All You Need to Know About Identifying and Treating Sensitive Skin
Does your skin become dry, itchy, or redden when you use skincare and cosmetic products? You are likely to have sensitive skin.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 60-70% of women and 50-60% of men report symptoms of sensitive skin. However, many people are confused about what skin sensitivity is and what to do about it.
Sensitive skin is a case where the skin is more easily irritated by pollution, environmental factors, typically, cosmetic products. It is not a medical term either; instead, it is a self-diagnosed and usually self-controlled condition.
This condition is a broad spectrum. It can range from severe sensitivity caused by underlying medical conditions such as eczema or rosacea, to mildly sensitive skin that reacts only to harsh products.
Types of Skin Sensitivity
Skin sensitivity has many faces. Some people do not even know that they have it until they try to use some products, while others have to be very careful with everything, from the soap they clean up with.
That is because there are many types of skin sensitivity. Here are some of them.
Natural sensitivity - This is sensitivity caused by an underlying condition, usually genetic. Some skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea are part of natural sensitivity.
Environmental sensitivity - Environmental factors trigger skin sensitivity, then you can be said to have this type. Such factors can be weather-based or linked to pollution, smoke, or exposure to the sun, which should not usually irritate the skin.
Reactive skin - This is skin that reacts adversely to the skin products and cosmetics you use while being normal in all other conditions. It is easily identified by skin flaring up only on the places where the product has been applied.
Thin skin - This is another common factor, especially among women. The skin is more irritable due to its inadequate protection from the environment.
What Causes Sensitive Skin
Skin sensitivity is more about what causes it. A more in-depth look at these causative factors will help in the understanding of this condition. These are some of the causes of sensitive skin.
Natural predisposition - Natural skin sensitivity results from underlying conditions that make it hard to control. For example, thin skin is more vulnerable to irritants that would otherwise be harmless such as sunlight, strong soaps, creams, and even weather conditions.
Genetics - some skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea result from genetic conditions. They make the skin uncommonly reactive and sensitive even to the smallest factors.
Dryness - Dry skin is more susceptible to cracking, scaling, peeling, and flaking. It leaves weak points where irritants can act more strongly than usual.
Contact dermatitis - While it is a form of natural sensitivity, contact dermatitis only causes the skin to flare up when some products or cosmetics come into contact with it.
Allergy - For people who are allergic to things like skincare products, environmental factors, and jewelry, the skin becomes irritated at the point of contact. It is very similar to contact dermatitis, and common allergens include soaps, lotions, plants, fragrances, cosmetics, and metals on jewelry such as nickel.
How to Identify Sensitive Skin
It is quite easy to identify the symptoms of sensitive skin, which makes it mostly self-diagnosed. From its causes, you can determine when your skin is uncommonly irritated by the factors mentioned above.
However, it is such a broad topic that most people are confused about what exactly constitutes skin sensitivity. The following guide can help you understand whether or not you have sensitive skin based on its signs
Redness/Flushing
If your skin flushes easily or becomes very red, regardless of the cause, you might have sensitive skin. Flushing comes about when the blood capillaries just underneath the skin dilate and fill with blood.
Flushing is different from blushing because it results in more redness and lasts longer. However, flushing can also come about when it is hot, when you exert yourself, as a result of high amounts of niacin in the blood, and even due to fever.
The flushing that usually accompanies sensitive skin comes about more often and is more prominent. It can also occur immediately after exposure to allergens or the application of a product.
2. Rashes and Bumps
Rashes and bumps are a more sure way of diagnosing sensitive skin. When you have tiny red bumps on the skin, that is a sure sign that the skin is irritated in that area.
Such rashes can vary in appearance. How they look and feel can inform you on what causes the irritation and what type of skin sensitivity it is.
Acne - a breakout of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or deep painful cysts can constitute acne. While for some people it may be natural, look to see if it corresponds to any product you have used recently.
Red itchy rashes are a sign of eczema.
A weepy, oozy rash is often a sign of contact dermatitis, especially if it occurs in an area that has been exposed to an irritant.
Red itchy bumps that appear suddenly and resolve themselves are called hives. They are one of the most common signs of sensitivity to certain factors, such as cosmetics.
3. Stinging or Burning Sensation
If your skin stings or burns the moment it comes into contact with cosmetics and skincare products, it means that there is something in that product that irritates it. You should immediately discontinue the product and gently wipe it off the skin.
Stinging is an indicator of thin skin, showing that there is a smaller layer of protection than is usual. In such cases, you can usually solve the problem by using gentle skincare products.
4. Dry Patches
Dry patches and scaling are signs of skin sensitivity caused by eczema. It comes about when the skin does not trap moisture effectively, causing scaling. There are non-sensitive creams you can use for this, such as the Kapyderm skin care creams, which you can find and order here.
5. Itchy Skin
Itchy skin is usually accompanied by other signs such as rashes and dryness. By itself, itchy skin can result from excessive washing with soap or hot water, which removes the protective oily layer.
6. Broken Capillaries
When you have red splotches just beneath the skin surface that don’t seem to go away, you have broken capillaries. They usually occur around the nose, cheeks, and chin.
Broken capillaries can result from windburns, extreme temperature changes, U.V. damage, and trauma to the skin. They are more common in people with rosacea, but if you have them more often, it is a sign of sensitive skin.
