You’ve been lied to. Scammed. Bamboozled.
Ever heard that there are five skin types: oily, dry, normal, combination, and sensitive? Well, that last one? It shouldn’t even be there.
Sensitive skin is serious, but when classifying by oil production (which is what the typical ‘five skin types’ system does), it shouldn’t be part of the conversation. Sensitive skin isn’t about how much oil your skin makes — it’s about how reactive it is.
In this conversation, sensitive skin isn’t a skin type. It’s a skin condition.
Let’s break it down.
Skin Type = Oil Factory Settings
Your skin type is determined by how much oil (sebum) your skin naturally produces. That’s why we have:
- Oily skin: Produces too much oil.
- Dry skin: Doesn’t produce enough oil.
- Combination skin: Oily in some places, dry in others.
- Normal skin: Balanced oil production.
Notice how sensitive skin doesn’t fit in here? That’s because it has nothing to do with oil production. It’s not about whether your skin is greasy or flaky — it’s about how your skin reacts.
Important Note: There are Other Skin Type Scales
The most common skin type focuses on oil production since it is key for choosing the right products. However, there are other skin type scales:
- The Fitzpatrick Scale: This classifies skin based on how it reacts to the sun—ranging from Type I (very pale, burns easily) to Type VI (deeply pigmented, rarely burns). It’s useful for predicting sun damage risks.
- Baumann Skin Type System: This one considers oiliness, sensitivity, pigmentation, and aging tendencies to give a more detailed picture.
- Ethnic skin classifications: Some systems group skin by ethnicity, considering melanin levels, moisture retention, and common concerns.
However, when it comes to classification by oil production, sensitive skin is the odd one out.
Sensitive Skin = The High-Maintenance Bestie
Sensitive skin is reactive. It gets red, itchy, inflamed, or irritated easily. But here’s the kicker — it can exist alongside any skin type.
- You can have oily & sensitive skin. (Think acne-prone skin that also hates fragrance.)
- You can have dry & sensitive skin. (Flaky but also breaks out in hives when you look at the wrong moisturizer.)
- You can have combination & sensitive skin. (Greasy forehead, dry cheeks, and a vendetta against strong actives.)
So, why do people keep calling it a skin type? Because skincare marketing loves making things simple — even when they’re wrong.
Why This Matters for ADHD Skincare
If you’ve got ADHD, chances are you’re already confused by skincare. You don’t need more misinformation messing things up. Knowing your actual skin type vs. a skin condition can save you money, stress, and a whole lot of trial-and-error disasters.
So, next time someone asks your skin type according to oil production, drop ‘sensitive’ from the lineup — but keep it in mind when choosing products. Because oily-sensitive skin and dry-sensitive skin do NOT have the same needs.
Now go forth and flex your skincare knowledge. And maybe correct a few people along the way.
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