The skin is a reflection of the human condition. The appearance of your skin can speak volumes about what lies beneath. For instance, when the human body is stricken by infection, skin appears flushed due to fever. Gastric problems leave us looking pale sometimes with a greenish tint. Cardiovascular disease may result in a bluish appearance to the skin. Diabetic skin is at risk for ulcerated sores. Autoimmune disease such as lupus can cause a butterfly rash on the face. Sensitive skin is a telltale evidence of a reaction to an environmental irritant, allergen or a cosmetic product. It may produce dry, red or itchy patches in some people. While in others cause a constellation of symptoms such as burning, stinging, tenderness and itching; without visible changes.
Studies consistently tell us that more than 50% of women experience sensitive skin at some point in their lives. When tested men show an incident of skin sensitivity on par with women. Yet when surveyed fewer men report their skin to be sensitive, hints the apparent rarity of “the sensitive male” There are many reasons why the skin becomes sensitive. A small percentage are likely to have a genetic predisposition making them more susceptible to the impact of the environment, including stress, climate change, travel, sun exposure, cosmetic overuse and mechanical irritation(friction or rubbing)
Caring for you sensitive skin
To heal sensitive skin, you need to repair & strengthen the skins moisture barrier. Once the moisture barrier is compromised, there tends to be a downwards spiral, as increased moisture loss causes a heighten inflammatory response and lessens the skins ability to self- repair. This in turn further increases moisture loss and the cycle continues. Thus step one for recovery is to remove from you regimen anything that can compromise the barrier. Such as irritating substances, exfoliation & peels. Then you need to provide the skin with ingredients that fill in & repair the barrier, such as dimethazone, allantois & lipids. This will allow the skin too heal, keeping moisture in & irritants & microbial agents out.
Minimalism rules: less is more when caring for sensitive skin. Here are some tips keeping your sensitive skin looking & feeling its best.
- Use physical sunscreen, such as zinc oxide, avoid chemical sunscreens such as oxycinimate
- Avoid hot showers, steam rooms & sauna baths
- Avoid wash clothes or loofas. Use only a smooth sponge.
- Always be gentle when touching the skin.
- Avoid alcohol, propylene glycol & glycolic acids.
- Skip toner.
- Stick with fragrance free formulas.
- Find moisturizes that include ceramides, lipids, cholesterol, allantois, dimethicone to help repair the skins barrier.
- Look for products containing oatmeal which may help with itchiness.
- For itchiness take oral antihistamine’s, such as Zyrtec, Claritin or Benadryl.
- Apply a thin layer or hypoallergenic moisturizers while the skin is still damp.
- Use a humidifier in a dry environment.
- Do not scratch or rub the skin.
Finally find an esthetician that you trust and feel comfortable with to perform a facial to access your skin & get you on a good home care regimen.