Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is characterized by unusual sensitivity to some skin care products, weather conditions and other skin irritants such as pollution or allergies. Those with this skin type develop rashes, sunburn easily and experience reddened skin due to the burst blood vessels or capillaries.
Sensitive skin is also thinner than other skin types and is often more affected by heat and extreme temperatures. Skin eczema (dermatitis) is also closely associated with sensitive skin.
Some of the common things known to irritate sensitive-skin are:
-chemicals in skin care products such as parabens-detergents and other cleaning products-synthetic fibers in clothing as well as latex found in gloves-harsh soaps and cleansers -heat and ultraviolet rays given off by the sun
-shaving or waxing
-some medications such as those commonly used for acne or blemishes
Sensitive Skin Care
The main goal when treating sensitive skin as part of a basic or advanced skincare regimen is to make sure that gentle, non-abrasive products and compounds are used. Irritation of the skin can cause a host of different problems ranging from rashes, blemishes and cracks to redness and dry patches.
Using skincare products that include certain ingredients can irritate the skin in ways that may not be visible on the outer layers. This irritation can weaken the immune and healing responses in skin and can lead to other skin problems and possibly premature aging of sensitive skin. A good guideline to go by is if your skin begins tingling when exposed to certain products or environments, it is likely being irritated.
BE GENTLE. Learning to go easy on your skin during your skin care routine, especially on your face, can lead to a more consistent appearance and less irritation. An important thing to note is that you do not want to always be gentle if you have sensitive skin. This can condition the skin to become irritated easily and not build up resilience. Using more rigorous treatments at night prior to sleeping can help "toughen up" your skin and help you avoid having to be out with irritated skin.
Cleansing - soft washcloths such as those made of chamois or flannel are preferred over cotton or any other substance. Cleansers should be a water based sensitive skin lotion or cleansing cream. What you want to also avoid in a cleanser are those ingredients that strip away hydrating elements and can leave the skin raw.
Skin Toners - toners with glycerin or pure aloe gel are the most non-irritating. these toners can also provide hydration while helping to remove debris and dead skin cells from pores. Avoid using toners that contain isopropyl alcohol or chemical astringents.
Moisturizers - light to medium weight moisturizers are appropriate for sensitive skin. Care should be exercised when choosing moisturizers with citric acid and vitamin c since these can be skin irritants.
To help desensitize skin, it is advisable to add alpha hydroxy acids such as those found in retinol cream and eye wrinkle cream.
These can also be found in an AHA aging skin cream cleanser. Use of these products over time (primarily at night) can help sensitive skin to become less sensitive since the ingredients are aggressive in exfoliating and cleaning. It is important to test or dilute these types of sensitive skin care products to make sure they do not overly irritate the skin.
