Recently, women who seek dermatological advice are increasingly complaining of skin sensitivity, but, unfortunately, there is nothing surprising in this. Environmental pollution, stress, unhealthy lifestyle adversely affect our health in general and the condition of the skin in particular. But external factors – far from the only cause of skin sensitivity.
Sensitive skin type is quite dry by nature. The reason is that the sebaceous glands secrete a small amount of fat. As a result, the stratum corneum is thinned and does not protect the skin well enough from external influences; harmful substances freely penetrate through it. Also, many believe that skin sensitivity is associated with allergic reactions. However, this is not always the case, only the external symptoms are identical. According to experts, allergies can only be discussed in cases where the immune system is affected.
In addition, skin sensitivity can be either congenital or acquired. Often hypersensitivity appears only in adulthood as a kind of protective reaction. Experts often find it difficult to determine the causes of such hypersensitivity, but sometimes various skin diseases are to blame for everything: rosacea,
Seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis
Recently, it has been considered that psychological factors can also cause the appearance of hypersensitivity:
- anorexia,
- stress,
- depression.
Whatever the reason for the increased sensitivity of the skin, subject to the basic rules of proper care, it will always be in excellent condition.
A very important step in the care of sensitive skin is cleansing
In the morning, wash your face only with warm, almost cool water. Too cold water irritates the skin and causes redness. In the evenings, remove make-up and impurities with cleansing milk. After applying the milk, gently wipe the skin of the face, neck and décolleté with a cotton swab dipped in tonic. Avoid any harsh cosmetics and treatments that can irritate the skin: soaps, peels and scrubs, anti-wrinkle creams with fruit acids and vitamin A, lotions and tonics containing alcohol, overly perfumed gels and creams, laser treatments and dermabrasion.
Always remember the saying "We are what we eat"!
Avoid certain foods that can cause flare-ups: alcohol, red peppers and spices, certain types of red juices, smoked or pickled foods. You do not need to completely abandon all these products, they do not always cause irritation, but at first it is good to follow the reaction of the skin to a particular product. Aperitifs have a particularly strong effect on the skin: alcohol taken on an empty stomach causes an increased rush of blood to the face.
For winter and summer – miscellaneous tips
In winter, avoid being too close to radiators and heaters, and before going outside, apply a protective cream that protects the skin from the effects of frost and strong winds. In summer, protect your face from direct sunlight with creams containing filters, wear caps and hats with a brim.
The right choice of cosmetics – basis of care!
Sensitive skin needs simple care. In adolescence, the use of a nourishing day cream is quite sufficient. From the age of 20, it is preferable to use cosmetics designed specifically for sensitive and allergy-prone skin. It is very important that these products are dermatologically tested by people with allergies, while conventional cosmetics are tested by people with healthy skin.
Special hypoallergenic cosmetics do not contain components that irritate the skin, as well as active substances that stimulate blood circulation or the formation of new cells. The composition of such cosmetics includes only soothing and nourishing additives. Many women find that cosmetics made from natural plant products are especially gentle and therefore meant for sensitive skin. This is mistake. Some plants and their extracts are very irritating to the skin and cause allergies. It is important to note that for the care of sensitive skin, special medical cosmetics are needed, the formulation of which is tailored to the needs of the skin.
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