7. Break Outs
Breakouts of acne, pimples, and rashes also occur when the skin overreacts to stimuli by producing too much oil. This oil then clogs the pores on the skin, causing dirt to accumulate and pimples to form.
If you have frequent breakouts, that is a sign of more sensitive skin than usual. That is especially true if it seems to happen with nor external cause.
How to Manage and Treat Sensitive Skin
While there is no permanent cure for sensitive skin, but it is very easy to control. For the vast majority of people, it is a simple matter of avoiding the things that irritate their skin.
However, it can be more severe than that. For people with more sensitive skin, there are specific steps they can take to reduce the chances of a flare-up.
Use Lukewarm Water for Showers
For people with sensitive skin, hot water showers are especially bad. Besides being an irritant itself due to the high temperatures, hot water also takes away the protective oily layer from the skin.
Instead, clean up with warm water. Take about 5-10 minutes in the shower to avoid prolonged exposure. When you are down, pat yourself dry instead of rubbing to minimize friction.
2. Stop Exfoliating
Exfoliation removes the dead layer of cells from the skin. For sensitive people, this is one of the worst things you can do. It leaves the soft, delicate skin beneath exposed.
3. Swap Harsh Skin Care Products for Hypoallergenic ones
Harsh skincare products are the number one cause of skin irritation. Even people with thick skin can get irritated. Some of these chemicals include powerful detergents, scented soaps, and creams.
When choosing products like moisturizers, soaps, perfumes, and creams, try to stick to organic ones. You can also use gentle laundry detergents, unscented soaps, and hypoallergenic creams when shaving.
Whenever you are in doubt of a product, test it on a discreet area of your skin for at least a day before using it.
4. Use Gentle Moisturizer
To combat dry skin, use moisturizing creams to keep it hydrated and soft. This helps to avoid flaking, cracking, and even itching. Using an antibacterial sanitizer and moisturizer goes a long way toward dealing with dry, itchy skin.
5. Keep Out of Harsh Weather
If harsh weather is a risk factor for you, then you need to take extra care to be safe from adverse weather conditions. For example,
When out in the sun, cover your skin. Also, be sure to put on effective sunblock to keep away harmful U.V. rays.
Avoid extreme temperatures. Unusually high or low temperatures are a significant cause of broken capillaries, rashes, and other problems associated with sensitive skin.
If you are sensitive to smoke, always make sure to avoid it. Stay away from smokers, candles, poorly ventilated garages, etc.
6. Eat Well
Diet affects your skin as much as it does your heart or immunity. The first thing you should note is that some foods are common trigger factors that can make sensitive skin worse. These include soy, dairy, gluten, eggs, peanuts, and alcohol. You should also not smoke if you have sensitive skin.
Instead, eat foods rich in 'good' fats such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring), avocados, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. These foods are also important sources of Vitamin E and Zinc, two other components of healthy skin.
Other foods for sensitive skin are sweet potatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, and grapes. Dark chocolate is also good for your skin.
Products for Sensitive Skin
People with sensitive skin have a hard time finding the right products to use. Most of the time, an ingredient in the products can cause flare-ups. Some of these harsh ingredients you should look out for include:
Retinol - While it helps treat acne and boost collagen, it can also cause peeling and redness. Instead, go for Bakuchiol.
Salicylic acid - It is the number one product for fighting black and whiteheads, but it also causes dryness and irritation. Look for Witch hazel, an effective herbal extract to help unclog pores.
Coconut oil - Coconut oil is excellent for most people, but if you have extremely sensitive skin, you're better off with jojoba oil.
Hyaluronic acid - A common ingredient in moisturizers, H.A is not irritative in itself, but it allows irritant creams to pass through the skin. You can go for squalane instead.
Benzoyl peroxide - It can cause rough, dry, painful skin, although it is great at fighting acne and killing bacteria. Instead, go for products with Azelaic acids.
Tocopherol/vitamin E - It helps increase the shelf life of cosmetics, but it can increase the incidences of contact dermatitis. If you are affected, you can switch to melatonin instead.
Hydroquinone - The controversy surrounding this product, along with animal testing and links to carcinogens, is enough to put you off. Instead, go for products with tranexamic acid (T.A.).
The list of irritative ingredients is long, which is why Kapyderm USA specializes in helping people with sensitive skin find the righttreatments from plant-based products for their skin and hair.
We sell therapeutic-plan based skincare products, with visits to our authorized centers as well as home care kits to help you find out what works for you. Explore our page Kapyderm USA to find the right products and never have to worry about harsh cosmetics side effects again.
Our Sensitive Skin Treatment Plan
Sensitive skin is a widespread condition. Once you determine that your skin is more sensitive than usual, you need to take the right steps to minimize flares up.
You can trust Cranberry-Sturgeon to bring you the best products for sensitive skin. Our treatments include visits to our centers for extreme cases, as well as home use kits.
You can purchase our home treatment kit to bring skin sensitivity into control. The plan will go on for six months, with a treatment once every week. You can also opt for a 6-week treatment plan at one of our centers, but these are not operational yet.
Our treatments are designed to improve the skin, reduce inflammation, and give extra protection against external agents. Reach out to us today to learn how you can get relief from sensitive skin.
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