Is Your Skin Sensitive or Sensitized? Here’s How To Know and How To Deal
Skincare brands are always pushing their sensitive skin products, and many people use the label to describe their skin. But did you know that sensitivity and sensitization are not the same thing?
Sensitivity refers to a skin type that is prone to redness, inflammation, and irritation. It’s not just a one-off reaction to a product or ingredient. Sensitization, on the other hand, refers to an acute reaction caused by a specific substance or product. Some people may have both skin types.
If you have sensitive skin, there are simple things you can do to help calm it down and reduce future reactions:
-Avoid harsh skincare ingredients like common allergens (like fragrances), irritants (alcohol), and exfoliants (AHAs).
-Instead opt for gentle cleansers with soothing ingredients like oatmeal. This will help avoid stripping your skin of its natural protective barrier.
-Apply sunscreen liberally and often throughout the day to protect your sensitive skin further from environmental aggressors like pollution and UV rays that can lead to inflammation. Try an antioxidant serum like C E Ferulic that contains 15 percent pure L
If you’re someone whose skin has a tendency to be reactive, you may have had some experience of this already. But even if you haven’t, it’s well worth knowing about, as there are ways to manage the problem and make your skin easier to care for.
The first thing to do is find out whether your skin is actually sensitive or just sensitized. Sensitive skin is an actual physical condition – the type that feels hot and stings when it comes into contact with soap or water (this is usually caused by damaged nerve endings). It can also mean that you have a low threshold for reaction: your skin reacts at a lower stimulus level than most people’s would.
Sensitized skin, on the other hand, is basically just irritated skin: it can look red, patchy and feel dry or tight. The difference between sensitivity and sensitization really comes down to whether the reaction is caused by external factors such as the environment, products or lifestyle choices – in which case it’s sensitized – or internal issues like genetics or a medical condition – in which case it’s sensitive.
It helps to start with the basics: what exactly is sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin is a genetic condition. The number one indicator of sensitive skin is tightness and redness whenever you apply product. Sensitive skin is intolerant to most ingredients and easily irritated. This can be due to the skin’s natural barrier, called the acid mantle, being compromised. Because of this, when applying products the skin becomes flushed and tight.
Sensitized skin occurs when the acid mantle has been compromised. When the acid mantle is broken down, it leads to an increased likelihood of inflammation which is how your face reacts to products applied on top.
So how do we know if our skin is sensitive or sensitized?
This can be tricky as your skin can be both! Sensitive skin tends to be intolerant to most ingredients and experience irritation when exposed to them. So if you’re unsure of what your skin type is, test out a few products on your face and see how your skin reacts! If you experience tightness and redness with new products then you’re likely dealing with sensitive or sensitized skin.
-Is your skin sensitive or sensitized? Sensitive skin is due to a genetic predisposition, while sensitized skin is due to an external trigger- such as pollution, poor diet, stress, smoking, and overuse of exfoliants.
It’s a common question that many people ask: “Is my skin sensitive, or just sensitized?” It’s a good question to ask, because knowing the answer can help you better determine how to treat your skin.
Sensitive Skin vs Sensitized Skin
Skin sensitivity is a major concern for many people, especially as it seems to be on the rise. In fact, a recent study found that up to 46% of adults experience sensitive skin in the U.S.1
However, when we think of sensitive skin, most of us think of skin that is chronically dry and irritated. But what if your skin is dry one day but oily the next? What if you have flaky patches near your hairline that are also prone to breakouts? You might wonder if you have sensitive skin, or is your skin just “normal” and reacting in ways we all do from time to time?
The simple answer is that it depends. There are two main types of sensitive skin: those who have sensitive skin from birth (intrinsic) and those whose skin has become sensitive over time (extrinsic). The following information should help you understand the difference between the two, and how each should be treated
The skincare industry is full of tricky marketing terms and buzzwords that can confuse you when you’re trying to select products for your skin.
Sensitive skin is a term used by beauty brands to indicate that a product is specifically formulated for people with sensitive skin. It usually implies that the product does not contain certain ingredients that might cause irritation.
Sensitized skin, on the other hand, is a condition that we all experience at one point or another in our lives. Sensitized skin can be caused by various factors, such as exposure to pollution, allergens, stress, and diet. It can also be triggered by improper use of skincare products.
Sensitive skin is something that many people struggle with. If you find yourself dealing with redness, inflammation, and itchiness around your face and body, you probably suffer from sensitive skin. I know that feeling all too well, as I’ve dealt with sensitive skin for a long time now.
It’s frustrating trying to figure out what products are best for you to use and how can you calm down redness, but it doesn’t have to be so difficult. We’re breaking down what sensitive skin is, how to tell if you have it, and what products are best suited for your needs.
What Is Sensitive Skin?
Dealing with sensitive skin? You’re not alone! This condition affects up to 50% of the population. However, there are different types of sensitivity that can affect your complexion.
Sensitive skin is a term used to describe skin that is prone to inflammation and irritation when exposed to external factors, such as the weather or products used on the skin (and off). These may include pollution, sunlight, stress, alcohol consumption etc. Sensitive skin can also become easily dehydrated because the epidermis lacks moisture.