| Taking care of sensitive skin is not as easy as maintaining normal skin. It is also not as east tofind good skin care products for sensitive skin. Sensitive skin needs something mild yet effective… something that takes care of the skin condition you are concerned with yet doesn’t react with the skin and cause irritation.
What is Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin is characterized by its extreme sensitivity to foreign agents and external conditions. The tolerance level of sensitive skin is drastically lower than other skin types and it exhibits allergic reactions and irritations at the slightest sign of discomfort.
Some tell-tale signs of having sensitive skin are:
Upon application of certain skin care products and make-up or after activities like cleansing or exfoliation, the skin records rashes, irritations and minor reactions.
Acne breakouts and inflammations occur when you eat spicy foods or sweat a lot after exercising
The skin reacts adversely to any change in weather like humidity, heat or cold
The skin flutuates according to your moods and emotional well-being.
You have skin conditions like rosacea, eczema or psoriasis
Even though you might not be born with sensitive skin, your skin can become sensitive as you age. The skin’s sensitivity increases considerably after treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels or Botox.
Ingredients that help Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin should be handled with utmost care. This is because you never know what will react with your skin and how. Therefore, you need to be very careful while choosing your skin care products and make sure that they only contain ingredients that comfort your skin. Here are some things to look for in your sensitive skin care products.
Hypoallergenic
Always look out for the ‘Hypoallergenic’ label on the skin care products. Hypoallergenic means that the product is free of any allergens and should not cause any allergic reactions on the skin. Because there are no legal regulations on the use of the term, you can check though the list of ingredients to see if it contains anything that can react adversely with your skin.
Fragrance-Free
Perfume and fragrance substances are the prime ingredients that cause skin reactions and irritations. Therefore, look for skin care products that are labeled ‘fragrance-free’ or ‘unscented’. However, even fragrance free products could contain harsh chemicals to inhibit the smell and mask the scent of fragrances.
Methyl Paraben or Butyl Paraben Preservatives
Both Metyl Paraben and Butyl Paraben Preservatives get absorbed easily in the skin and are used widely in skin care products.
Ingredients that harm Sensitive Skin
Like there are ingredients that help sensitive skin care, there are also ingredients that may severely aggravate the condition of sensitive skin. Here are some things you should make sure are not included in your skin care products.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a potentially harsh chemical that is generally used in cleaners and shampoos. However, if you have sensitive skin, this is one chemical you need to avoid because it can cause adverse reactions on the skin.
Acne Treatments
Often topical acne treatments contain powerful ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Though these are very effective in treating acne, they tend to be too strong for sensitive skin to tolerate.
Botanical Ingredients
Natural ingredients like extracts of citrus fruits may further increase the reactions and irritations of sensitive skin. Therefore they should be avoided at all costs.
Other Ingredients
Sensitive skin also doesn’t do well with ingredients like Retin-A, alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acids, sodium lauryl sulfate and alcohol-based skin toners. Therefore you should avoid skin care products that contain these.
Some Product Suggestions:
Obagi Professional C Serum 10 Percent – This superb serum contains Vitamin C that neutralizes the damage caused by free radicals and hence prevents any skin damage. The absolute strength of Vitamin C lends superior protection to your skin and the 10% concentration caters efficiently to dry and sensitive skin types. With regular use, it improves the skin quality and makes it more healthy and fine.
Remergent Microcirculation Therapy – A revolutionary formula in the skin care market, the Remergent Therapy helps the nutrients to flow towards irritated and sensitive skin in order to calm it down. With regular use, it restores the lost resiliency of the skin.
Dr. Marilynn Syrett is a skin care professional who graduated from Western University of Health Sciences. She has developed a keen interest in the study of Acne & Antiaging Skin Care Products and their effectiveness on various skin types like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin and combination skin. |
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