The DSPW 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 wrinkled skin, your Baumann skin type is DSPW.
The main concerns of this skin type are dark spots and signs of aging. To correct them, you must build your routine around brightening and anti-aging products; however, you must take care not to disrupt your dry sensitive skin. It’s a tough balance to strike, but it can be done!
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 DSPW 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 DSPW skin type: How to identify it
- How to care for DSPW 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 DSPW → you are here |
OSNT OSNW OSPT OSPW |
| Resistant | DRNT DRNW DRPT DRPW |
ORNT ORNW ORPT ORPW |
The DSPW skin type: How to identify it
The DSPW skin type is dry, sensitive, pigmented, and wrinkled. To help you understand what each of those characteristics mean, here’s a little summary:
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.
Wrinkled
In the Baumann system, “Wrinkled” skin isn’t just affected by wrinkles; it’s also affected by other signs of aging, such as dullness, loss of elasticity and firmness, and just an overall “aged” and “tired” look. Skin aging is inevitable, but there’s still a lot you can do to minimize signs of aging if that’s a priority for you.
How to care for DSPW skin
If your skin type is DSPW, you have dry, sensitive, pigmented, and wrinkled skin. Dark spots and signs of aging are the main issues on your “to correct” list. Keep in mind, however, that you’ve got to take it easy with the active ingredients; after all, your skincare routine must be gentle enough for your dry sensitive skin. Here are some essentials we recommend for your DSPW skin type:
- A gentle cleanser that won’t deplete your dry skin;
- An exfoliating toner to help fade dark spots and signs of aging;
- An anti-aging and anti-dark spot serum for evening use. Try retinol if you can, but keep an eye out for sensitivity;
- A lightweight moisturizer to rebalance your skin after using retinol or other powerful active ingredients;
- A very high protection sunscreen for daily wear. You’ll need this to keep dark spots under control!
Discover your DSPW skincare routine now:
To help you out on your skincare journey, we’ve put together two DSPW skincare routines you can try. They both offer an effective combination of potent active ingredients and moisture-boosting essentials. The only difference? The second routine is all-vegan, so it’ll match not only your skincare needs, but also your lifestyle:
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 DSPW skin type, you know your skin is dry, sensitive, pigmented, and wrinkled; 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!
