Crying over a sad movie is fine. There is nothing wrong with being on the sensitive side. But having sensitive skin?
The best way to determine if you have sensitive skin is to consult your dermatologist. Constant redness, drying, itching, stinging, and breakouts are among its common symptoms. While “sensitive” skin is a genetic trait, more and more people are having “sensitized” skin: a condition triggered by one’s lifestyle and environmental factors.
Certain types of food can cause rashes, skin irritation, and sensitivity in some people. Among the most common are milk, eggs, nuts, shellfish, and gluten. If you think you could be allergic to any of these, ask your doctor for a skin test. Sensitive, irritated skin could also be a symptom of skin disorders such as psoriasis, contact dermatitis, or eczema.
Skin is our first line of defense against UV rays and harmful substances in our environment. Sensitive skin is characterized by a weak or damaged outer barrier, and so, is more prone to irritation when it comes in contact with these. Frequent and long exposure to the sun, air pollution, and chemicals found in even the most common everyday products can trigger redness and rashes, and even cause further skin damage.
Re-examine your beauty rituals. Do you exfoliate too often or scrub your skin too hard? Do you often forego the steps of hydrating and moisturizing? Do you skip sunscreen when you go out during the day? Do you use clean brushes and sponges to apply your make-up, and make sure you remove all traces of it before you go to bed? These habits worsen your skin’s condition, too.
If you have sensitive skin, be more selective of the products you use. Some personal “care” products may even do quite the opposite to skin: a lot of these contain substances that cause and increase skin sensitivity. Among these:
Sulfates are an inexpensive foaming agent that you usually find in soaps and shampoo, as well as toothpaste. It strips skin and scalp of their natural oils, which leads to dryness.
Mineral Oils are obtained from petroleum, and are widely used in personal care products and cosmetics so that they glide smoothly on the skin and to supposedly moisturize the skin. However, especially when it is not highly refined and has a questionable quality, it can clog pores. Also, the molecules of mineral oil are too big to be absorbed into the skin, so it really doesn’t penetrate to moisturize skin.
Parabens are used mainly as a preservative in creams, make-up, and other beauty products, as well as in packaged and preserved food. While these may cause irritation, there is a greater reason for a lot of brands going paraben-free: there are studies that have linked parabens to hormonal disruptions and cancer.
Benzophenone is commonly used in creams, sunscreens, lip and nail make-up. While it does help protect against UV rays, it may cause redness and rashes. There are also conflicting opinions as to the safety of benzophenon, as it can be absorbed in the bloodstream.
Triethanolamine is used mainly to balance a beauty product’s pH level. It also has emulsifying properties. This is actually a product of two harmful substances: ethylene oxide and ammonia. This chemical may cause skin as well as eye irritations.
Synthetic Dyes and Synthetic Fragrances are not only allergens, they contain toxic chemicals that have been linked to serious health hazards.
Next time you shop, read the label carefully and make sure your beauty products do not contain those. Or, you could simply opt for Dewytree’s The Clean Lab Series which are free of all those 7 harmful substances! The Clean Lab Series is suitable for sensitive skin, nourishing and strengthening it with the best ingredients found in nature.
