Most people have this misconception that they have sensitive skin based on one or two occurrences of a bad reaction or side effect of a particular product or any other reason.
According to dermatologists, sensitive skin is prone to skin redness or inflammation. If not a skin condition it can also be a result of a reaction from a certain product like a cream, fragrance, etc.
Causes Behind Sensitive Skin
There could be several reasons and causes behind developing sensitivity, a few of them are listed below:
1. This is a Natural Condition
Your skin is generally averse to developing a rash or redness from common exposure to sunlight, water, or even extreme conditions. You may not have any serious health conditions, just a natural tendency of your skin to get easily irritated.
2. Result of any Allergy
You must have sensitive skin and you have certain allergic reactions to products like creams, soaps, detergents, perfumes. They make your skin red and irritated just from a single-use.
3. Dry or Flaky Skin
If you have naturally dry or flaky skin then you probably have sensitive skin as extreme dryness can also pave the way for further skin problems like inflammation.
4. Dermatitis
This is a skin condition that causes redness, swelling, itchiness, and/or flaky skin when it comes into contact with something.
5. You May have Photodermatosis
This is a skin condition or reaction people have when they come in contact with sunlight. It is generally because of the UV rays from the skin. We all are exposed to the harmful effects of UV radiation on our skin, but some tend to get easily reacted by it. It may cause redness, burns, and blisters on their skin.
Causes behind sensitive skinThese could be some of the causes that you have developed sensitive skin. If you think that these symptoms or reactions persist for longer durations or even if you think that these symptoms have grown worse then you should consult a doctor as you may have developed a serious skin condition or any other health condition.
If you are wondering, how to know if you have sensitive skin or not you need to have it diagnosed. If not we have the following list of probable signs you need to look out for that may suggest that you may have sensitive skin.
8 Signs of Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin you might notice some or most of these symptoms regularly when you are exposed to some of the other trigger that results in these symptoms
1. Your Skin Turns Red
Redness is one of the most common symptoms you need to look out for if you have sensitive skin. This is caused when your skin comes in contact with something harmful. If you observe your skin turning red in particular conditions like extreme sunlight or weather conditions even to certain products then you have sensitive skin towards that particular thing.
2. It is Itchy
Along with redness, often sensitive skin is also prone to itchiness. Often the redness is caused after you develop an itch and it gradually develops and gets worse.
Signs of sensitive skinObserve the reason that caused the itchiness and try to avoid it as much as possible.
3. You get Bumps and Swelling
If your skin is itchy or irritated, you may develop bumps or even swelling around the area. This can get very painful and even leave marks when it goes away. So it is advised to not give in to the scratching to prevent the marks.
4. The Affected Area Stings
When you have sensitive skin then your skin has its ways to let you know. One of the most frequent is that it stings or burns when exposed to extreme conditions like sunlight or temperature, even water in many cases can cause your skin to burn and sting.
5. Your Skin is Dry and Irritated
When you have sensitive skin then your skin is often dry and irritated. You may also develop dry patches and it is very difficult to keep the place hydrated no matter how much or often you moisturize that area of your skin.
6. Reacts to the Weather
This is another sign of sensitive skin that your skin reacts to bad weather and to change in the weather. Most people tend to get rashes, dryness, or bumps as soon as the weather takes a turn.
7. You Have Skin Rashes and Breakouts
If you have sensitive skin this means that you are prone to skin rashes and breakouts whenever you try out a new product. To prevent this always do a patch test when you are trying out a new product and stick to the products that are working out fine for you.
8. Your Skin Just Can’t Hold Fragrance
Having sensitive skin also means that your skin can never hold on to the fragrance of perfumes or deodorants, they even react to any other product with a scent as it is because the product they used for the scent doesn’t go well with your skin. So try and choose fragrance-free products to avoid this situation.
Precautions for Sensitive Skin
You can follow these pointers to avoid the aforementioned symptoms:
- Take shorter showers and avoid using very hot water or extremely cold water for your showers.
- Use mild, organic soaps and skincare products. Always conduct a patch test before using them all over your skin.
- Switch to natural fragrance oils or essential oils instead of using perfumes or deodorants.
- For your laundry or dishes, use natural and fragrance-free products that are gentle on your skin.
- Never rub your skin to dry it after a shower, but pat dry.
- Use lots of moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated.
- Cover your skin when stepping out and use sunscreen.
These are a few ways you can prevent developing the conditions for sensitive skin. There are no specific medications that you can take to completely change your skin, it is something you’ll have for a lifetime. You can, however, take medications for the symptoms and avoid certain products and activities that result in the above-listed signs and symptoms of sensitive skin.
Also read- Newborn Skincare
