Skin Analysis and Skin Types
What this domain tests
Skin analysis questions test whether you can separate skin type from skin condition and choose a treatment that matches both.
Core rules
- Skin types describe baseline oil and moisture behavior: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive. Conditions are temporary or treatable states such as dehydration, acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, or sensitization.
- Analyze in a consistent order: review intake, cleanse, observe under magnification, palpate, and use Wood's lamp only as a limited adjunct.
- Fitzpatrick phototypes I–VI estimate UV response and help with sun-protection and treatment caution; they are not a measure of skin sensitivity.
- Combination skin usually has an oily T-zone and drier cheeks. Treat zones differently rather than stripping the whole face.
- Sensitivity is a reactive tendency; sensitization is an acquired reaction. Both call for fragrance-free, minimal products and patch testing.
Worked example
A client has shine on the forehead and nose, tight dry cheeks, and no redness. Analysis: combination skin with dehydration. Reasoning: oil production is regional, while tightness suggests water loss, so a heavy oil-based cleanser would worsen the T-zone and a strong astringent would worsen the cheeks.
Traps
Calling dehydration a skin type; treating sensitive and sensitized as identical; using a Wood's lamp as a diagnosis; analyzing through makeup; assuming oily skin never needs moisturizer.