Can You Ever Cure Sensitive Skin for Good?
Some people are blessed with a healthy, dewy complexion that is referred to in the skincare world as “normal skin”, often followed with a sigh of jealousy. While most skincare products and treatments are designed for the trifecta of skin types (aka dry, normal, and oily), there’s one fourth skin type that continues to elude skin professionals. We’re talking, of course, about sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, it can feel as though there’s no solution in sight to reign in the variety of symptoms you experience on any given day. But if you’re curious about how you might be able to cure your sensitive skin once and for all, you’ll definitely want to keep reading this.
What is sensitive skin?
It is a common condition that is separate from other better known conditions like dry and oily skin, acne, rosacea, and eczema. Sensitive skins don’t necessarily follow strict guidelines, and symptoms can vary from person to person.
What are the symptoms?
People suffering from sensitive skin usually experience the following: redness, pulling, itching, and burning. Other symptoms include dry skin, allergic reactions like bumps and inflamed skin, and just general discomfort. One of the hallmark of sensitive skin is that a variety of symptoms can be experienced on a regular basis, as opposed to a clear set of symptoms like the ones you might experience with, say, a condition like eczema.
What causes sensitive skin?
Again, there are many possible causes for sensitive skin. Common triggers include harsh skincare products. Fragrance and harmful chemicals, some make-up and perfumes, outdoor elements like cold wind and excessive heat can be some factors. There are no medical tests for sensitive skin, so it’s generally up to you to pay attention to your symptoms. Try and establish a link between your triggers and your symptoms.
Try these expert tips if you’re struggling with sensitive skin:
1) Clean out your skincare
According to WebMD, dermatologists agree that heavily scented soaps and cleansers can aggravate sensitive skin. Go for a naturally fragrance-free cleanser instead (like this one). The same holds for your moisturizer, too (try this one). Here’s a list of some skincare ingredients you’ll want to avoid:
- Fragrance
- Formaldehyde based preservatives
- Anti-bacterial ingredients
- Retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
2) Be a skincare minimalist
When you’re dealing with oversensitivity, you might want to keep your skincare routine to a minimum with a small number of maximum-impact products. For example, instead of an elaborate routine involving half a dozen serums and toners, stick to just a cleanser and a moisturizer for your daily self-care. What’s more, you’ll want to pick go-to products that contain a short list of ingredients to minimize risk of sensitivity.
3) Be committed
For anyone with sensitive skin, finding a skincare line that doesn’t set your face on fire is literally the Holy Grail. So it only makes sense that when you find a naturally fragrance-free, gentle, and well-formulated product line, you’ll stick to it for a while. One of the most common triggers for sensitive skin is when you go and try a trendy new product and it just doesn’t agree with your skin at all. So resist the hype and stay committed to the products you know and love!
4) Beyond skincare
A holistic approach to health and well-being teaches us that there’s no such thing as a condition that is only skin-deep. As with all things, sensitive skin is connected with other aspects of our lifestyle and not only our skincare. To cure sensitive skin for good, try these holistic tips.
5) Check your diet
Notice if certain foods trigger your sensitive skin episodes. Some people find that coffee, sugar, alcohol, and spicy foods can make their symptoms worse. On a different note, you might want to amp up your consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods as well as probiotic foods and drinks like sauerkraut and kombucha.
6) Sensitive-proof your home
Go beyond your skincare products: are you using harsh, heavily scented laundry detergent and dish soap? If so, switch to unscented. You might want to add a filtration system to your water to filter out harsh chemicals from your drinking + bathing water, too.
7) Keep stress in check
Emotions have strong ties to our skin health, and stress is a known factor for breakouts. Learn to relax and keep stress levels down through self-care practices like exercise, meditation, gratitude, and meaningful connection.
Sensitive skin requires that we stop and observe our body’s unique reactions to our environment. With a bit of awareness and effort, you can learn to cure your sensitive skin for good!
