How to care for sensitive skin?

Sometimes, when you expose to sun, you may feel sensation on your skin, or sunburn, it means you have skin problem. You may have sensitive skin, if you experience symptoms like redness and itching frequently. These symptoms may also include burning, stinging, and itching of skin regularly.

This article will discussed everything about sensitive skin, signs & reasons of sensitive skin, ways to take care and how to treat it at home with simple remedies.

Signs of sensitive skin:

Nevertheless, you first need to figure out if you have sensitive skin. There is a signs list of sensitive skin:

• Get sunburn easily
• Often develop rashes
• Always some redness on your skin
• Skin feels dry
• Skin peels a lot
• Feels itchy & reactive, especially after using new products
• Skin may sting and burn, if you use strong products
• Skin is prone to breakouts

If you struggle with above symptoms frequently, it means your sensitive skin requires some extra care and protection. Few people are prone to allergic reactions from numerous chemicals or substances, others find their skin dry and flaky. Once you identify what is irritating your skin, try to avoid and take proper care yourself. Always use the right products, avoid irritants, and cultivate good habits to keep your sensitive skin healthy and comfortable.

Reasons for skin sensitivity:

Your skin may become sensitive due to a variety of causes, including allergies, extremely hot or cold temperatures, makeup, dehydration and excessive exfoliation that harms the skin barrier, skin injury, eczema, dry weather, and other genetic skin conditions such as rosacea.

Moreover, sensitive skin is usually associated with extreme skin dryness, and this may leads to a great risk of skin bumps, pustules, skin erosion, blushing, and skin flushing.

Thankfully, there are some home remedies for sensitive skin that may be beneficial you regulate these issues. Sensitive skin can be treated well by managing a regular skin care routine and strictly to follow few steps as discussed below. Nevertheless, this type of skin can occasionally point toward a more serious underlying condition, therefore, it is always a good idea to consult a doctor.

Any induvial may have Sensitive skin, and it can appear anywhere on the body, it is at its most obvious on the face. This occurs when you skin’s natural barrier function is compromised, affecting water loss and permitting penetration of irritants.

As a result, it is less resistant to external aggressors such as a dry and cold climate or irritating substances and may become progressively sensitive. Ingredients such as Gluco Glycerol help to re-energize Aquaporins, thoroughly and long lastingly rehydrate skin and upkeep its natural barrier function. The additional ingredients there are in cosmetics, the greater the chance of a sensitivity reaction.

Ageing skin is also prone to sensitivity, as thinning of the skin and reduced lipid synthesis can result in the barrier function being compromised. This may due to decrease in hydration levels in skin layers, which results combination of fine lines and wrinkles with dry, itchiness and reddened skin.

Ways to Take Care of Sensitive Skin:

To increase skin sensitivity and inhibit symptom flare-ups, you need to take appropriate care of your skin. The following tips may be useful for your skin.

1. Limit exposure to sun

Limit your Sun exposure, because it can damage your sensitive skin. Sunrays may damage the skin cells, frequently leading to skin rashes and other skin problems. Such as, your skin will become dry and aging prematurely. Moreover, you should wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen, preferably one with zinc oxide and titanium oxide. That protects you from UVA and UVB rays. Additionally, try to avoid the use of sunscreens with more than SPF 30, as they have a higher quantity of comedogenic ingredients, which can be unsafe to sensitive skin.

Additionally, you should escape being out on the sun during the peak hours, especially between 10am and 3pm. Even cloudy days can also harm your skin. However, most important skincare tips for sensitive skin is to keep protected all year round by with a sunscreen into your daily skincare routine.

Remember, during summer days, heat can bother sensitive skin, so stay in the shade to keep cool and avoid getting overheated.

2. Regular use of moisturizer

Best process to maintain a healthy lipid barrier is to moisturize regularly. As sensitive skin is often related with dryness, however it is vital to use moisturizer to your skin. Skin cells are organized by lipids (fat), providing more fat in the form of moisturizers and oils, will make a tighter bond between cells and make it less weak to irritants.

Moisturizers fixed water in the skin, improve the skin’s moisture barrier, increase hydration, soothe the skin, and repair skin lipids. Avoid moisturizers that comprise non-natural fragrances and colors. They may irritate the skin. Select products that contain helpful ingredients which controls oil production and soothes the skin. Always prefer organic products and may try moisturizers that contain plant-derived oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, and almond oil. Moreover, Creams comprising shea butter, glycerin, and cocoa butter also offer antioxidant effects to sensitive skin. Especially for oily skin, use silicon-based moisturizers, non-oily or light moisturizers.

