Even today, some consumers do not know their skin type and apply unsuitable products. However, before even seeking to provide care for your skin, it is essential to conduct a skin diagnosis to decode its needs and characteristics. The ultimate goal is to enable users to have a better understanding of their skin, its health, and thus to select and adapt the care to use accordingly. What does a skin diagnosis consist of? On what criteria is it developed? Let's decode.
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Summary
- Skin Diagnosis: What is it and why should it be done?
- What does a skin diagnosis consist of?
- An assessment based on three main and universal criteria
- Result: Various skin type classifications established
- How often should you perform your skin diagnosis?
Published January 5, 2022,
updated on August 7, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
8 min read
Skin Diagnosis: What is it and why should it be done?
A skin diagnosis is a personalized assessment at a given moment to identify your skin's weaknesses and to consider a customized skincare routine to slow their progression, but also to help you maintain your skin. Indeed, conducting a skin diagnosis aims to determine your skin type, and evaluate its characteristics and needs. Following the diagnosis, you will receive a comprehensive analysis of your skin and a product recommendation based on the results obtained to better target your needs and deliver the desired results. The proposed treatments will thus be tailored to the specific needs of your skin to improve weak points and rebalance its natural defenses.
What does a skin diagnosis consist of?
The skin diagnosis from Typology is quite straightforward and only takes a few minutes. You are prompted to answer about fifteen questions to provide a comprehensive overview of your feelings, your observations, your lifestyle habits, and your environment, thus addressing a multitude of issues. Upon completion of this questionnaire, the system provides you with a detailed analysis of your skin, a personalized routine (one for the morning and one for the evening), as well as recommendations and information regarding your concerns, their origins, and how to address them.
Throughout the questioning, various skin parameters, the most representative and essential, are addressed and analyzed for a comprehensive and detailed diagnosis, such as hydration, the wrinkles and fine lines, the pimples, the pigmentation spots, the visibility of pores, blackheads, skin reactivity (redness), shininess, the dark circles, the puffiness and the level of firmness. In addition, some quite basic questions are also asked, for example if you are pregnant, your relationship with the sun, if you live in a polluted environment, your level of tolerance towards cosmetic products, your skin tone, how often you wear makeup, or even if you smoke.
An assessment based on three main and universal criteria.
skin diagnosis is based on a literature review of numerous scientific studies, and relies on three main and universal criteria:
Oxidation Factors: This criterion assesses the impact of UV rays, air pollution, and tobacco consumption on skin health. These elements all contribute to oxidative stress, a physiological process that can have a lasting impact on your skin. Indeed, the presence of an excessively high amount of free radicals can lead to premature skin aging (appearance of wrinkles and fine lines prematurely, a complexion that dulls more quickly, a loss of firmness starting in your thirties). All components of the epidermis are attacked by free radicals (lipids, proteins, DNA) and suffer damage.
Sebum Production : The activity of the sebaceous glands and, consequently, the integrity of the oily film that protects the skin are evaluated. Sebum is a complex mixture of lipids that contributes to hydration, the skin's barrier function, and its protection against external aggressions. However, any disruption in its production can have consequences: an excess of sebum (hyperseborrhea) can lead to shiny areas on the face and the formation of skin imperfections (enlarged pores, pimples, blackheads...); conversely, a secretion that is too low can result in dry skin due to insufficient hydrolipidic film, thus exposing the skin to environmental factors, promoting the appearance of redness, tightness...
Skin Aging : This approach analyzes the elasticity of the skin, the presence of wrinkles, and the uniformity of its pigmentation, regardless of age. It is a natural process linked to a deterioration of the cell repair or maintenance mechanisms. Over time, a slowdown in the renewal of skin cells is observed, resulting in a thickening of the horny layer, skin dryness, and a grayish complexion caused by an accumulation of dead cells on the surface of the epidermis. Wrinkles deepen, and a loss of firmness, volume, and density become visible. The first signs of aging can appear around the age of 25 - 30 years.
Result: Various skin type classifications established.
The collection of all the responses you have provided allows us to create a score, defined by the Typology team, which corresponds to your skin type. Thus, according to this scientific methodology, 24 skin types have been determined, based on the three criteria defined above.
| Skin Aging (A, D, V, P) | Oxidation Factors (E, P) | Sebum Production (-, ., +) |
|---|---|---|
| (A)absent: No fine lines, neither at the corners of the lips nor eyes. The skin is of uniform color. | (E)xposed: Insufficient sun protection habits in relation to phototype and exposure frequency. | (F)ragile: The skin texture is fine. Deficient in sebum, the skin tends to dehydrate. It feels tight. |
| (D)beginner: At rest, the skin is smooth. In motion, fine lines begin to appear at the corners of the mouth and then at the corners of the eyes. The nasolabial folds (between the nose and mouth) subtly take shape. A few light brown spots may be reflected. | (P)rotected: Sufficient sun protection habits in relation to skin phototypes and exposure frequency. | (B)alanced: Comfortable and balanced, the skin's appearance is matte and its texture is regular. However, it is still susceptible to external aggressions (pollution, sun, wind). |
| (V)isible: Fine lines around the corners of the mouth and eyes are present both in motion and at rest. The skin color is not uniform, with varying amounts of brown spots on the forehead and in the creases of the nose. | (E)levated: The skin texture is uneven, pores are visible, and the skin is more or less shiny. It is prone to blemishes. | |
| (P)ronounced: Wrinkles are present across the entire face. Spots are present on the face, the décolletage, and the back of the hands. |
How often should you perform your skin diagnosis?
Every skin is unique and has its own specific characteristics that are subject to change. Indeed, skin evolves in response to daily aggressions, seasons, our environment, our hormonal cycle, the passage of time, and our lifestyle. Therefore, we suggest that you renew your skin diagnosis every 6 months on average, particularly to adapt your skincare routine to climatic variations. Indeed, your skin will not have the same needs depending on the seasons. Heat or cold, humidity or dry weather, the sun, wind, heating or air conditioning, all these factors have an impact on your skin.
The skin will not always have the same issues. For instance, it will react differently to hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause, starting/stopping/changing hormonal contraception...), environmental changes (moving to a big city, countryside, mountains, or coast), a new disease, or if you start a new dermatological treatment. Similarly, as you age, the needs expressed by your skin will also evolve. With aging, the skin becomes more fragile and produces less and less collagen and elastin, resulting in a lack of elasticity and firmness. Therefore, consider renewing it at the slightest change in your life.
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