How to Take Care of Sensitive Skin and What Causes It
Sensitive skin itself isn’t a medical condition. It is not something you are born with but it can be caused by other factors. It can also be a symptom of other conditions such as rosacea, eczema, etc.
Moreover, sensitive skin is one of the hardest skin types to take care of. This is all because it can be ruined with certain products which can cause you terrible reactions and allergies.
Women with sensitive skin say that they had to narrow down their routines, identify ingredients that were triggers for redness, and toss many unnecessary products.
Below are some tips that we have gathered on how to take care of sensitive skin. These tips are tested by women with sensitive skin and dermatologists.
Sensitive Skin isn’t a Clinical Term - According to Dermatologists
Dermatologists say that sensitive skin isn’t a clinical term. Instead, your dermatologist will probably just check out if your skin is more reactive to some ingredients than other skin types.
Our skin can be irritated by many factors: sun, cold, wind, and products like lotions and creams with fragrance. Sensitive skin symptoms can be different for everybody. While some have redness and itchiness, others experience heavy stinging and burning after contact with irritants.
Photo by Chermiti Mohamed on Unsplash
If your Skin Is Frequently Sensitive Check Out these Underlying Conditions
Sometimes, our skin reacts to some products and that is okay. However, if you notice ongoing sensitivity of your skin, then you might check for underlying conditions.
You might be dealing with:
- Eczema - also known as atopic dermatitis causing your skin to be dry, itchy, and inflamed.
- Rosacea - appears as red skin, with swelling and visible blood vessels.
- Psoriasis - patches on different parts of the face and body that are dry, flaky, and rashy.
- Irritant Contact Dermatitis - a red itchy rash that is followed by dry skin and bumps and blisters.
So, how to know if you have one of these conditions or simply sensitive skin? If your skin becomes extremely red or irritated out of the blue followed by burning or itching then you should talk to your dermatologist.
Otherwise, if you put on some product and feel stinging then you probably have a bad reaction to some ingredient or fragrance in the same product.
Sensitive Skin Comes As We Age
It is completely normal for the skin barriers to break down as we age. With age, the lipid barrier starts to replace less frequently, so many of us become irritated easily.
That is usually why it happens that some products don’t suit us anymore. You might also be experiencing more dryness since the skin can’t hold onto moisture as well as in youth.
Photo by Jessica Felicio on Unsplash
5 Tips on How to Take Care of Sensitive Skin
Now, these are the things you should do if you notice sensitive skin. You will see - small routine changes, big differences for your skin.
Cleanse With Gentle Products
According to dermatologists, when you have sensitive skin it is best to stay minimal, even when it comes to cleansing. You need a product that will cleanse the skin, yet won’t strip off the layer of it and leave it tight.
Some recommend micellar waters as the best possible solution. They are known to be very gentle, yet effective in cleaning even water-proof makeup. Most people use it as the first step of a double cleanse method, but if you have sensitive skin, use it exclusively.
Stick With Gentle, Fragrance-Free Products
One of the basic pieces of advice that dermatologists like to give is to stick with products that are fragrance-free, gentle, and with a simple ingredients list. We know: it is not an easy job to find those products, but it is definitely worth trying.
Look out for products that are formulated for sensitive skin, meaning they don’t have any harsh ingredients. You should avoid dyes, sulfates, preservatives, alcohols, certain botanical oils, and most importantly fragrance.
Stay Away From Mechanical Exfoliants
If your skin is sensitive, then you should consider staying away from abrasive scrubs and other mechanical exfoliants. Unfortunately, they can harm your skin causing tiny tears. Be careful with cleaning brushes as well. Use those that are gentle, or avoid using them.
Heavy Moisturizing
Amplify moisturizing should help sensitive skin heal. By choosing rich and heavy creams for your skin you will boost moisture and protect it from all pollutants and environmental factors.
The ingredients you want to see in the cream are those that lock the moisture. Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, squalane, and mineral water are super-effective ingredients that help moisture stay in your skin.
Use New Products Carefully
It is not forbidden for people with sensitive skin to introduce new products to their routine, but they should do it with caution. If you can, talk to your dermatologist before buying some product that intrigues you. Also, make sure to read the ingredient list and rule out all those harsh ingredients that can irritate.
Start slow then see how a product suits you. Gradually, your skin should build up a tolerance. Select lower concentration and smaller amount. You can mix a new product with something you are already using and secure your skin against irritations.
