Sensitive Skin
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Only a small part of the population truly has sensitive skin. 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. The majority of people don’t have a serious skin problem, but rosacea, a skin disorder with facial flushing and red blotches, can make skin sensitive; so can eczema. Once you’ve seen a dermatologist and have ruled out serious problems, most skin trouble, it turns out, is of our own doing.[1]
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Sensitive Skin Products
AVOID:
- Cleansers with fragrances or soap based cleansers (a milky consistency is best if you have oily or combination skin, while a creamy formula is ideal for dry skin).
- Toner (even alcohol free version can be too harsh for sensitive skin)
- Washcloth or buffer (they're too abrasive)
- Antibacterial or botanical ingredient
- Skin-penetrating solvents such as ethanol and propylene glycol; opt for non-penetrating ingredients such as polyethylene glycol
- Waterproof cosmetics, because you need a solvent to remove them.
- Nail polish if there’s any risk you’ll touch your eyes or face with it before it dries.
Try:
- Products that only have a few ingredients
- Products that have little or no fragrance
- Products that have Methyl paraben or butyl paraben preservatives
- Face powder, which has few preservatives and minimal risk of skin irritation.
- A silicone-based foundation for minimal skin irritation.
- Black eyeliner and mascara, which appear to be least allergenic.
- Pencil eyeliner and eyebrow fillers; liquid eyeliners contain latex and may cause an allergic reaction.
- Earth-toned eye shadows, which are generally less irritating to upper-eyelid skin than darker colors such as navy blue.
- Throw out old cosmetics, which can spoil or become contaminated.
- Smooth, soft, natural fabrics, such as fine cotton and silk, feel best worn next to the skin. Cotton is cool where silk is warm; both are absorbent, helping to draw body moisture away from the skin. Rayon and linen are also comfortable for sensitive skin but are heavier than cotton or silk. Clothing should be loose fitting with a minimum of potentially irritating creases and folds.
Treating Sensitive Skin
- After cleansing the skin with the appropriate cleanser, smooth on a fragrance-free broad-spectrum SPF30 moisturizer for sensitive skin. If you're prone to redness, look for one that contains feverfew, bisabolol (derived from chamomile), or licochalcone (derived from licorice) to calm skin. If your lotion doesn't contain sunscreen, apply one that has zinc oxide or titantium dioxide (which are less likely to cause a reaction than other sunscreens) on top of your moisturizer.
- At night, apply a moisturizer to clean skin. To sooth, look for a lotion with ceramides, which help repair teh skin's barrier. To treat lines and wrinkles, pick a moisturizer for sensitive skin that contains retinol. If that causes irritation, try one with kinetin or peptides, which are gentler anti-aging ingredients. To reduce breakouts, use an acne-treatment lotion with no more than 2% salicyclic acid.
Hypoallergenic skin care products are not necessarily safer for sensitive skin. The FDA states there are no federal standards governing manufacturers’ use of the term “hypoallergenic”.[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/the-sensitive-skin-myth
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sensitive Skin." Allure. January 2010: Page 28.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sensitive-skin-20-faqs
