If you look up in the mirror, your skin explodes with redness, burning, stinging, or itching. It’s what everyday life is if you’re dealing with sensitive skin.
While “sensitive” is a vague word, it is more common in people with skin disorders like Rosacea or eczema, according to Lauren Fine, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology. Genetics are a factor in the likelihood of developing sensitive skin, too. As she explains, People with fair skin or red hair are typically more likely to suffer from skin that gets irritated easily,
What’s happening in a cell will explain why your skin is frightened. For those with hypersensitive skin, “skin cells can’t hold on to moisture as well as they should,” Dr. Fine. “When losing more moisture, skin can easily dry out and be more reactive to products.”
The immune system could also be a factor in the inflammation that causes specific ailments, like Rosacea, and is characterized by susceptible skin, which a variety of elements in our environment can cause. According to the National Rosacea Society, factors that cause a rosacea flare-up are sunlight exposure, heat, spicy food items, and skin-care products.
Whatever your position on the scale of sensitive skin — whether it’s a diagnosed skin issue or not, you’ll need to reconsider your routine for skin care.
Here are five errors you might make if you’ve got sensitive skin. And the remedies dermatologists recommend.
1. Your Skin-Care Products Are Too Harsh
If you are cleansing your skin, try to be gentle and gentle. A cleanser that exfoliates will irritate sensitive skin, regardless of whether you feel like you require it. The ingredients included in a cleaner, which exfoliates, include alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid, and physical exfoliators, like a facial scrub made of granules.
“When it comes to getting rid of wrinkles or acne, we sometimes feel like scrubbing is the best solution, but overexfoliation will disrupt the skin barrier to make [symptoms] worse,” Says Mona Gohara, MD, a dermatologist with board certification based at Branford, Connecticut. In this case, washing with a soap-based cleanser can also break down the barrier to the skin and cause irritation the skin, she explains.
The solution with a nonsoap fragrance-free cleansing bar (see if it says pH neutral, hypoallergenic, nonsoap, nonsoap gentle, or for sensitive skin). One example is CeraVe Hydrating Cleansing Bar ($9.99, Target. According to her, using a washcloth is enough to offer a slight pressure to exfoliate and remove dead cells.
2. You’re Avoiding a Retinoid
Retinoids can be described as Vitamin A derivatives, and if you’re lucky, you’ve heard of them as a top ingredient in skin care. As per studies, if applied on the face, they increase cell turnover and collagen production, revealing more radiant skin beneath and lessening wrinkles. Their disadvantage: They’re renowned for their adverse effects, which include peeling and redness, which typically occur in the beginning because of the increase in skin turnover when it’s not familiar with treatment, according to doctors. Gohara. You might believe that having sensitive skin is a reason to disqualify the use of Retinoids. But that’s not the case.
A SolutionGohara suggests retinaldehyde, which is a precursor for the Retinoids. Skin enzymes must first convert it to retinoic acid (a retinoid), which is less powerful and, therefore, is softer and smoother, as a study has shown. Try Avene Retrinal 0.05 Cream ($62, Dermstore.com). “As long as you use a small pea-sized amount of it, work up gradually, and moisturize after, you can still use a vitamin A product on skin,” she says.
Bukuchiol might be an alternative for you. The research study published in February 2019 by the British Journal of Dermatology discovered that this ingredient worked similarly to retinol but produced less stinging and flaking.
3. You’re Relying on ‘Clean’ Beauty
If you’ve heard the call to pursue natural and organic beauty and you’re inclined to throw out your current products to go with natural alternatives, which many people believe is the best choice for skin with sensitivity. However, that’s not the case. “These are ingredients that you can have allergic or irritant reactions to, just as you can for any other ingredient,” Fine says. Fine. Furthermore, clean and natural are words used to describe products that aren’t regulated, which means they can’t be guaranteed any guarantee about the ingredients in the development, she adds.
The biggest problem with these products is essential oils. “I’ve seen people really run into problems with tea tree or lavender oil,” says Fine.
A SolutionStick with trusted brands suitable for skin with sensitive issues, such as Dove, Eucerin, Vaseline, First Aid Beauty, and Skinfix Adds Gohara. These brands concentrate on developing products that do not irritate, are usually free of dyes and fragrances, and are hypoallergenic.
4. You’re Using the Wrong Type of Sunscreen
The universal standard is to apply SPF30 sunscreen all day, regardless of the weather. This can help keep you safe from burning sun, skin cancer, and premature aging, as per the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). If you’re observing this routinely, you should now look at your sunscreen ingredients. It is recommended to contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for sensitive skin. Compared to chemical sunscreens, “these mineral ingredients tend to be less irritating and less reactive for sensitive skin types,” Fine says. Fine. (Chemical sunscreens are made up of active ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone by the AAD.)
Many protested against these formulas at one time since they could leave an icy white film on the skin because of the minerals contained. However, they’ve come a long way. “The particle size of these molecules [has been formulated] so much smaller now, and they can be easily be rubbed in,” she adds. Two mineral-based products that have been rated highly include REN Clean Screen Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 ($38, Dermstore.com) and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Pure Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer with SPF 40 ($30, Dermstore.com).
5. You’re Using Too Many Skin-Care Products
It’s not easy when you come across the latest and most popular product advertised on the internet (or even a DIY at-home face masque) and then try the product only to discover that it causes more redness on your skin. The reason is twofold: the higher the quantity of products you apply, the more ingredients in them, and the greater the likelihood that some ingredient will cause a reaction. It will cause an allergic reaction in sensitive skin. Fine. Fine.
The second is that “many individuals use creams that they believe are moisturizers, but they actually contain active ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids, retinols, or retinols. Look for words such as’retinol or retinaldehyde or ‘glycolic mandelic, or lactic acids.’ They are often hidden everywhere,” she says. Therefore, the cream you’re applying may be packed with anti-aging ingredients. The double layer could irritate.
A SolutionMake sure you’re using a simple or light moisturizer (meaning that there aren’t any active ingredients specifically designed to treat acne or serve as anti-aging agents). Try Cetaphil Facial Hydrating Lotion ($17.99, Ulta.com) and Skinfix Eczema + Dermatitis Face Balm ($28, Sephora.com). If you are using products containing these active ingredients, apply this moisturizer. If you’re looking for a better option, you may apply a moisturizer before applying these products if you are particularly sensitive, she suggests.