Your sensitive skin needs extra care and protection if you frequently get sunburns, have recurring rashes and breakouts, or flake and itch. Others experience dry, flaky skin, while others are more prone to allergic reactions to various chemicals or substances. It can be simple to take care of whatever ails you once you identify what is bothering your skin. To maintain your sensitive skin healthy and comfortable, use the proper products, stay away from irritants, and develop excellent habits.
1. How to Choose the Best Products
Choose scent-free products
Many scents included in lotions and soaps can irritate sensitive skin. Choose products that are labeled “perfume free” or “unscented.” Laundry detergent typically contains scents, therefore using unscented detergent to wash your clothes can significantly assist your skin problems.
- Detergents that claim to be “antibacterial” or “deodorant” can also be unpleasant. These should be avoided at all costs. You could experiment with plant-based detergents.
Avoid using colored products.
Do you ever think about where the pink in your soap came from? Lotion, soap, shampoo, and even laundry detergent often use harsh colours to improve their visual attractiveness. Select dye-free or colorless goods wherever possible, and always choose the more understated options over the flashy ones.
Avoid acidic products
Products containing acids might aggravate acne-prone and sensitive skin. Many acne-fighting face cleansers are acid-based for this very reason. You should avoid any items that have acid on the ingredient list.
- Alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, ascorbic acid, and kojic acid are some components to search for. Avoid using any cleaning products that include borax (boric acid).
Stay away from alcohols
If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid using any products that include alcohol. Ethanol (sometimes known as “ethyl alcohol”) is a common ingredient in numerous personal care, household, and medicinal items. Alcohol’s drying effects might aggravate already sensitive skin. Read the label and stay away from anything you don’t recognize.
- The “fatty alcohols” (cetyl, stearyl, lanolin, and cetearyl) in products are often gentler for sensitive skin, but always test a small patch of skin before using a new product.
- If you want better skin, you should also cut back on alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the body, which can exacerbate symptoms of illnesses including rosacea and psoriasis.
Protect your skin from other chemical products
Nail polish remover and hair dye both include acetate. You can find sulfates in things like shampoo and cleaning supplies. Lotions and cosmetics may include hydroquinone, a chemical used for bleaching or skin whitening. These components aren’t harmful in and of themselves, however they could cause skin irritation in some people.
- Put on gloves before handling any of these chemicals.
- Be mindful of any allergic reactions you may have to items containing these substances. It takes some detective work to figure out what you’re allergic to, therefore you should do that work yourself.
Use organic household products and cleaners
The majority of commercial cleaners involve harsh chemicals. Unfortunately, what is harmful to bacteria is also harmful to sensitive skin. Try cleaning solutions made from plants or ones labeled “hypoallergenic” or “for sensitive skin.” Wear rubber gloves when cleaning for extra safety.
Use moisturizer with soothing ingredients
Use a moisturizer with components like aloe, jojoba, or chamomile if your skin is prone to itchiness and redness. These are extremely calming for skin that is sensitive.
- Use lighter moisturizing creams in the summer and heavier, thicker creams or ointments in the winter.
- Try a petroleum-based product like Vaseline or Eucerin if your skin is really dry or appears to react to practically any moisturizer you use. Although they may seem oily, these are incredibly moisturizing and unlikely to irritate the skin.
2. Taking Care of Sensitive Skin
Use sunscreen regularly
Using a daily moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher is the simplest approach to protect your skin from sun damage. You can even apply higher SPFs on your face, such as 30 or 45. If your moisturizer does not contain SPF, apply sunscreen to your face, arms, and other exposed areas before leaving the house in the morning. Even on foggy days, remember to use sunscreen. If your sunscreen causes skin sensitivity, look for hypoallergenic sunscreen that is devoid of fragrances and dyes.
- The sun is at its brightest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so try to avoid being outside during this time.
- Reapply sunscreen every two to three hours when out in the sun.
- Never, ever use tanning beds.
Be careful when wearing metal
The metal that causes allergic responses the most frequently is nickel, which can be found in lots of jewelry. It is an allergy if wearing nickel earrings causes your earlobes to become red, swollen, or itching. Make sure the jewelry you purchase is made of stainless steel or silver to avoid nickel. Additionally, copper can briefly turn some skin a greenish color and trigger reactions on the skin including itching and redness. Unfortunately, allergies to gold are also rising in frequency.
- On clothing, such as buttons or jeans’ snaps, nickel and other metals may also be found in trace levels.
Cover your skin in Hot/cold weather
Skin can get dry from being in very hot or very cold places. Cover as much skin as you can with hats, gloves, and scarves when you go outside in the winter. If you’ll be outside all day in hot, dry weather, put on sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, and cover as much of your skin as you can with light-colored, loose clothes.
If you have serious skin issues, visit your doctor
Your best efforts and careful attention may not always be enough to determine what is bothering your skin or how to avoid it. Consult your doctor if you have a rash that won’t go away, skin irritation that causes you discomfort and interferes with normal activities, or if it is growing worse over time. They can perform a patch test to determine what, if anything, you are allergic to. If your skin problems are serious, prescription treatments are also available.
- Inquire, for example, “Why does my skin get so itchy and flaky in the winter?” “What medicine is available if the problem doesn’t go away?”
- If your family doctor is unable to assist you, they can send you to a dermatologist, who is a skin specialist.
3. Changing Your Daily Routine
Reduce your shower and bath times
Hot water removes natural skin oils, thus taking a bath or shower with it can be very drying. Avoid too hot water and go for a warm bath or shower instead. You should restrict your soaking time. Limit your time to between 5 and 10 minutes.
Be gentle on your skin
Avoid exfoliating using rough scrubs that have “pits” in them since they might irritate and cause peeling. Replace it with a cream cleanser that has “beads.” Avoid using abrasive washcloths and switch to a soft sponge or puff instead. When cleansing your face, simply use your fingertips. Gently scrub your skin in circular motions.
Gently shave
Use shaving cream or lotion every time you shave, whether your legs, face, or another part of your body. Never use merely soap or a dry razor to shave. Always shave in the same direction as your hair grows. If you shave regularly, you know that using a dull razor might irritate your skin.
- Hair removal treatments and depilatories are incredibly unpleasant and should be avoided at all costs.
Apply hand cream frequently throughout the day
The hands are the most vulnerable to damage and irritation because they are constantly in use. Keep a tiny container of fragrance-free, moisturizing lotion in your bag at all times. Apply lotion frequently throughout the day, focusing on the areas of your hands that tend to dry out the most (the backs of your hands and the skin around your knuckles).
- Your hands may take a battering if you work in a profession that requires frequent hand washing or if you reside in a very cold and dry region. Apply moisturizer after every hand washing, or at least once an hour.
Install a humidifier in your room
Dry air irritates skin by causing it to dry out, resulting in chapping, itching, and peeling. This is exacerbated in the winter when the windows are closed and the heating is turned on. Get a portable humidifier and place it in your bedroom or the room you use the most to keep your skin moisturized during the cold months.
- Clean your humidifier on a regular basis to avoid the growth of fungus and germs.