First of all we clarify that sensitive skin is not a medical definition, this term is used to indicate skin that is easily irritated and reddened, as a result of exposure to external agents, such as a chemical substance, an allergen, or in response to environmental factors. . So what are the most suitable gestures and products to take care of sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin compared to normal skin reddens easily and presents these symptoms:
- itch
- Spots
- Redness
- Irritations
- Desquamation
- Dry and parched skin
- Touch sensitive skin
- Tingling
These manifestations can occur in response to a stimulus, even a trivial one. We also clarify that sensitive skin is not synonymous with allergy or disease. So
let’s not be alarmed , but rather let’s take care of our skin with small precautions in our daily gestures.
The 3 steps to take care of sensitive skin:
- Recognize the causes of sensitive skin
- Choose cosmetics suitable for this skin type
- Know and use the best ingredients in your beauty routine
What are the causes of sensitive skin?
Having sensitive skin is often a hereditary issue, but it can also depend on physiological factors or environmental conditions:
- The use of cosmetics appropriate to your skin type such as peels, scrubs or chemical exfoliants, soaps and detergents that are too aggressive (which should not be used even in the case of oily skin!), Dyes, make-up, waxes and depilatory creams can create excessive reactivity and sensitization of the skin.
- Unbalanced diet, smoking and alcohol .
- The use of some fabrics . It is known that some types of fabrics such as those in wool or synthetic fiber in direct contact with the skin have poor hygroscopic capacity (they absorb and release moisture too slowly or insufficiently) thus creating a warm-humid microclimate that can also promote growth. of bacteria and fungi.
- UV rays and smog .
- Seasonal climatic variations .
- The hormones . In women with sensitive skin, the menstrual cycle also affects the state of the skin: the disorder worsens before menstruation, when the amount of body estrogen decreases.
First of all, to understand how to take care of sensitive skin it is important to identify the causes that make it so .
Once the main cause that can cause our skin reactions has been identified and eliminated, it becomes essential to take care of the skin to calm it and give it its balance again.
Take care of sensitive skin
You cannot escape from the care of a skin of this type.
Its treatment is mainly based on avoiding the application of products that can damage the skin barrier or contain potentially irritating substances , therefore selecting hygiene products with the utmost attention.
The right products and ingredients must be chosen !!
Eliminate any product from your skincare or beauty routine containing aggressive substances such as alcohol , perfumes , too much foaming surfactants , parabens , silicones and preservatives . These components thin the skin even more and alternate its natural protective barriers, which are already quite fragile in themselves.
Cosmetics for sensitive skin: how to choose them?
One of the fundamental steps in caring for sensitive skin is knowing how to choose the right cosmetics and avoiding potentially irritating ones .
More delicate skin can be difficult to treat in skin clinic, especially in the presence of small imperfections such as impurities, pimples and blackheads. There is a risk of worsening an already visibly complex situation .
Those who have this type of skin have on the one hand the need to deeply cleanse and purify the skin, on the other hand, however, it is necessary to take into account the needs of a skin with a very precarious hydrolipidic balance, which cannot be altered by the use of detergents and excessively degreasing cosmetic products.
Those who have this type of need must resort to cosmetics that are effective and at the same time delicate and that succeed in the arduous task of cleaning the skin, without attacking it .
How to choose the right cleaner?
To take care of sensitive skin, choose products free of fragrances and alcohol so as to minimize the risk of irritation. Cosmetic products often contain substances that can create redness, irritation and discomfort. For example, preservatives such as potassium sorbate, methylisothiazolinone and alcohol can create irritation and sensitization.
Even essential oils, especially if used pure or in too high quantities, can irritate the skin .
Choose and use specific cleansers for sensitive skin, preferably low foaming . In general, if a lot of foam is formed, the hydrolipid balance of the skin is lost, damaging the protective barrier created by the sebum.
Beware of soaps . If your skin is not particularly prone to becoming greasy, you don’t need to use soaps. You can wash it gently using warm water and a sponge. Alternatively, it is better to use oils, such as argan oil: just massage a few drops all over your face and remove it with a lukewarm damp sponge to remove even the most stubborn makeup residues, dabbing and not rubbing .
To take care of your sensitive skin, wash your skin with warm or cold water.
To prevent irritation, temperature plays a very important role . In addition to causing burns, hot water helps to eliminate the protective layer formed by the sebum.