A Simplified Guide To The Different Skin Texture Types

Reference Lab

SEPT 20, 2022

From type to texture, everyone’s skin is different. Some can’t go two hours without moisturizing, while others have to constantly dab at the excess oil in their T-zone. Different skin types lead to different skin textures and different skin appearances. Let’s figure out why our skin looks and feels the way it does, and how we can manage our own skin texture.

Skin type and skin texture are related but not the same. Skin type is based almost entirely on your skin’s oil production, and falls into the following categories:

1. Normal: This skin type is neither too oily or dry.
2. Oily: This skin type produces excess oil, otherwise known as sebum.
3. Dry: This skin type does not produce enough oil, leading to flaky skin.
4. Combination: This skin type has excess oil in certain regions but dryness elsewhere.
5. Sensitive: This skin type is reactive and easily irritated by the environment and certain products/ingredients.¹

While skin type is focused on oil production, skin texture is more focused on the appearance of the skin, and how it feels to the touch. Is it bumpy and rough, or smooth and supple? Inconsistent and rough skin textures are usually a result of skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema. Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of different skin textures and some of the conditions behind them!² Rough or flaky patches are a common result of dry skin or, in some cases, eczema. Skin types with lower oil production are more prone to rough patches, and using a moisturizer or moisturizing face wash can go a long way! Using a gentle exfoliant to remove the dead, peeled skin can also promote a smoother skin texture.²

If you’ve noticed your skin getting drier with age, this can result from a weakened skin barrier. The skin barrier is responsible for retaining moisture in the skin and is a critical indicator of overall skin health. Unfortunately, this barrier erodes with age and has increasing difficulty locking in moisture, leading to dehydrated and flaky skin.³

To tackle age-related skin dryness, explore clinically proven supplements to enhance the skin barrier. OS-01 FACE and OS-01 BODY have been scientifically proven to increase epidermal thickness, strengthening the skin barrier and allowing it to retain its natural moisture and avoid rough patches. In a 12-week clinical study, OS-01 FACE was shown to improve the skin’s barrier by +15% on average.⁴ If you have acne-prone skin, you are likely no stranger to acne and acne scarring.

There are two main classes of acne: inflammatory acne and non-inflammatory acne. Inflammatory acne occurs when a clogged pore is infected with bacteria and is considerably more serious. The bacterial infection can spread, leading to more breakouts across the skin. ⁵ Inflammation is also the culprit behind acne redness and scarring.

There are a number of treatments for both inflammatory and noninflammatory acne. Most of these products have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to fight inflammatory acne. Many products also improve cell turnover to lighten the appearance of acne scars.

To best improve skin texture, look for products that promote cell turnover, such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. If you have sensitive skin, try to avoid products like retinol, which can increase skin sensitivity and cause irritation. Large pores are a common result of excess oil production and loss of skin elasticity; they can make the skin look rough and bumpy. (2) One quick and easy way to prevent large pores is to avoid extensive heat exposure; intensely hot showers and steam rooms can lead to enlarged pores.⁶

If you suspect that your pores have grown more prominent with age, this could be due to an age-related collagen decline. Collagen is the most critical structural protein for skin, forming fibrous networks that maintain the skin barrier, skin firmness, and skin elasticity. Topical application of small molecules, such as peptides, which stimulate collagen production, can promote skin elasticity and smaller pores. (Read more about the benefits of peptides for skin). As we age, our collagen levels decline, and we lose skin elasticity and firmness. This can lead to wrinkles in the skin. Accumulation of sun damage also promotes wrinkling. (2)

This skin texture is frequently associated with age and is completely normal. The easiest way to avoid wrinkling is to prevent sun damage with sunscreen. (2) Small molecules, such as peptides, penetrate the skin barrier, stimulate collagen production, and promote skin elasticity and firmness.⁷ Although not officially listed as a type of skin texture, it is a concern many people have, especially as they age. Crepey skin is when you have more fine lines and wrinkles than average, which signifies that the skin is thin and less elastic. How to get rid of crepey skin? You can try using skin care products that aid in collagen production, which is necessary to promote skin elasticity and skin thickness. Consider looking into ceramides for the skin and allantoin for the skin. If you have an oily skin type, you’re likely dealing with acne, acne scarring, and enlarged pores. If you have a dryer skin type or a condition like eczema, you’ll probably experience more wrinkling, rough patches, or uneven skin texture. If you have combination skin, you may have several different texture issues.

