Most people think of sensitive skin as skin that is easily irritated. You may find that certain products or environmental factors cause you to get red, itchy, or even break out. Before you label your skin as sensitive, know this: having sensitive skin falls into a bit of a skin care grey area. There isn’t a definitive checklist that clinics use to define sensitive skin. The best way to establish your skin type is to pay close attention to your skin’s reaction.
1. Your skin is reactive
If you have sensitive skin, you probably notice that soaps, detergents, fragrances, perfumes, skincare products, and household products may cause your skin to react whether it may be itchiness, dryness or reddening. In addition, exposure to cold, sun, and wind can trigger flares.
2. You notice redness
Most people with sensitive skin deal with some amount of redness. This can take the form of a red rash, red bumps, blushing and flushing, or even red dilated blood vessels. Usually, the redness will go away after removing the irritant or with minor treatment.
3. Your skin is dry
Dry skin and sensitive skin can go hand-in-hand. It can lead to acne breakouts and cracked skin. You will likely have more problems with dry skin in cold, dry weather and when exposed to wind. Using a gentle moisturizer and protecting your skin from the elements can help fight it.
4. You develop rashes often
Sensitive skin may react with a red, dry, flaky, or bumpy rash when exposed to a trigger. This is especially true for products that are left on your skin, such as facial creams. You may develop a rash very quickly after contact. Rashes can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and stubborn. If you’re allergic to something, however, it’s more serious than sensitive skin.
5. You’re prone to breakouts
If you have sensitive skin, you may develop breakouts that look like acne with red bumps and pustules. You may find that an acne wash or cream to treat the breakouts only worsens your symptoms
6. You sunburn easily
Your sensitive skin is more susceptible to the harmful effects of the sun. If your skin is already irritated or peeling, you are at an even higher risk. You should always wear a sunscreen when you’re outside, especially on your face. Since some ingredients in sunscreens can cause allergic reactions, look for ones with the ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. You’ll also want to choose a sunscreen that is broad-spectrum and has SPF 30 or higher.
At LSG we have many clients who present with complaints of “sensitive skin” and we offer a comprehensive, step-wise approach to improving this skin condition. The first consideration is to try to determine the cause or triggers. Common culprits may be inappropriate skin care products, make up, and sunscreens. We eliminate these triggers and replace them with non-irritative products. We calm the skin with advanced skin care products designed for sensitive skin. These products reduce the inflammation and hydrate the skin while optimizing the pH balance. We also perform Advanced Facials with calming products that soothe the skin. A personal consultation will determine the right products which calm the skin and improve the skin quality.
Once the skin is stabilized, we gradually add more active products and/or treatments to address dullness of the skin. This must be done cautiously based on the client’s skin type. One of the most common treatments to aid sensitive skin is our BBL Photorejuvenation device which addresses redness and flushing of the skin as well as collagen stimulation.
You may believe that due to your skin sensitivity, you’re a bad candidate for anti-ageing, scar-removal, or skin-brightening treatments. Here are some amazing treatments you can enjoy, as well as some things to avoid.
One of our most popular skincare treatments is absolutely perfect for sensitive skin: the Hydrafacial MD. The HydraFacial MD is a facial treatment that is gentle on the skin, without the redness or irritation that can accompany other similar treatments and of course can be customized for you.
One of the reasons the HydraFacial MD is so incredibly popular is because it is very customizable. Every step of the treatment can be altered, depending on your skin type and needs. For those with less sensitive skin, perhaps a strong acid peel might be in order. If you have sensitive skin, we might use a much lighter peel or even skip that step entirely. Prior to treatment, we will have a conversation about your skin where we can determine how to make the HydraFacial MD perfect for your needs.
The HydraFacial MD is made up of four parts:
The first part of the HydraFacial MD involves removing any dead cells or other debris from the surface of the skin. Using a specialized spiral tool, we gently exfoliate and clean the skin, leaving it smooth and ready for the next steps. This spiral tool is incredibly customizable, meaning we can use it at whatever intensity that is specific to your sensitive skin.
Next up is the acid peel that we mentioned above. Unlike many stronger peels, the glycolic acid peel shouldn’t feel like anything more than a gentle tingle. But, again, if you have sensitive skin, we can use less of the acid, or even avoid this step altogether.
This is the fun part of the HydraFacial MD. We think there is a little part of all of us that enjoys removing blackheads and other imperfections from our skin. With the HydraFacial MD we avoid any skin damage using a special vortex vacuum tool to essentially vacuum out out the imperfections, which is far more gentle than physically extracting them with manual tools. Sometimes though, we still have some gunk to remove manually, but at least it’s easier after having used the vacuum tool.
If you suffer from dry, sensitive skin, then this might be your favorite part of the HydraFacial MD. Using the same vortex tool, but with a different nozzle, we infuse your skin with a variety of hydrating serums, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and other skincare products. We can tailor this hydration infusion based on the products that you know your skin handles well. If there is anything that you know causes any type of skin reaction, we simply don’t use it. Remember, the HydraFacial MD is customized to you!
First of all, you will want to see a skin-care professional experienced in treating clients with sensitive skin. Oftentimes, this means they are aware that less time, product, heat, or friction is needed to achieve the same results during a procedure. They may also recommend certain products known to be much gentler on the skin such as a laser facial or Hydrafacial
Second, make sure you take care of your skin appropriately, including:
If you have sensitive skin, you may suffer a wide variety of skin-related symptoms, depending on what is causing your sensitivity.
For example, your skin may be:
Skin sensitivity is often the result of immune system activity or inflammation.
You may develop a rash in reaction to products like soap, shampoo, and makeup. People with allergies or skin conditions such as eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, or rosacea may be more likely to have sensitive skin. Interestingly, your sensitivity to particular products may change over time, coming on even after years of product use.
You may be overly sensitive to extremes in temperatures or the sun’s UV rays, becoming more easily sunburned. Stress and diet have been known to cause your skin to be more sensitive, causing acne and skin blemishes.
Whether your symptoms are mild or more severe, if your sensitivity issues are chronic, you have sensitive skin.
