Sensitive Skin

Ok, you have sensitive skin, not so unusual, lots of people have sensitive skin. All it means is that your skin can become itchy red, swollen or sensitive to certain things placed on your skin or even environmental conditions can irritate it.

 Why does skin become sensitive?

There are lots of reasons why our skin becomes sensitive but if you think about the things we expose our skin to on a daily basis there's a lot of different chemical exposures there.  Things like soaps, toners, blemish reducers, acne concealers, foundations, blush, facial masks, after shave lotion – the list goes on!

Even the toughest of skin might encounter a reaction with all that we expose it to.

Causes of sensitive skin

Trying to pinpoint the cause of sensitive skin is not always as simple as discontinuing use of a certain product. Because of the nature of sensitive skin, it can take hours or even days before the signs of sensitivity are visible. And the sensitivity may not be caused by a product. Exposure to the sun can create skin problems, as can extremely hot water. Your laundry detergent, fabric softeners, shampoo, perfume, hair spray, and even the household cleaning products you use can be the culprit. Certain foods and even some plants can cause symptoms of an allergic reaction as well.

Healthy skin is less sensitive because it's able to act as an effective barrier. Sunburned skin, skin that's excessively dry and skin that is otherwise damaged tends to be more sensitive. That's one reason why people who don't normally have sensitive skin develop skin sensitivity during winter months when dry, cold air strips skin of its protective moisture.

How to treat sensitive skin

Before sensitive skin can be treated, it's important to figure out the underlying cause of the problem. It may be necessary to seek the advice of a dermatologist as you may have a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis or rosacea. Here are some tips for treating sensitive skin.

Start reading product labels - the fewer skin care ingredients, the better. Avoid products ingredients containing alcohol, fragrances, botanicals, antibacterial, ethanol and propylene glycol.

Spot test new facial products before applying to entire face. Apply a few dabs behind ears for 5 days, and if there's no reaction, apply beside eyes for another 5 days. If all goes well, full facial coverage likely will be safe.  

Choose natural fabrics for pillowcases and washcloths like 100% cotton or silk instead of synthetic materials. Check your 'cotton' balls, too. Some look like cotton but really are polyester.

Eat a balanced diet to ensure skin gets the nutrients it needs to remain healthy.

Keep skin moist and always apply sun protection.

Gently clean skin. Avoid harsh products like scrubbing mitts, excessively hot water and abrasive exfoliating products.