7 Signs of Skin Sensitivity you should know about

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What is Skin Sensitivity?

Sensitivity is an issue that plagues several skin types and is usually a sign of a damaged skin barrier. Sensitivity is a term used to describe skin that gets easily irritated by environmental factors such as the sun, weather changes, and skincare products. It is a skin concern that changes your whole skincare routine. Let’s get into the 7 tell-tale signs of skin sensitivity.

So let’s grab a cup of coffee, tea, or something….and let’s dive in

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1. You experience redness

Most people who deal with sensitive skin, notice redness following the use of a particular skincare product or a change in weather conditions. This could be in the form of a rash, bumps, flushing of the area, or dilated blood vessels. This redness usually goes away when you remove the offending agent.

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2. You experience dryness

Sensitive skin can lead to dryness. When the skin barrier is damaged, the lipid matrix which is supposed to be a semi-permeable barrier becomes porous and as a result, there is excessive loss of water through the epidermis(TEWL) leaving the skin dry and dehydrated. This is the reason why you may be oily but your skin feels dehydrated.

Related Post: How to repair a damaged skin barrier

3. You are prone to acne breakouts

Skin sensitivity can lead to acne breakouts in different ways. Firstly, due to the dryness experienced by sensitive skin, the oil-producing glands produce more oils that can clog the pores and cause a breakout. Secondly, the disruption of the skin barrier can alter the normal flora of the skin (these are the normal bugs that live on our skin and play a protective role)When this occurs, there is inflammation which leads to acne.

4. You react to skincare products

Do you notice that you can’t use many skincare products that are formulated for your skin type? Yep! You may be dealing with some sensitivity. You may sting or burn after applying a skincare product. When you are dealing with sensitive skin, more often than not, the skin barrier has been thinned out by harmful skincare practices and so, and when skincare products are applied to the skin more products than needed get absorbed into the skin and triggers an irritation.

If this is the case then you want to use skincare products that are formulated for sensitive skin types. These products should contain skin barrier repairing ingredients and should also be free of harsh chemicals to avoid irritating the skin even further.

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5. You are more prone to sunburns

Everyone is prone to sunburns but when you deal with sensitive skin, you stand a higher risk of getting burned by the UV rays of the sun. You never want to leave your house without a broad-spectrum sunscreen. even on days when you don’t step out, you should still use sunscreen. It should be the last step in your morning skincare routine. Use sunscreens formulated for sensitive skin as these ones cause fewer allergic skin reactions. Mineral sunscreens work very for this skin issue, so look out for ones with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

6. Your skin is Itchy

Itchy skin is a really common sign of skin sensitivity, This could occur following the use of cleansers with drying surfactants and after the use of hot water. This strips the skin of natural oils, leaving it very dry and causing your skin to itch. Ensure that you use lukewarm water and mild cleansers for sensitive skin.

7. Your skin is flaky/peeling

Often times skin sensitivity is associated with flaky skin. This is even more severe for those with dry skin types who also deal with sensitivity issues. If you notice this, you would need to incorporate hydrating skincare ingredients into your skincare routine and avoid picking your skin as this could leave injuries that can lead to skin infections.

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I hope you found the post helpful, and you can tell at this point if you have sensitive skin.