About Sensitive Skin

Many people think they have sensitive skin, when they actually don’t. Very few people, only about 2 percent to 3 percent of women, have truly sensitive skin in the clinical sense. Dermatologists refer to them as “stingers,” as their skin turns red, itches, tingles, and/or burns whenever any products are applied.

The other 97 percent have inflamed skin, or seborrheic dermatitis. You might apply a product and experience stinging and burning due to an underlying inflammation. Perhaps you were overzealous with your microdermabrasion cream or other exfoliants; perhaps you’ve been spending too much time in the sun. Or you are using a combination of too many skin-care products, overloading your skin with a wide range of ingredients that can react with each other. When the inflammation is clammed down, however, the sensitivity disappears.

Quite few numbers of them complains that they have dry skin that’s red and flaky, and they attribute that to a sensitivity reaction to their skin-care products. They need to differentiate between dryness and inflammation. Dry skin will be dry all over your face. It may be a little flaky, around the eye-brows and it’s red. Chronic red skin may well rosacea, which is not caused by irritation or skin sensitivity.

Many women also assume they’re allergic to certain ingredients if they have reaction to a product. They may be right, especially with fragrance, the most common allergen. Most quality on the market now, though, is hypo-allergenic or use natural botanicals with calming properties to mask any rancid or chemical smells.

So, if our skin becomes very red when you apply any products, or simply when you touch it, it’s truly sensitive. When this happens, it’s a good idea to see a dermalogist to get your skin analyzed, as reactions can persist for weeks, if not months. If you can’t do that, look for signs of seborrhea, redness and inflammation around the nose or forehead. Check to see if you have dandruff, because they tend to go hand in hand. Reactions also tend to worsen when you’re under stress, so try to keep that a minimum, too.

Sources: 10 minutes, 10 years by Dr.Fredric Brandt