Your skin is your body's largest organ, having more surface area than your heart, lung, liver, spleen and stomach combined.
It protects your body from such outside invaders as bacteria, helps keep your temperature stable, and is waterproof.
It plays a vital role in keeping you healthy and comfortable.
Because skin is such a major part of our bodies, however, it is not surprising that it can also be a major source of problems.
During adolescence, skin can cause seemingly endless aggravation: it becomes oily and irritable and often breaks out in the sea of blackheads and red bumps, usually timed to be at their peak the night of your most important party or date.
Whether caring for dry or oily or combination skin, the key is to strike a balance that keeps your skin clean and yet allows enough oil to remain for comfort.
If the amount of oil varies from one part of your face to another, you will have to use different cleansing techniques for each area.
Start by gently washing your face with a mild soap each morning.
Remember that hot water dries the skin more than cold.
During the day, rewash only the oilier areas of your skin.
Some people use pre-moistened wipes that you can buy in a drug or grocery store.
Before you go to sleep at night, wash again, removing all make up, removing all makeup; you may want to use only cool water and no soap on the drier areas.
Only a few weeks, by varying the temperature of the water and the frequency of washing, you should find the right combination from both your dry and oily skin.