16 Baumann Skin Types

The Baumann Skin Typing System is the skin type classification system used by dermatologists and researchers to divide patients into 16 Skin Types. 

These 16 distinct skin types  are used  to design and prescribe personalized skin care regimens.

You can take the Baumann Skin Type Quiz online here. (This is the official 16 skin type test used by dermatologists and continually updated as new data is gathered.)

Knowing which of the 16 skin types you are has many advantages. Once you know your Baumann Skin Type® you can:

• Get a customized skin care routine with step by step instructions
• Get skin care product recommendations from many brands
• Talk to others with your same skin type on Reddit
• Read product reviews from others with the same Baumann Skin Type as you
• Leave product reviews to help others with your same skin type
• Receive educational emails about your skin type (You can opt out)
• Browse the skin care library to learn more about your skin's needs

Each Baumann Skin Type is determined by the presence or absence of 4 barriers to skin health.  

These barriers to skin health affect your skin's health and appearance. Your skin care routine should target all of the skin issues you may have such as:

• Dehydration
• Inflammation
• Hyperpigmentation
• Skin Aging

The skin type quiz developed by Dr. Baumann (me!) will help you discover which  of these skin barriers you have.

These are the letters used to designate the 4 barriers to skin health in an easy to understand way:

D= Dehydration or Dry Skin or O = Oily skin

S= Sensitive Skin or R= Resistant Skin

P= Uneven skin pigment (dark spots on face) or N= No dark spots

W= Wrinkle-prone or T= Tight unwrinkled skin & healthy habits

Your 4-letter skin type designation code, called the Baumann Skin Type Indicator, takes one letter from each binary selection. 

For example, DSNW is Dry, Sensitive, No uneven pigment, and Wrinkle-prone. 

Some people remember the 4 letters, but others prefer a number or color, so each 4 letter code is associated with a specific color and a number to make it easy to remember.  

Once you take the quiz you will see your colored skin type octagon on the top right of the tool bar. 

Each of the 16 skin types has its own dedicated blog post, listed below. Check out yours for specific information and strategies on your skin.
After you take the quiz, watch for educational emails specific to your skin type.

1. DSPT  Baumann Skin Type  1
2. DSNT  Baumann Skin Type  2
3. DSPW Baumann Skin Type 3
4. DSNW Baumann Skin Type 4
5. OSPT Baumann Skin Type 5
6. OSNT Baumann Skin Type 6
7. OSPW Baumann Skin Type 7
8. OSNW Baumann Skin Type 8
9. ORPT Baumann Skin Type 9
10. ORNT Baumann Skin Type 10 
11. ORPW Baumann Skin Type 11
12. ORNW Baumann Skin Type 12
13. DRPT Baumann Skin Type 13
14. DRNT Baumann Skin Type 14
15. DRPW Baumann Skin Type 15
16. DRNW Baumann Skin Type 16

Once you complete the quiz, you will be given a custom skincare routine with exact product recommendations in a step by step morning and evening skin care routine.

We will recommend our favorite product for each step of the routine, but each step has substitutes in case you have preferences or specific price ranges.

If you are logged in- You can always find the routine recommendations by clicking your skin type octagon in the tool bar.

While some skin types might be easier to take care of than others, all skin types can improve their skin by following the right custom regimen.

Each skin type is prone to a different combination of skin health concerns. It is important that you understand what barriers you have so you can a properly address them.

Each of the 16 skin types has different skin care needs. For example, Skin Type 3 can experience all four barriers to skin health, while Skin Type 10 typically experiences none.

Stay current on Skin Care, Skin Types and Skin Science by joining our community. We share content on YouTube, Tik Tok, and Instagram @SkinTypeSolutions. 

Come discuss your skin with me on Reddit -

We hope you will join our community of educated skin care enthusiasts and share reviews, experiences and advice with others with the same skin type as you.

