Facial Skin: Sensitive
From Domicella's wikiStyle
While there is no dermatological definition for sensitive skin, the term is used to describe the skin condition of people who easily break out in rashes and get blotchy, itchy, or stinging skin in response to products or the weather. Only a small part of the population truly has sensitive skin.[1]
Sensitive Facial Skin Treatment
- Look for the words "Fragrance Free" on the bottle: some products labeled "unscented" may still contain a masking fragrance, which can aggravate sensitive skin. And avoid products with long ingredient lists; they have more potential to irritate skin.[2] Also avoid products that have alcohol, beta hydroxy acids, and retinoids.[1]
- Avoid products that have preservatives,[3] for example parabens and quaternium-15.[1]
- Before putting a new product on your face, test it on a discreet section of your neck for three days to see if a reaction occurs.[2] Alternatively, dab the product on the skin of your forearm and leave it for 24 hours. If there’s no reaction, there’s no problem. But if redness, itching, or blistering occur, the product’s not for you.[1]
- In the morning, wash with a creamy cleanser and apply a moisturizer designed for sensitive skin. Make sure your daily sunscreen has either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are less likely to cause a reaction than other chemical sunscreens.
- Retin-A slows premature aging and sun damage. It isn’t supposed to cause extremely red skin or excessive peeling, so if that happens when you use it, cut down to twice weekly. If you’re still reacting, your skin may be too sensitive for the product.[2] There are retinoid anti-aging treatments designed for sensitive skin, but if even those irritate you, try a treatment with kinetin or the peptide Matrixyl, which are gentler, instead. If you notice redness or flaking, try diluting the treatment with moisturizer.
- Calm red or inflamed skin with a 1% hydrocortisone cream twice a day; or try a redness-reducing moisturizer with feverfew or licochalcone. If the problem persists after two weeks, see a doctor.
