Skin sensitivity. Cause or effect?
Why do some people have sensitive skin, and some don't?
Many people believe that those of us with sensitive skin are born with it but what if our inherited traits are only the catalyst and not the cause? This is the conclusion that I came to while dealing with my own skin-sitivity and it turns out that there are a growing number of dermatologists that agree.
There are 2 schools of thought regarding the condition of skin sensitivity:
- You are born with sensitive skin and you are stuck with it.
- The cause of skin sensitivity is environmental and can be avoided/corrected.
As we have uncovered more knowledge about the biochemical nature of our skin and microbiome, we've discovered evidence that having sensitive skin might be more as a result of modern lifestyles and cleanliness routines rather than inherited traits. This is important because the proper identification of the cause is the only way to work out the solution. Otherwise, we are chasing our tails. Here I map it out for you.
Have you had your AHA moment yet? Just a little reframing and you get your power back! Feels good right?
So now that we know that we can do something about it, what is that something that we can do?
The answer is LESS! We need to do less to our skin. Less washing, less fragrance contact, less skincare, fewer ingredients, less, less, less.
This is not usually something that you would hear from the owner of a skincare brand but it is the truth. We need to let our barrier function return to normal and to do this, we need to leave our skin alone for a bit.
Here I map out some skinterventions for you:
Level 1 Skintervention: Prevention and profound correction.
Avoid fragrances, botanicals and other irritants.
Common allergenic compounds found in skincare
Common irritants found in skincare
Understand that "buzzwords" like "hypoallergenic" or "for sensitive skin" can be misleading. Many products marketed for sensitive skin still contain one or more irritants. It's crucial to become adept at reading ingredient lists and to consult a professional who can help you employ an elimination strategy. This approach will assist you in pinpointing the specific substances that irritate your skin.
If your lipid layer is compromised, you need to give it a break until it can recover. Switch to a fragrance free, synthetic (yes synthetic is better) cleanser like Cera-ve and avoid any products that contain botanicals or are labeled as “natural soaps” as these are usually the main culprit. Natural is not always better peeps! Look for barrier supporting skincare products like illumenase that contain ceramides and skin-identical ingredients. Rinse with cool water and avoid any aggressive scrubbing or rubbing. Don't worry, you won't be a delicate flower forever. Over time your skin will become more resilient. The good news is that our body will do most of the work here so in a way skin sensitivity is one of the easier challenges to overcome. Literally just do less to it!
Learn more about synthetic vs natural skincare ingredients here.
Level 1 and 2 Skinterventions: Prevention and Next level Correction.
Feed your skin from within. Look for supplements that contain Omegas, Vitamins D, and E to give your body what it needs to manufacture a healthy balance of lipids. And, of course, stay well hydrated.
In addition to irritant avoidance, seek out products like illumenase with inflammation zapping ingredients like oat extracts, niacinamide, and MSM and barrier enhancing ingredients like ceramides. Remember, less is more. Skip a wash here and there and just rinse your skin with cool water then blot it dry.
Level 1, 2, and 3 Skinterventions: Get a pro involved.
A skilled aesthetician can help guide you toward products and treatments that can help reduce your overall sensitivity. Look for Spa's in your area that utilize good products like Repechage. These professionals will have a whole slew of tips and tricks up their sleeve that they will love to share with you. If you suffer from persistent redness, broken capillaries, or rosacea, head over to the blog to learn more about how to fix it.
I hope this has been as fun for you as it was for me! Now I insist that you go and have yourself a quality day.
MBM
