Does your skin have a sensitive side? This skin type can be tricky to care for – and choosing the right skin care products can feel like throwing the dice. One misstep and you could worsen your temperamental complexion and produce a myriad of uncomfortable symptoms. Here's everything you need to know about sensitive skin, plus our tips to keep it calm, cool, and collected.
What is sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin does not manifest itself in the same way in everyone due to its wide variety of symptoms. Its severity can range from moderate discomfort to severe reactions, and its frequency can vary from the occasional flare-up to more persistent daily sensitivity.
Eminence Organics Product supervisor and certified beautician Josie Barton Says: “Sensitive skin is typically described as skin that regularly endures unpleasant sensations such as heat, stinging, burning and tingling sensations caused by forms of stimulation that would not normally result in this type of reaction in a“ normal ”skin type. ” If you find that your skin is easily irritated by environmental stressors like sun, wind, and pollution and / or topical products like lotions or fragrances, you may have sensitive skin.
This skin type is usually described as skin that regularly experiences unpleasant sensations such as heat, stinging, burning, and tingling sensations caused by forms of stimulation that combine this type of reactionnormal skin type.
Sensitivity to irritation versus allergic sensitivity
According to Dr. Hooman Khorasani, Dermatological and Cosmetic Surgeon, there are two different types of sensitivity – irritation sensitivity and allergic sensitivity.
"Sensitivity to irritation is irritating to everyone's skin and is independent of your immune system. Although most areas of skin react to irritants, someone with sensitive skin would see a more dramatic reaction," explains Dr. Khorasani. These symptoms can include itching, redness, dryness, rashes or breakouts In comparison, allergic sensitivity is dependent on your immune system and requires prior exposure to the allergen. Since allergic sensitivity is due to each specific immune system, unlike irritation sensitivity, only a portion of the population is affected.
Whatever the cause, sensitive skin is a skin type that is caused by a genetic predisposition to skin sensitivity and irritation. It's also a common symptom of genetic disorders like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. You can't change your skin type, but you can adjust your daily habits as well Skin care routine to treat its symptoms.
How to know if you have sensitive or sensitized skin
Another point of confusion with your potentially sensitive skin is whether it is sensitive at all – or whether it is actually sensitized. Sensitized skin is a skin condition characterized by skin irritation that develops over time due to environmental factors and lifestyle choices. Skin care from Alana Says, "Some of the biggest factors that cause sensitized skin are pollution, stress, and alcohol use." In contrast to sensitive skin, the symptoms of sensitized skin can be "fixed" over time with targeted skin care products and lifestyle changes.
Sensitive and sensitized skin share a key trait – an impaired lipid barrier. Your skin's lipid barrier is the protective, oily outer layer that performs two functions: It keeps water and environmental stressors (such as UV rays, harsh chemicals, and pollution) away. Emily Newsom, MD says to YOURSELF: "You can think of your skin barrier as a wall, which is put together with mortar between the skin cells." This mortar is weakened and more permeable for sensitive or sensitized skin. When an irritant creeps through the lipid barrier, your immune system triggers an inflammatory response. This reaction – characterized by redness, pain, and itching – is what you experience as sensitivity.
Sensitive skin symptoms and signs
Signs of sensitive and sensitized skin also overlap. However, sensitized skin symptoms often go away once the lipid barrier has been repaired, while they tend to be more persistent in sensitive skin. Both are displayed A range of symptoms that occur minutes to hours after exposure to a particular ingredient or environmental trigger. Here are five tell-tale signs of sensitive skin:
1. Rinses easily
Whether your The face turns red after cleansing or just from a cool gust of wind. Your skin's tendency to blush is a sign that its barrier function is impaired.
Everyday health Says: "Regardless of whether your face turns red after cleansing or is just exposed to a cool gust of wind, your skin's tendency to blush is a sign that its barrier function is impaired." This redness is due to an inflammatory response in your immune system. When you try to heal, blood rushes to the surface of your sensitive skin.
2. Prone to rashes and bumps
When exposed to a trigger, sensitive skin on the face often reacts with a red, flaky, or bumpy rash. According to Healthgrades, this is especially true for topical products like facial serums and moisturizers that are left on the skin and are not meant to be rinsed off.
3. Itches
In addition to rashes and bumps, sensitive skin can become itchy and tight, especially after cleaning with products that contain harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances. It is often associated with dryness and / or dehydration, which can make the skin feel prickly and parched.
4. Beauty products sting or sting
Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi tells Curls: "You know you have sensitive skin when most of the products you put on your skin cause stinging or redness."Since sensitive skin has a broken lipid barrier, fragrances and active ingredients can penetrate more easily and deeply and cause a stinging, burning or tingling sensation.
5. Responds to scent
Dermatologists agree that fragrances are one of the most well-known causes of skin irritation and sensitivity. From laundry detergents to personal care products, many consumer products contain synthetic fragrances that can cause a reaction in sensitive skin.
Do you suffer from sensitive skin? Let us know how you deal with your skin type in the comments below or on social media.
This post was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.