3. Select new products sensibly

If you have sensitive skin, you should be careful while selecting skin care products, such as cleansers, moisturizers, soaps, and face packs. Do not buy products that comprise chemicals such as parabens and artificial colors. They may not suit with sensitive skin. Always prefer products that are clearly labeled “no artificial colors” or “hypoallergenic. Best to products that have natural perfumes, or without perfume, as they are very well adjusted with sensitive skin.

Additionally, consult your dermatologist before using a new product, and also conduct a patch test before application. Give your skin a week time to check whether your skin reacts to it or not. Go for natural ingredients if possible, no matter your skin type, but for sensitive skin it is extra important. Natural products have anti-inflammatory properties and ability to enhance your skin’s lipid barrier. Moreover, they are mild or gentle, and may contain natural ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, Olive oil and vitamin E.

4. Consume a balanced diet

Intake of a healthy and nutritious diet influence on your skin health. Therefore go for natural foods which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and useful to expand your skin health and boost healing. Avoid processed or junk foods as much possible.

If you have sensitive skin, you should make better diet management, and involves higher intake of vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grains, nuts, and healthy oils.

Also, you should avoid foods that contains gluten-based foods such as soy sauce, beer, wheat bread, cereals, and other products made of wheat flour, and barley. Further you should escape with eggs, soy products, red wine, and foods with artificial colors and preservatives. They may develop skin sensitivity reactions.

5. Keep yourself hydrated

Support your skin to sense calm and clear by keeping yourself hydrated. For sensitive skin, Moisturizing twice a day will help to balance, while drinking sufficient of water will keep you hydrated. Your skin will become thinner and more sensitive, if it is dry, and it became plumper and healthier when your skin is hydrated. Moreover, it is more important as we age. Drinking adequate water will keep your skin healthy and also it is good for your other organs. Additionally, enough amount of Water is essential to keep your skin moisturized from within, and also helps in flushing out the toxins. Even you can also include fresh fruit juices, smoothies, and green juices to keep up your moisture levels.

It is suggested to drink a glass of lemon water first thing in the morning if you have sensitive skin. Vitamin C and antioxidants helpful to manage free-radical damage, and also lemon water helps detoxify your blood. Additionally, it prevent blemishes, acne, and wrinkles, and providing giving your skin a natural glow. Therefore, drink water throughout the day at regular intervals to keep your skin hydrated.

6. Change your bath routine

To protect your sensitive skin, you need to avoid hot and long showers. Because the hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils, which may cause irritation, red spots, and even cause dehydration.  Sensitive skin frequently reacts negatively to heat contact which breaks down the skin’s lipid barrier.  Hence, it is best to avoid hot water for bathing, and replace with lukewarm water. Correspondingly, it protect your skin from quick temperature changes to prevent skin reactions.

7. Avoid abrasive detergents and Astringents

You should remember that uses of Detergent cleansers and astringents surely breaking down the fats that support your skin cells provide a strong barrier. If you have sensitive skin, make routine by using fragrance- and detergent-free cleansers. Additionally, be careful about other detergents, like wash your hair, your dishes or your laundry can irritate your skin. Choose for gentle and soft detergents. Moreover, it is also useful to wear rubber gloves while using detergents and other cleaning agents to prevent skin reactions.

8. Cleanse your skin with gentle

For sensitive skin, cleansing on regular basis is important with extra care. A perfect kind of facial cleansers maintains your skin’s natural moisture. Additionally, it helps to remove excess oil, dirt, and makeup, while not drying out the skin. Prefer to use a soap-free, fragrance-free, gentle cleanser, and make sure you should not over wash because this may lead to dryness and irritation. Opt for mild cleansers that can care your sensitive skin properly. Cleansing your face once in the morning and in the evening should be enough.

Raw milk is used as a cleanser for sensitive skin. Because it contains anti-inflammatory agents, moisturizing properties, skin-nourishing ingredients, due which it soothe the skin, relieving it of dryness, pigmentation and itchiness. Additionally, you should also be careful about towel, it may be harsh for the skin, so go for facial cleansing wipes instead.

9. Avoid Triggers 

Sudden change in the environmental and lifestyle also triggers your sensitive skin symptoms that may cause your skin reaction. You need to identify them and take protective measures. This may differ from person to person, but often include, Seasonal changes, Pollution, Dehydration, Stress and lack of sleep. In addition, this may also be like new perfume, certain fabrics that you wear, or too much exposure to sum, makeup, air-conditioning or central heating. Therefore, avoid these triggers altogether.

10. Avoid harsh exfoliation

It is a good practice of regular exfoliation, it helps to deep clean skin, removing irritants, impurities and pollutants. Additionally, it provide benefit of removing dead skin cells and encouraging skin renewal, and giving you healthier-looking skin. 