Sometimes, menopausal and post-menopausal skin can experience dryness and acne due to a weakened skin barrier and changes in skin pH. (Read more about menopausal skin changes). This is also a normal skin texture and can be managed by stimulating collagen production in the skin. Apart from obvious flakiness, wrinkles, or acne scars, skin texture can also influence your complexion and tone. A rough, leathery skin texture from too much sun damage or dehydrated skin can result in a dull complexion. Acne scarring can also appear as a darkened pigment leading to an uneven skin tone. All skin is textured skin! There is no such thing as totally smooth or untextured skin. Dry or oily skin types ultimately lead to a more pronounced skin texture. You are inclined towards a more pronounced skin texture if you have acne-prone skin, eczema, or rosacea. Skin imperfections and pronounced skin texture are absolutely normal! As we age, collagen levels decline, and dry-type textures become increasingly common. Use sunscreen, moisturizers, and collagen-stimulating ingredients to reduce the effects of age-related dry skin textures. Several conditions can lead to skin becoming textured. These include eczema and acne. Eczema can cause rough patches, wrinkling, and scarring. Acne can lead to enlarged pores and scars. Rosacea is another skin condition to be cautious of.

Age-related and this: menopause-associated declines in collagen can also lead to wrinkling and enlarged pores. Sun damage from UV radiation can accelerate skin aging and worsen skin texture irregularities. Lack of exfoliation and accumulation of dead skin cells can also make the skin look more textured and rougher. Normal skin is textured. Acne is totally normal in teenage and menopausal skin. Wrinkling is very normal with age and so are enlarged pores.

Ideal skin texture usually centers around being smooth and supple. You want the right amount of oil to prevent dryness but not enough to clog pores. Ideally, you also want collagen levels to remain high enough to keep pores small and wrinkles away. And with frequent exfoliation, you could clear away dead cells to maintain a glowing complexion! Essentially, skin with moderate oil production and a low biological age exhibit a smoother skin texture. If you can’t seem to track down the reason for a rougher, weakened skin texture, the answer may be in your lifestyle. Overall health plays a significant role in skin health; your hydration levels and nutrition can heavily influence skin appearance. A diet consisting of high sugar content or overly processed foods can lead to the formation of roughly textured skin. Sugar molecules can bind to collagen in the skin, interfering with their function and leading to wrinkles. Processed foods can also promote inflammation which worsens acne and breakouts.⁸

The same way diet can hurt, it can also help! Here are some foods that can promote collagen production in the skin and smoothen skin texture:

1. Fresh fruits and vegetables
2. Wild-caught fatty fish
3. Nuts and seeds⁸

Topical application of sunscreens, moisturizers, and use of gentle exfoliants can all improve skin texture!

Many topical products claim to smoothen out the skin, but do they actually work? Yes and no. A variety of supplements contain collagen in an attempt to promote skin elasticity and firmness. However, collagen is a very large molecule, making it difficult to penetrate the skin barrier. Therefore topical application is often inadequate for improving collagen levels in the skin.

Other products, such as retinol, increase cell turnover for smoother skin. While retinol effectively increases cell turnover and enhances collagen and hyaluronic acid production, it may do so at the expense of inflammation and aging. Many skin types are also sensitive to retinol, which is why it’s important to patch test products before using them consistently and to ensure they have clinical data to support their effects on skin texture.

If you’re looking for topical products that enhance skin health and smoothness for all skin types, OneSkin’s Topical Supplements may fit the bill. OS-01 FACE is clinically proven to improve skin smoothness and overall appearance in 100% of users. It’s also clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in 87% of users. OS-01 BODY has been scientifically proven to increase skin’s epidermal thickness and minimize the look of crepey skin. The OS-01 proprietary peptide, which powers OneSkin’s Topical Supplements, is small enough to penetrate the skin barrier and stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production from the deepest layers of the skin. The OS-01 peptide also helps repair sun damage, reversing radiation-induced aging and the skin's biological age!

• Skin type and skin texture are related but not the same. While skin type is focused on oil production, skin texture is more focused on the appearance of the skin, and how it feels to the touch.
Inconsistent and rough skin textures are usually a result of skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema.
• Some skin textures include rough patches, enlarged pores, wrinkling, acne, and acne scarring.
• Age-related and menopause-associated declines in collagen can also lead to wrinkling and enlarged pores. Sun damage from UV radiation can accelerate skin aging and worsen skin texture irregularities. Lack of exfoliation and accumulation of dead skin cells can also make the skin look more textured and rough.
• Topical application of sunscreens, moisturizers, and use of gentle exfoliants can all improve skin texture!
• OS-01 FACE is clinically proven to improve skin smoothness and overall appearance in 100% of users. It’s also clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in 87% of users.

Sources:

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-type-of-skin-do-i-have#skin-types
• https://blog.glowrecipe.com/the-different-types-of-skin-texture/
• https://www.oneskin.co/blogs/reference-lab/why-skin-barrier-is-important
• https://www.oneskin.co/blogs/reference-lab/oneskin-s-12-week-clinical-study-to-validate-the-effects-of-os-01-face
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne
• https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-i-close-my-large-pores-15486
• https://www.oneskin.co/blogs/reference-lab/the-top-3-benefits-of-peptides-for-skin
• ​​https://fountaingrovemedspa.com/how-diet-affects-your-skin-health/