What is Sensitive Skin

For decades people have been grappling with the management of sensitive or sensitized skin, constantly searching for new remedies. Quite often, it is as difficult to pinpoint the etiology of sensitive skin conditions as it is to manage the pathology of many skin disorders. A good place to start is to investigate all known relations, catalysts and potential aggravators.

Sensitive Skin Causes

A truly sensitive skin type is most often genetic. Sensitized skin occurs due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This, in turn, can cause an imbalance to the acid mantel, resulting in severe dehydration. Sensitivity can be exacerbated by hormonal changes as well as improper skin care regimens. All potential sensitizers are even more damaging to sensitive skin types.

Product Considerations

When trying to determine if a product is the culprit, bear in mind that dehydrated skin is far more sensitive and reactive to all stimuli. Therefore, it may not always be a sensitivity to an ingredient as much as it’s an overreaction by the skin to the concentration/strength of the product.

Reading Skin Care Labels

*Many people think they are safe when they purchase a product labeled hypoallergenic, but this is not true. Just because a product is labeled hypoallergenic doesn’t mean that you won’t have an allergic reaction.

*Another confusing label claim is the term unscented, not to be confused with fragrance free. Unscented means that masking fragrances are added to cover the unpleasant odors of necessary ingredients such as surfactants, fatty acids and oils.

*Unscented products can be more likely to cause skin irritation in individuals who have sensitive skin or are sensitive to fragrance.

An Inside-Out Approach

The skin can be a relief map of sorts to our internal gut health. The gut contains trillions of bacterial strains known as its microbiome. The gut is responsible for many biological reactions such as hormone metabolism and making enzymes that aid the body in detoxification. The gut also makes nutrients that help neutralize pathogens.

Since the skin and the gut are both comprised of epithelial tissue, when one experiences inflammation the other often does as well. Eating a healthy clean diet is the first step to good gut health.

Probiotics and supplements can be very helpful, but finding the right ones will again involve some detective work. Of course, what you ingest is important to your overall bodily health. However, as it’s difficult for nutrients to make their way up through the waterproof layers of the skin, it’s very important to know what to apply topically. Products that maintain and nourish the acid mantel help to calm sensitive or inflamed skin.

Don’t Forget Your Minerals

Another important component vital to bodily health is minerals. They are necessary along with vitamins, to keep the body running efficiently. Minerals in the body are instrumental for water balance, bone, muscle, nerve, hormonal health and much more. They also aid in intercellular nutrient transportation and pH balance. It would stand to reason that minerals used in skin care can help to keep your skin radiant and healthy.