Dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin: differentiation

Today, most cosmetologists in their work use the classification of skin types proposed in 2004 by Professor Leslie Baumann (University of Miami, USA). Baumann's classification is based on the four most important characteristics of the skin:

• moisture (dryness) and ability to retain moisture;
• reactivity and protective abilities of the skin;
• presence/absence of wrinkles;
• features of pigmentation.

Dry skin

In everyday practice, a cosmetologist often has to face the symptom complex of dryness or xerosis of the skin in patients with various conditions and diseases. The causes of xerosis of the skin have now been definitively studied. It is known that this symptom complex is interconnected with four main factors: water deficit in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, excessively frequent changes in the epithelial layer, violation of the barrier properties of the skin, and a decrease in sebum production. Dry skin is characterized by a dull grayish shade, roughness, a feeling of tightness and discomfort. Patients with this type of skin complain of signs of premature aging.

Acquired dry skin is formed under the influence of various exogenous factors. 

Constitutionally dry skin can be the background condition of such diseases as atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis, psoriasis. In addition, dryness of the skin can increase and dominate as a symptom complex during its aging (senile xerosis). Dryness and thinning of the skin may occur during menopause and postmenopause, this is explained by partial atrophy of the sebaceous glands.

There are four morpho-functional stages of development of dry skin.

Full version of the access article in Ukrainian

This article is part of the special project: Dry sensitive skin

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