Skin type quiz: is your skin oily, dry, combination or normal?

Your skin type is one of five groups the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) names: oily, dry, normal, combination or sensitive. Oily skin is shiny and greasy. Dry skin is flaky, itchy or rough. Normal skin is clear and not sensitive. Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others. Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use. The AAD says to ask a board-certified dermatologist if you are not sure.

The American Academy of Dermatology names five skin types: oily, dry, normal, combination and sensitive. Sensitive skin can come with any of the other four, so this quiz shows it as a separate yes, maybe or no answer. For example, a person can have combination skin that also stings after some products. Research systems such as the Baumann skin type system split skin into more groups, while the AAD's care advice uses these five.

You can tell oily from dry skin by how your face looks and feels on a normal day. The AAD describes oily skin as shiny and greasy, and says people with oily skin can use blotting papers during the day to take up oil. Dry skin is flaky, itchy or rough, per the AAD, and MedlinePlus lists skin tightness, especially after bathing, as a sign of dry skin. Oil in some areas and dryness in others fits combination skin.

Combination skin looks oily in some areas and dry in others. The AAD says the oily part is often the T-zone, which is the forehead, nose and chin, while other areas stay normal or dry. An AAD dermatologist tells people with combination skin to treat their face as two faces: moisturize the dry spots and skip moisturizer on the oily areas.

Oily skin comes from the oil glands in the skin making large amounts of oil, according to MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus says your genes and hormones play a key role in whether you have oily skin, and that diet probably has little, if anything, to do with it. The National Institutes of Health adds that hormones called androgens rise during puberty and make the oil glands larger.

Oily skin may show fewer wrinkles, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The AAD says oil helps preserve the skin, and that people with oily skin tend to have thicker skin and fewer wrinkles. The same AAD page notes the downside: oily skin can clog pores and lead to more acne breakouts. Daily sunscreen matters for every skin type, since the AAD says it can slow down skin aging.

Dry skin can lead to more breakouts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The AAD says that when your skin becomes dry, your body makes more oil, and the extra oil can clog pores. Its advice is to use a moisturizer labeled oil-free, non-comedogenic or won't clog pores, and to apply it when your skin feels dry. The AAD adds that many acne treatments dry and irritate the skin, and a daily moisturizer helps skin handle them.

Oily skin needs moisturizer too, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, which tells people with oily skin to apply it after cleansing to keep skin hydrated. An AAD dermatologist adds that too much moisturizer can clog pores for some people, and suggests a light gel or skipping it. Products labeled oil free and noncomedogenic are the AAD's pick, since it says they will not clog pores.

Combination skin needs moisturizer on its dry areas only, according to an AAD dermatologist. Dr. Rebecca Kazin tells people with combination skin to treat their face as though it is two faces: moisturize the dry spots and skip the oily areas. She says some people should never put moisturizer on the center of the face, and that the nose probably never needs it.

Sensitive skin means skin that stings, burns or itches after contact with products or other things that should not cause those feelings. The AAD describes it as skin that may sting or burn after product use. A 2017 expert paper in Acta Dermato-Venereologica adds that the skin can look normal or red, and that the feelings are not explained by another skin disease. It can affect any part of the body, especially the face.

Skin type can change with age and weather, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The AAD says skin makes less oil with age, and that the amount drops by your 40s. It also says low humidity and indoor heating in winter can make skin dry. The National Institutes of Health says hormones rise during puberty and make the oil glands produce more oil, which can make skin oilier in the teen years.

Normal skin can get acne. The National Institutes of Health says people of all races and ages get acne, and that it is most common in teens and young adults. The AAD describes normal skin as clear and not sensitive, so frequent pimples fit better with oily or combination skin. MedlinePlus says oily skin may lead to acne. If you get pimples often, a doctor or Skinli's photo check can help you plan care.

A skin type quiz gives a useful starting point, but its answers match lab tests only in part. A 2026 study of 71 people in Skin Research and Technology found that a well-known skin type questionnaire's oily-versus-dry score had a poor but real link to measured skin oil. Your own notes over a few normal days help, and the AAD says to talk with a board-certified dermatologist if you are not sure of your skin type.

Dry skin should be checked by a doctor when it cracks, bleeds, itches most of the time, keeps you from sleeping, or does not improve with care. MedlinePlus says to contact a provider if dryness and itching keep you from sleeping or self-care does not help. The AAD says self-care tends to show results within 2 weeks, and that a medical condition such as atopic dermatitis can cause excessively dry skin.