1. Baumann, L. (2008, 2012, 2019). Cosmetics and Skin Care in Dermatology. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 7t, 8^th and 9^th New York: McGraw Hill.
2. Baumann L. Ch. 10 in Baumann’s Cosmetic Dermatology Ed. 3 (McGraw Hill 2022)
3. Baumann, L. (2006). The skin type solution: a revolutionary guide to your best skin ever. Bantam.
4. Baumann, L. (2009). The Baumann skin-type indicator: a novel approach to understanding skin type. Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, 3rd Edition, Informa Healthcare, New York, 29-40.
5. Baumann, L. (2008). Understanding and treating various skin types: the Baumann Skin Type Indicator. Dermatologic clinics, 26(3), 359-373.
6. Castanedo-Tardan, M. P., & Baumann, L. (2009). Ethics of selling skin care. Clinics in dermatology, 27(4), 355-358.
7. Baumann, L. (2020). 14 A Scientific Approach to Cosmeceuticals. The Art of Aesthetic Surgery, Three Volume Set: Principles and Techniques.
8. Baumann, Leslie S. “The Baumann Skin Typing System” in Farage MA, et al. Textbook of Aging Skin. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg (2017): 1579-1594.
9. Baumann, L. (2009). The Baumann skin-type indicator: a novel approach to understanding skin type. Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, 3rd Edition, Informa Healthcare, New York, 29-40.
10. Roberts, W. E. (2009). Skin type classification systems old and new. Dermatologic clinics, 27(4), 529-533.
11. Choi, J. Y., Choi, Y. J., Nam, J. H., Jung, H. J., Lee, G. Y., & Kim, W. S. (2016). Identifying skin type using the Baumann skin type questionnaire in Korean women who visited a dermatologic clinic. Korean Journal of Dermatology, 54(6), 422-437.
12. Cho, S. I., Kim, D., Lee, H., Um, T. T., & Kim, H. (2023). Explore highly relevant questions in the Baumann skin type questionnaire through the digital skin analyzer: A retrospective single?center study in South Korea. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
13. Oliveira, R., Ferreira, J., Azevedo, L. F., & Almeida, I. F. (2023). An Overview of Methods to Characterize Skin Type: Focus on Visual Rating Scales and Self-Report Instruments. Cosmetics, 10(1), 14.
14. Tao, M., Li, M., Zhang, Y., Gu, D., Pan, R., & Xu, Y. (2023). The relationship between the distribution of facial erythema and skin type in rosacea patients: a cross-sectional analysis. Archives of Dermatological Research, 1-4.
15. Hong, J. Y., Park, S. J., Seo, S. J., & Park, K. Y. (2020). Oily sensitive skin: A review of management options. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 19(5), 1016-1020.
16. Shin, Y. B., Kwon, C. I., Jo, J. W., Jeong, H. B., Moon, Y. S., Jung, E. C., ... & Yoon, T. J. (2018). P199: Baumann skin type in outpatient. ????? (? ???), 70(2), 457-457.
17. Park, J. W., Park, S. J., Park, K. Y., Ahn, G. Y., Seo, S. J., & Kim, M. N. (2019). P062: A study on the correlation of skin types with genetic factors and environmental factors in Koreans. ????? (? ???), 71(2), 354-354.
18. Lee, Y. B., Ahn, S. K., Ahn, G. Y., Bak, H., Hong, S. P., Go, E. J., ... & Goo, J. W. (2019). Baumann Skin Type in the Korean Male Population. Annals of Dermatology, 31(6), 621-630.
19. Ahn, S. K., Jun, M., Bak, H., Park, B. D., Hong, S. P., Lee, S. H., ... & Park, K. (2017). Baumann skin type in the Korean female population. Annals of dermatology, 29(5), 586-596.
20. Choi, J. Y., Lim, J. Y., Kim, H. S., Min, J., Kim, J. I., Seo, H. M., ... & Kim, W. S. (2015). P241: A study on Korean women's skin types by baumann skin type questionnaire. ????? (? ???), 67(2), 501-502.
21. Kim, B. K., Choe, S. J., Lee, S. H., Min, P. K., & Hana, B. (2014). P110: Analysis of Baumann skin type in Korean women. ????? (? ???), 66(2), 355-355.