Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you may be noticing redness, dryness, itchiness, or discomfort. You don’t have to live with it! There are few reasons why you may be experiencing sensitive skin, and solutions to match each one. Whether it is genetic, environmental (dry weather anyone?), diet related or otherwise, here are a few tips to fix that sensitive skin.

Sun Exposure

The sun can be wicked to skin, especially if it’s already prone to sensitivity. Too much or unprotected sun exposure can lead to redness, tightness, and increased sensitivity—not to mention more rapid aging. Before you leave home, apply non-oily, medical-grade sun protection on all your skin, but especially your face, chest, and neck.  These areas have the thinnest skin, and are the most sensitive. Protecting your skin from unadulterated sun exposure is a hugely important step in keeping your skin sensitivity low.

Moisturizers

Apart from sun lotions, other moisturizers help lock in—you guessed it—moisture. This is important to help keep your skin hydrated and “elastic”—able to stretch and move without flaking, breaking, or disrupting the cell production beneath. Use medical-grade, scent-free moisturizers at night that aren’t too heavy. A night cream should have weight to it, but if it is too heavy it will clog and disturb your face’s delicate skin.

Get Clean—Not Mean

When cleaning your skin, be firm but not aggressive. Being too rough on your skin breaks blood vessels and disturbs the rehydration process. Be gentle and use a gentle scent-free face wash to clean without stripping your face of its moisture. Dabbing your skin instead of tugging also helps to reduce irritation, and is good for collagen production. If you’re especially sensitive to different products, try even your medical-grade skin cleanser on your arm before using it on your face to ensure there is no reaction.

Diet

Avoiding salty foods and upping your intake of water are ways to ensure your skin is getting more hydration. Drinking alcohol also causes flushing and dehydration, so minimizing alcohol intake helps keep moisture in. Vegetables with a high water content are also a great way to get nutrients that promote healthy cell production while increasing water intake for moist, elastic skin.