Sensitive Skin Can Be Irritating

Why is it that one day your skin looks terrific – soft, smooth, and clear, and the next day it’s dry, itchy, red, and sore?  You don’t know what sets it off, and you don’t know what to do about it.

If your skin is touchy and temperamental, it may be that you have sensitive skin.  An inherited condition, sensitive skin often appears almost transparent.  Capillaries lying close to the surface are easily broken.  Skin tends to sunburn and razor burns easily.  When you’re under emotional stress, it tends to flush and become blotchy, often from the neck up.

Sensitive skin is most common in fair-skinned blondes and pink-complected redheads.  Although normal, oily, or dry skin may become sensitive at any age, in men as well as women, sensitivity tends to increase with age as skin becomes thinner and dryer.

A number of normally innocent agents can become irritating to sensitive skin – a rough towel, the bristles of a less-than-best cosmetic brush, even the unshaven cheeks of a sweetheart.  Stress, fatigue, over-cleansing, and exposure to the elements like cold, wind, sun, and low humidity can contribute to increased dryness and sensitivity.

Because thinner skin is more easily penetrated by irritants, allergies can develop at any time, and often to products you’ve used in the past without difficulty.

Bywords in the care of sensitive skin are gentle and mild.  Proper cleansing can soothe the skin.  Therefore, do cleanse your skin once, but no more than twice a day, preferably at night and with mild soap, super-fatted soap, or rinsable cleansing lotion.

Don’t use perfumed, acne, or medicated soaps.  Don’t use abrasive sponges, cleansing grains, scrubs, or other exfoliants.  They are too harsh and can irritate or damage sensitive skin.  Don’t submit to facial massage, deep vacuum, or electric current skin treatments!

Do wash with well-lathered hands and rinse many times with clean water to remove potentially irritating soap residue.  Do use a soft washcloth to remove dry or flaking skin, but don’t rub vigorously, since your skin is already thin.  Do damp and dry with a soft, fluffy towel.

Don’t use astringents.  Their ingredients are too harsh for sensitive skin.  Do apply a lightweight, non-scented lotion or a very light coating of petroleum jelly on still-damp skin to seal in moisture.

Do use water-based makeup, generally preferable because it contains fewer potentially irritating emollients than oil-based makeup.  Don’t apply makeup heavily.  It’s difficult to remove and requires more cleansing than sensitive skin can tolerate.

Do select fragrance-free, hypoallergenic cosmetics.  While the makers can’t guarantee you’ll not experience an allergic reaction, they have made the effort to omit common allergens from their products.

Don’t expose your skin to the elements without protection.  Don’t use a sun lamp or indulge in tanning salons. Do find a sunscreen your skin will tolerate without irritation and wear it whenever you’re outdoors for extended periods.  Do wear a hat to protect your skin from the sun.

Do wash new sheets, towels, and clothing before using or wearing, them to remove potentially irritating fabric finishes. Boldly colored or heavily dyed sheets tend to be more abrasive and aggravating.Do test yourself for allergic reactions to fragrances and cosmetics.  Simply swab a small amount of the product on the inside of your forearm and check it over 24 hours for any sign of irritation.

Note: This article was previously published in the printed issue of The Corporate, Guide, and Style for Professionals Magazine.