How to care for sensitive skin: causes, treatment and prevention tips

If you have sensitive skin, some days it seems to you that everything irritates it: pollen, sun, animal hair, cleansers and even emotions like stress. You can’t completely avoid all of these external factors, but you can relieve some symptoms through skin care. Here is the ultimate guide to sensitive skin care and the best products to help treat symptoms.

Characteristics of sensitive skin

Skin sensitivity can affect many areas of the body, including the scalp, lips, hands and face, and is usually identifiable by the sensations it produces, such as itching, pain, burning and tension. It can also cause redness and, at times, roughness, swelling and skin rashes. In many cases, however, the sensations precede the visible symptoms.

The causes of sensitive skin

The skin protects itself from environmental aggressors (such as pollution and bacteria) with a natural protective barrier. This barrier also promotes hydration, preventing the body from losing too much water. When you begin to feel that the skin becomes sensitive, it is a sign that the barrier has been weakened by internal factors in the body, such as stress and fatigue, or by external factors, such as the climate.

Sensitive skincare

You can’t completely control the environmental factors that irritate your skin, but you can control the products you use to cleanse and moisturise it. Try to avoid products that are too aggressive, dry the skin or contain too much perfume, as these products deplete the skin by depriving it of essential oils and lipids that moisturise the protective barrier. Instead, use products with few ingredients, specially created for the needs of sensitive skin.

When you take a bath

If nothing beats a long soak in the tub for you, but you find the bath foam too irritating, try a gentler alternative.

Axillary area

The axillary area is an area of ​​the body that can become very sensitive, especially when the climate is very humid and also very cold. If you find that deodorants are causing redness or irritation in this area, switch to a more gentle option that provides effective odour protection for up to 24 hours but does not contain aluminium hydrochloride (ACH) or ethyl alcohol.

Body

Sensitive skin needs hydration to repair the protective barrier and replenish lipids. Then, after a shower or bath, apply a fragrance-free moisturiser all over your body.

Hands

Sensitivity on your hands is very common, so it’s important to keep them hydrated and protected throughout the day. Be sure to wear protective gloves when cleaning around the house and apply hand cream after each wash.