Sensitive skin is a common issue that can be caused by a range of conditions. Although many people will suffer from sensitive skin, it is not a medical diagnosis. Typically people will have a strong inflammation or adverse reaction to chemicals, fragrances, and dyes when products containing these come into contact with the skin. This can lead to a rash or irritation of the skin. In this post, we are going to look at 6 signs of sensitive skin and discuss the different sensitive skin care tips that you can implement into your daily routine.
Dry skin
Dry skin is a common condition that many people suffer from. It can be uncomfortable and can occur anywhere on the body although it mainly affects your hands, arms, legs, and feet. When the skin loses too much oil and water, it becomes dry, leaving your skin to flake, peel, itch, crack, and bleed.
How to treat dry skin
It is important to keep your skin well moisturized. Even those with oily skin can experience dryness. Apply moisturizing cream or ointment at least twice a day to prevent your skin from drying out and to help restore the moisture.
Eczema
If you find that your skin is often itchy and inflamed, it is likely to be eczema. This common skin condition is often found in babies and young children, but can also affect teens and adults in varying ways. Symptoms of eczema include dryness and itchiness, but it can also leave your skin raw, swollen, cracked, and with bumps that can leak fluid and crust over.
How to treat eczema
To treat eczema, you may need to visit a dermatologist or allergist to identify it. You may need one or more treatments of over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch creams and moisturizers. This should help relieve some of the symptoms and help soothe and protect the skin.
Rosacea
This common skin condition affects the face and can cause people to blush more easily than others. Rosacea is more common in women and those with lighter skin, however, the symptoms can be much worse in men. There are some products that can make Rosacea worse, causing the face to burn and sting. Other symptoms to look out for include small bumps and pimples, visible blood vessels, and skin that looks sunburned.
How to treat Rosacea
If you have Rosacea, speak to your doctor. They can prescribe you a prescription cream that can help reduce the redness. There are also makeup primers you can use to counteract the redness in your skin. Green foundation primers work best. It is also important to use a good moisturizer which can help protect the skin from irritation.
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a skin reaction that appears when something touches the skin. The protective layer of your skin becomes damaged, developing a red, itchy rash. In some cases, it can swell, crack, and even form blisters. Other symptoms include burning and tenderness,
How to treat contact dermatitis
You need to figure out what caused the reaction and avoid using it in the future to prevent it from happening again. The rash itself should clear up on its own within a few weeks, but to stop the itching you can use steroid creams which will reduce the inflammation. Another way to stop the itching is to have a soothing oatmeal bath.
Allergic dermatitis
This is a type of contact dermatitis and usually occurs when you have an allergic reaction to a specific substance. Things like fragrances, soaps, hair dyes, jewelry made from nickel, chemicals in certain beauty products, or certain plants. You may experience redness, itchiness, burning, swelling, bumps, and blisters.
How to treat allergic dermatitis
Try to work out what caused the reaction so you can prevent it from happening again. There are products you can get to help ease the itching and inflammation, such as oral antihistamines, topical antihistamines, and fragrance-free soaps and detergents. If your reaction was caused by jewelry, try putting a coating of clear nail polish on the inside of rings and bracelets to prevent it from happening.
Photodermatoses
This is an abnormal skin reaction to sunlight and can cause a rash, blisters, or scaly patches. Photodermatoses is caused when the ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight trigger the immune system, leaving you with a skin reaction. It can get worse the longer the sunlight is on the skin, and it can be difficult to recognize. It may be photodermatoses if the condition gets worse in the spring and summer, or only the skin that has been exposed to the sun is affected by a rash.
How to treat allergic photodermatoses
If you suspect you have photodermatoses, you should speak to a doctor. It could be caused by a medication you are taking. If you find that sunlight is irritating your skin, you should use sunscreen to help protect the skin. Aloe vera gel can soothe sunburned skin. You should also consider wearing UPF clothing which can protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
How to manage sensitive skin
Suffering from sensitive skin can be hard and there is no cure for it. However, there are ways you can manage the problem, from working out what triggers any inflammation and irritation, to working out what products work best for your sensitive skin.
Showering
Try not to shower more than once a day as showering washes oil away from your body, but your skin needs a certain amount of it to maintain its barrier. You should take a warm, short shower as this will help prevent your skin from drying out. When you use hot water, it can irritate the skin. You should also wash your face twice daily. Consider the type of products you use in the shower. If you have sensitive skin, you need to be careful with what you use as certain products may trigger irritation. Try to use fragrance-free hypoallergenic products that are designed to help look after your skin.
Moisturize
Using a good quality moisturizer every day can prevent your skin from becoming dry and irritated. Moisturizers help soothe dry, itchy skin while repairing its barrier and they help keep the skin hydrated. You should try to moisturize regularly but aim for at least twice a day. When you moisturize in the morning, it preps you for the day, and when you moisturize at night, the cream does all the corrective work. You should also moisturize after you have showered, washed your face, or if you have been swimming.
Sunscreen
Whenever you go out in the sun, you must ensure that you have applied sunscreen to your skin, especially if it is sensitive. If you do not wear sunscreen you will be putting yourself at risk of melanoma. If your skin is sensitive you will need to look into a more specialized product that won’t irritate, as there are certain sunscreens that can irritate you. Try to use one that has titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as one of the active ingredients.
Take care of your skin
It is important to look after your skin as best as you can. Try to work out what causes your skin to become irritated or inflamed. It may be a simple case of switching products you use regularly or needing to moisturize more frequently. Most sensitive skin conditions can be treated at home with OTC treatments. Pharmacists will be able to offer assistance on the best course of action. However, if your condition is more serious, you may need to speak to your doctor or a dermatologist.
Views – 431