The skin is the largest tactile organ in the body and exposed daily to an external modern environment that is pollution and chemical laden and often highly stressed. It makes sense to reduce this load by using bath products and skincare products that don’t have unnecessary ingredients such as perfumes, colours, petrochemicals, sulphates and other irritating ingredients that be readily absorbed by the skin. Although it is more difficult to control the external environment we can look at the cleaning products and skincare products we use in the home and perhaps consider more natural alternatives.

Always patch test a new product

Although it may seem to be time consuming, those with sensitive skins are advised to patch test first before using a new product on their face. For those with very sensitive skin it is very important not to skip this step. Try a new product on the inside area of your wrist for a couple days to ensure that there are no ingredients you may be sensitive to.

All products labelled hypoallergenic are not necessarily safe

Most countries including the United States and the FDA do not have federal standards to determine whether or not a manufacturer can use the term hypoallergenic on the label. Many people assume that if they see this on a label it means it is suitable for sensitive skins but this is not the case as manufacturers can use it at their discretion.

Diet can have an effect on sensitive skins

The healthier the choices you make in your daily food intake, the healthier both your skin and body will be. If you have sensitive skin that is dry and flaky as well the B Complex vitamin can be of help. You could increase your intake of wheat germ, oatmeal, fish, eggs, whole grains, almonds, liver, sunflower seeds and yeast – or take a B complex vitamin. The essential fatty acids are also important for healthy skin. If you are sensitive to a particular food you may experience skin flare-ups.

A red reaction may not always be sensitive skin

Sometimes rosacea is the cause of the flushing and reddening of the skin and not an allergy to a product and its ingredients. This is also a common hormonal reaction. It may be worth seeing your dermatologist or doctor to establish what your problem is.

Common triggers for sensitive skin

For some people the triggers may be external and come from their environment such as wind, heat, cold, pollution, airborne allergenic substances, cleaning fluids or dust mites.  Other people may have problems with ingredients in cosmetics or skincare that cause them problems. Lifestyle factors such as emotions, stress and diet can be causative factors and so can our hormone imbalances. If you have sensitive skin it is important to use soaps to bathe and a skincare regime designed to support sensitive skins – have a look at the skinsaviour range which has been formulated for sensitive skins. Finding out the cause of the problem can be a process of elimination and detective work so it pays to use products designed for sensitive skins to lessen the chances of that being a problem for you.

Sensitive skin can be outgrown

Typically a child with eczema has an approximately 90% chance of outgrowing the problem by the time they are school age and further children grow out of it by adolescence. Acne sufferers typically grow out of skin problems in their thirties but psoriasis can be a lifelong problem.  Inherited skin conditions can include psoriasis, acne, rosacea, eczema but skin sensitivities to product ingredients are not inherited.

Sensitive skin always ranks high on our polls as to what your major skin care concern is. We also receive a number of questions about sensitive skin and in the following article I would like to share with you some of my tips for living with sensitive skin.

How do I know if I have sensitive skin?

The range of effects from contact with a product or substance can range from no visible effects but the face feels uncomfortable to stinging and burning and skin bumps or pustules forming.  We often see dry skin go hand in hand with sensitive skin and sometimes this causes the nerve endings to not have a normal amount of protection for the nerve endings making a reaction to a product more likely to happen.

Sensitive skin is also more prone to redness and flushing, sometimes going down into the neck and upper chest area. You may consider visiting a dermatologist or consulting with your doctor if the symptoms are severe as sensitive skin may be related to other health issues. You may undergo patch testing on the skin to see if you are allergic to a particular substance.

What causes my sensitive skin?

The causes are so many and varied it is impossible to give one answer. Some people may find they are sensitive to one particular substance or ingredient and fine with everything else. Others may find that their sensitive skin is seemingly irritated by everything.

There are some genetic and age factors and even in between races that mean you may be more likely to have sensitive skin. Skin conditions associated with sensitive skin can be inherited but not sensitive skin itself. Some people develop sensitive skin as they age and yet others grow out of it!

There are some sensitive skin conditions that are related to a dysfunction of the immune system such as atopic dermatitis – eczema, rosacea, uticaria or a form of allergic contact dermatitis.

What should I look for in skin care products?

Although we have individual responses, people with sensitive skins should avoid cleansers with soap, detergent or colourings or perfumes. Creamy formulations are easier to work with and create less dragging and irritation on the skin.
Moisturisers should also contain no perfumes, colourings or ingredients known to irritate the skin. Choose a long lasting hydrating, creamy formula that will keep the skin well hydrated. Some people have a reaction to parabens and petrochemicals – so avoid these. Skinsaviour has been carefully formulated not to irritate sensitive skins in all their skin care products.

When you use a new product for the first time do your own patch testing. Rub a small amount of product into the underside of the wrist or behind the ear for a few days. If you are irritation free, the products should be safe to use on the face and neck area.

People who have very sensitive skin can often have a very low tolerance level for certain things in their environments, what they eat and drink and also to ingredients in their skin care products. Usually the skin reacts by becoming inflammation that shows as red, blotchy patches and sometimes lumpy swellings. It is difficult for those with sensitive skin as what will be no problem for one person will not suit someone else. Also to establish what it is that actually bothers you can be a time consuming exercise.

How do we deal with sensitive skin?

The more natural a skin care product is the less the chance of them irritating sensitive skin. Having said that, there are many essential oils that are very irritating to the skin or one of their components is. Conversely not all synthetic ingredients are harmful for your skin and may be a suitable alternative to a natural ingredient that can be an irritant. So the best thing is to choose a skin care product range that has been designed to be non-irritating, to calm and soothe a sensitive skin. skinsaviour has designed its cleansers and moisturisers to be very gentle yet effective on a sensitive skin.

What to look for in skin care products?

• Cleansers with no harsh soaps or detergents.

• Skin care products with low levels of preservatives.

• Moisturisers that provide a long lasting barrier to external pollutants.

• Skin care products formulated to avoid ingredients known to irritate sensitive skin.

• Skin care products that come in dispensers to avoid contaminating your skin care products with bacteria from dipping fingers in.

• Skincare products that come in dispensers that block out the light to also avoid spoilage.