There are numerous fancy exfoliating brushes and scrubs available in the market. If you have sensitive skin, you must not use any mechanical methods or scrubbing for exfoliation. This may irritate your skin further, increasing redness. Always use a mild chemical exfoliator and clean with a gentle cloth, and exfoliate your skin once a week to get rid of dead skin cells.

Other self-manage ways:

• Use green tea – Green tea is rich in antioxidants that help revitalize the skin. Moreover, its caffeine content is low, which helps soothe the skin without drying it out.
• Keep Your Cool – Too much heat can irritate sensitive skin, however, you need to keep your body cool. You can cool your body either by using a cooler one will keep your skin from getting dry and irritated, or use cooling mists or serums during the day to soothe your skin. If you are overheated, use a drop of peppermint oil on the back of your neck, is a quick way to cool your body.  Even easy way is a wet face cloth in the fridge to use as a cooling pad on irritated skin. 
• Manage Stress – For sensitive skin person should have good immune system, which keeps your skin healthy and strong. Since your skin is your largest organ of the body, and stress can slow down the healing process. Try to reduce stress with various means, meditation or watching TV, whichever adding stress-relief to your sensitive skin. This may feel you better inside and out.

Remove your make-up before you sleep:

When you have sensitive skin, you must take more care of your skin. One of the best times for the skin to refill is at night, when you are resting. Removing make-up before going to bed is a good habit. A gentle foaming cleanser or a soap-free cleanser may help keep sensitive face skin feeling fresh and clear at the end of each day. This will also help to not dry out your skin. Therefore, before you go to sleep, treat in some skincare, it will wake up you with happier and healthier skin.

Perform a Patch Test:

Whenever trying all the new products at once is something exciting. But sometimes this can lead to an unwanted reaction, predominantly for sensitive skin types. Therefore, it is suggested to perform a patch test before adding new products to your skin care routine. Patch test applying on skin may show signs of irritation, redness, or other skin freak-outs within 24 hours. If nothing shows, you can use new product, otherwise you must avoid it.

Few simple tips for sensitive skincare to soothe and protect your skin:

• Add a soothing face mask to your routine – Occasionally your sensitive skin requires a little extra care. To give your complexion the soothing boost, try to add comfortable face mask to your skin care routine. Which will give you instantly, skin feels refreshed and comfortable, while dirt, dust, and oil are gently lifted from the skin. Apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, leave on for 10-15 minutes, Twice a week then wash off gently with lukewarm water and pat dry.
• Try face mask of yogurt & oatmeal – Yogurt consist lactic acid that gives gentle exfoliation of the dead skin cells, which make the skin look fresh and smooth, and also lower the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Whereas, Oatmeal has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helps to soothe the skin and prevents skin damage. Additionally, oatmeal helps to treat sunburns and moisturize the skin. Mix 2 table spoon of oatmeal and 2/3 table spoon of yogurt, Apply this paste to your face. Wash with water your face with a wet towel after 10–15 minutes.
• Use gooseberry in your diet – Indian gooseberry or amla is a rich source of vitamin C, which gives your skin extra dose of nourishment. Otherwise, you can drink its juice every day to see its results. It is one of the most effective home remedies for sensitive skincare.

• Use honey – Honey has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. You can use it as daily cleansing agent when mixed with one glass of water. Add honey with a coarse mixture of unsweetened cocoa powder, add coconut oil and milk, will make a wonderful scrub for sensitive skin. You can use this paste as a face mask too.

• Use cucumber – Cucumber is important when it comes to soothing your puffy eyes loaded with dark circles. It repairs your skin gently, and also softens it. Include cucumber in your diet regularly to get more benefits. Otherwise, you can use cucumber juice alone on your face to brighten it up.
• Use mangoes – Mangoes nourish and hydrate your skin making it look bright and radiant. Extract the pulp of fresh mango, blend it with yogurt, rose water, honey, few drops of coconut oil and make a smooth paste. Apply this paste on your face and wash off after 20 minutes.

Conclusion:

Individual who are having sensitive skin can be a persistent problem, especially if not taken care properly. Nevertheless, if you develop your skin care routine and use right products that are suitable for your skin, these illness can be easily coped. Remember that the products and ingredients that trigger skin reactions and avoid them in the future

It’s vital to maintain a regular skin care routine to keep your sensitive skin calm and clear. Make sure to have Hydration, protection, moisturization, and choosing natural and gentle ingredients for skin care can make a vast difference. Such as, it is imperative to avoid allergens and pollutants like dust, pollen, petrol, smoke, tar, cosmetics, allergens in food items to avoid flare-ups and breakouts. Limit exposure to sunlight, and use right sunscreen. Try to use natural moisturizers like coconut oil and honey to manage your skin sensitivity.

Always consult your dermatologist about the products or ingredients that are best suited for your skin.