What is sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin can be affected by a variety of emotional and environmental factors. From change of season, climate, detergents, dust and even stress. The most important thing is to protect and strengthen the skin from irritation. Managing sensitive skin is an ongoing process. There is no miracle or overnight treatment, but with the right products and lifestyle you can effectively manage sensitivity.
What is the difference between sensitive, reactive and sensitized skin?
Sensitive skin: Truly sensitive skin is a skin type. It is genetic, meaning you are born with this skin type and it cannot change. Truly sensitive skin types may have allergies to food, dust, pollen and animals. They may also have a genetic predisposition to inflammatory skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. Truly sensitive skin is more common in lighter skin tones and affect more than 50% of people.
Sensitive skin is always red, warm to the touch, prone to little red splotches that do not seem to go away – especially around the nose, cheeks and chin. These are known as dilated blood capillaries. Sensitive skin is a manageable but not curable.
Reactive skin is a skin condition and aggravated by external environmental factors (sun, pollution, toxins, waste products, temperature changes) and harsh products or internal factors such as stress, medications and hormonal changes. Reactive skin is a result of poor barrier function (skin’s protective layer). The skin will respond easily with redness, but it will flare up and go down.
Sensitized or intolerant skin is associated with pricking, tightness and redness. The skin cannot tolerate the application of the products which are normally well tolerated. Sensitized skin can happen to anyone, regardless of skin type, skin colour or skin condition. Sensitized skin is not something you are born with and it can be reversed.
Inflammatory skin conditions such as Eczema, Psoriasis, Dermatitis and Acne is associated with redness, heat, pain, swelling, throbbing and oozing. The major difference between sensitive and inflamed skin is swelling.
Factors that aggravate sensitive skin:
- Sun exposure
- Exposure to air pollution
- Frequent changes in temperature
- Cold, harsh weather
- Very hot water
- Lack of sleep
- Hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle or pregnancy
- Stress and late nights
- Chlorine in swimming pools
- Dry skin
- Dehydration
- Wrong cosmetic products with harsh ingredients
- Over exfoliation and excessive cleansing
- Smoking, alcohol, caffeine
- Stress (emotional, physical, environmental)
Common signs of sensitive skin:
- Tingling, stinging, prickling, or burning
- Warm to the touch
- Often feels tight and uncomfortable
- Is sometimes sore or sensitive to touch
- Needs extra hydration in winter
- Dries out during flights
- Flushes easily after a spicy meal or drinking alcohol
- Has patches of redness that may or may not fade
- Has areas of uneven texture, with dryness and flakiness
- The skin tends to be thinner and more translucent
- Becomes itchy or develops a rash after contact with irritants
- Turns red and dries out after a hot shower or bath
With sensitized skin, these symptoms go away once the skin has repaired itself. With naturally sensitive skin, these symptoms are often ongoing.
How to strengthen your skin:
- Avoid excessive cleansing with water and soap.
- Avoid harsh products, irritant chemicals and strong perfumes.
- Avoid cleansing with excessively hot water, steam or high heat.
- Do not over exfoliate.
- Avoid environmental conditions that cause sensitivity (such as high heat, dry air, extreme cold, strong wind).
- Try not to touch your skin or scratch any itches.
- Avoid excessive pressure and over stimulation.
- Apply a high-factor sun protection to your face and body, as exposure to the sun and its harmful UVA and UVB rays can further irritate the skin.
Our Recommendations the RITES Way:
A moisturizer that is intensively hydrating, non-sticky, soothes irritation and redness, and helps to regain control over demanding skin. Your skin will feel smooth and supple after the first application. The active ingredients seep deep into the skin to produce new heathier skin cells.
Provides weightless protection that helps keep your skin matte, reduce blemishes, soothes the skin and protects against harmful UV rays from the sun. Leaves the skin noticeably clearer and smoother. Hydration is a key factor in strengthening and protecting the skin.
A unisex lip balm to seal moisture in lips and protect them from external exposure. Dry air, cold temperatures, sun and wind have a drying effect on our lips. A lip balm shields your lips from these elements and ensures that they remain kissable throughout the day.
Powerful supplement packed with skincare nutrients to reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system of the skin and repair any damage to the skin. The formulation targets the overall health of the skin and provides the skin will all the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to function optimally.