The DSPT skin type is one of 16 unique skin types identified in the Baumann Skin Typing System, a dermatologist-developed skin typing system created by professor Leslie Baumann in 2005. If you have dry, sensitive, pigmented, and tight skin, your Baumann skin type is DSPT.
Dark spots are likely to be your main skin concern; however, with sensitive skin, you may struggle to target them effectively. To achieve your skin goals, it’s important to select brightening products that are gentle enough for your skin type.
This post is part of a series on the Baumann Skin Typing System, a dermatologist-developed skin typing system with 16 different skin types. If you are a DSPT skin type, keep reading; if not, take our quiz to find your unique skin type!
On this post:
- What is the Baumann Skin Typing System?
- What are the 16 Baumann skin types?
- The DSPT skin type: How to identify it
- How to care for DSPT skin
What is the Baumann Skin Typing System?
The Baumann Skin Type Indicator, or Baumann Skin Typing System, is a skin type classification system created by dermatology professor Leslie Baumann. It was first unveiled in the book “The Skin Type Solution”, published in 2005, and it’s since taken the world of beauty by storm.
Rather than rely on the traditional skin types we’re all familiar with (think dry, normal, or oily skin), the Baumann system is based around skin characteristics. According to Leslie Baumann, each person can be placed on either side of these four parameters, resulting in a unique skin type:
- Oily (O) versus Dry (D)
- Sensitive (S) versus Resistant (R)
- Pigmented (P) versus Nonpigmented (N)
- Wrinkled (W) versus Tight or Unwrinkled (T)
What are the 16 Baumann skin types?
In the table below, you will be able to find the 16 Baumann skin types, divided by the two characteristics that are often easier to identify: Oily (O) versus Dry (D) skin, and Sensitive (S) versus Resistant (R) skin:
| Dry | Oily | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitive | DSNT DSNW DSPT → you are here DSPW |
OSNT OSNW OSPT OSPW |
| Resistant | DRNT DRNW DRPT DRPW |
ORNT ORNW ORPT ORPW |
The DSPT skin type: How to identify it
The DSPT skin type is dry, sensitive, pigmented, and tight (unwrinkled). Let’s dive a little deeper into what that means:
Dry
According to Leslie Baumann’s system, dry skin has low sebum production and a moisture imbalance; for this reason, it needs a little more help than oily skin. Among the concerns associated with dry skin, are decreased sebum production, of course, but also rough texture, tightness, and a dull appearance that doesn’t quite reflect the light.
Sensitive
There are four unique subtypes of sensitive skin in the Baumann system: acne, rosacea, stinging, and allergic. The four subtypes can be useful when building pathology-centric skincare routines (especially for the acne and rosacea subtypes), but you don’t have to go that deep if you don’t want to.
The important thing to keep in mind is that inflammation is the common trait among the four subtypes of sensitive skin. Because of this, sensitive skin will typically require more complex care to tackle the source of inflammation without triggering further reactions.
Pigmented
“Pigmented” skin types have a tendency to develop uneven and unwanted pigmentation, such as dark spots and patches, melasma, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Hyperpigmentation is an incredibly common skin concern, but it’s also very challenging to get around. If you struggle with dark spots and want to correct them, you should make them your topmost priority when building your skincare routine.
Tight
“Tight” skin doesn’t have any visible signs of aging–yet. If you have a “tight” skin type, you have two possible options when building your skincare routine: you can keep things simple and make sure your skin stays healthy and hydrated, or you can turn it up a notch and focus on preventing the first signs of aging. The choice is yours, and it’ll depend on a lot of factors: your age, your lifestyle, the environmental aggressions you’re exposed to, and so much more.
How to care for DSPT skin
If your skin type is DSPT, you have dry, sensitive, pigmented, and tight skin. Dark spots are likely to be your main skin concern; however, with sensitive skin, you may struggle to target them effectively.
When putting together a skincare routine for your DSPT skin type, you may want to focus on the following essentials:
- A gentle cleanser that won’t trigger your sensitive skin;
- A brightening treatment (could be a serum or cream, depending on your preferences) formulated with tried-and-tested ingredients, like azelaic, kojic, or tranexamic acids, or Thiamidol;
- A night cream to keep your dry skin happy and pampered. You may not use it every day, but you’ll be glad to have it;
- A very high protection sunscreen for daily wear. Super important to prevent further dark spots!
Discover your DSPT skincare routine now:
To help you out, we’ve put together two DSPT skincare routines you can try. Both feature brightening products that are gentle enough for your skin type. The only difference? The second routine is all-vegan, so it’ll match not only your skincare needs, but also your beliefs:
The Baumann Skin Typing System may seem a little complicated at first, but it’s a simple, intuitive way to classify skin types based on 4 characteristics that everyone can understand. If you are a DSPT skin type, you know your skin is dry, sensitive, pigmented, and tight; following the routines above, you will be able to care for your skin according to its specific needs. Still need a little help? Then don’t hesitate to contact our beauty experts; we’ll be glad to help!
