Article by Melanie Vasseur
Treatment for sensitive skin first begins with an understanding of what can aggravate your skin's delicate balance. What most people with sensitive skin don't realize is that the ingredients in most over-the-counter products aggravate your skin. Once your skin becomes aggravated it gets inflamed causing a reaction including redness, blotchy skin, rashes and even the lessening of collagen in the affected area. Sensitive skin tends to be thin, delicate with fine pores. It flushes easily, is prone to broken capillaries, and is frequently allergic.
L'Oreal revealed a study that said 50% of women between the ages of 18 and 64 experience redness of the skin. The 50% who experienced redness also felt uncomfortable with their looks making them feel a lower self esteem.
Watching out for ingredients in products that could be a factor in aggravating your sensitive skin condition should be considered. Ingredients to avoid would include; alcohol, ammonia, balsam, benzalkonium chloride, benzyl alcohol, camphor to name a few. These ingredients can be found in moisturizers and cosmetics both.
Other things to consider in the care of your sensitive skin; avoiding the use of loofahs and other abrasive cleansing cloths, avoiding astringents and toners containing irritating ingredients such as alcohol, use mild temperature water, avoid steam and ice on your skin, avoid bar soaps and cleansers.
Sensitive skin needs as much, if not more protection from the elements than normal skin. Therefore, always wear moisturizers with an SPF of 15 or higher. Wearing a green-based makeup or moisturizer will help with the appearance of red skin which many who have sensitive skin suffer from.
Moisturizers are needed as part of your daily skin care regimen whatever your skin type. Not using a moisturizer because you have sensitive skin could leave you with dry flaky skin or with tired and dull looking skin. Putting back the moisture that you lose due to the elements, sweating or daily hygiene habits is necessary to keep your skin looking radiant.
Keep in mind that the treatment for sensitive skin begins with the understanding of how to prevent it to begin with. Dealing with the redness and inflammation and loss of collagen is much more difficult than taking preventative measures.
Ruth - 15 years ago
Agreeing with above comments, I hoped to read more of what TO DO, for skin conditions. I had good skin until I started aquacize in public swimming pool. The exercie for an hour was good for me, but the pool chemicals caused awful skin irritation and red boltchiness with dry peely bits. This I’m still trying to get rid of, & itching, four months after stopping the pool sessions. Any tips?