensitive; just as there are individuals with oily skin on the cheekbones, nose and chin and dry skin on the forehead. Therefore, each person is self-contained and has a personal alternation of oily and dry skin. Therefore, each individual needs a personalized treatment for their mixed skin.
However, in general, a mixed skin must not be overfed, but not attacked too often or with highly irritating products: the sebaceous glands, in fact, are delicate and can react to the insult by excessively increasing the production of secretion in the areas where they are "instigated".
On the contrary, when the mixed skin is characterized by mainly dry areas, then it is good to focus on products with moisturizing, but not occlusive, properties.
However, the world of cosmetics, fortunately, offers a variety of products suitable for the cosmetic treatment of mixed skin that are able to hydrate the skin, without weighing it down and avoiding the hated "shiny effect".
In other cases, however, it may be necessary to treat the different areas of the face with different products that are better suited to the characteristics of each area.
A separate discussion must be made for the scrubs, with which it is necessary to pay attention. In fact, a mixed skin does not require daily applications of exfoliating cosmetics. Normally, it is recommended to exfoliate the mixed skin no more than once a week.
Let us remember, then, that mixed leather is very susceptible to seasonal changes; therefore, it is good to vary the use of cosmetic products during the 12 months of the year (light and easily absorbed in the summer and fuller - but not occlusive - in the winter season).
In any case, in light of what has been said so far, we can state that the most suitable products for this type of skin are the extra-delicate, sebum normalizing and moisturizing detergents. To avoid, instead, all the products formulated with comedogenic ingredients, which could therefore favor and / or accentuate the production of sebum, therefore the onset of blackheads, white spots or other imperfections on the skin.
