Skin Types vs. Skin Conditions
One of the most critical errors in aesthetics is confusing a skin type with a skin condition. These are fundamentally different concepts, and treating them as interchangeable leads to incorrect product selection and ineffective treatments.
Skin Type is genetic. It is determined by the activity of the sebaceous glands and describes the baseline function of the skin: Normal, Dry, Oily, or Combination. A person's skin type does not change.
Skin Condition is temporary. It describes the current state of the skin as influenced by environment, lifestyle, hormones, and product use: Dehydration, Sensitization, Acne, Congestion, or Hyperpigmentation. Conditions can be resolved.
You must identify the genetic baseline — what the client was born with — before treating the temporary condition. The type dictates the weight and texture of the products you use. The condition dictates the active ingredients you choose.
Beginners see flaky skin and immediately classify it as a "Dry" skin type, prescribing heavy lipid creams. But if that client is actually an Oily skin type who is dehydrated from over-exfoliation, those heavy creams will cause massive breakouts. The flaking was a condition, not a type.
"You cannot permanently change a skin type, but you can resolve a skin condition. Always treat the condition while respecting the type."
Look at your own skin in the mirror. Identify your genetic skin type and your current skin condition. Are they the same? Are they different?
A client presents with visible pores in the T-zone but complains of tight, flaky skin on their cheeks. What is their most likely skin type and current condition?