Seeing red? Feeling itchy? If this is you, you’ve probably poured over ingredients on the beauty aisle. But unfortunately still not sure what to do about the irritation on your skin. All you know is that you want the sting to go away. It’s either you have sensitive or sensitised skin. While both look and feel similar, they’re not one and the same. 

What Does It Even Mean To Have Sensitive Skin?

Turns out, there are two kinds of issues – sensitive and sensitised – and it’s very easy to confuse the two. “Sensitive skin is a descriptive term more than it is a medical diagnosis,” says dermatologist Dr Alicia Zalka. While there may not be any specific tests for it, derms will determine if it’s an issue by asking patients if they have redness, itching, flaking or other responses to products, says Dr Zalka. On the other hand, “sensitised skin means you have developed an allergy to something,” explains Dr Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist. “This is an immune reaction that can be caused by food, airborne allergens, medications or product ingredients.” Overall, anyone can have sensitive skin, while sensitised skin is genetic and caused by something external that suddenly starts bothering you.

So How Do  I Know If I Have A Sensitive-Skin Problem?

Most often, you’ll notice symptoms on the face, neck, hands or underarms, says Dr Zalka. There are also multiple health conditions that can cause or coincide with skin issues, including atopic dermatitis (eczema), rosacea, psoriasis, allergic contact dermatitis and hives. Worth noting: On darker skin tones, symptoms or reactions can be trickier to spot, points out dermatologist Dr Lian Mack. But “while it may be difficult to see pink or red, the skin may have scaling or itching that can also indicate an allergy or irritation,” she adds. Also, symptoms don’t always show up ASAP. Sometimes it’s hours or even days later. Since blanket “skin issues” can be connected to a host of things, check with an expert rather than just deeming your skin sensitive and acting accordingly.

Are There Possible Cures?

“There is no cure for sensitive skin,” says Dr Zalka. It may behave as a chronic problem, but with proper attention and care, it can be managed. Treatment options depend on the diagnosis – your doctor will likely complete a patch test to determine if there are ingredients to avoid and any medications, injections, or topicals that can help. When it comes to finding a routine that works for you, trial and error is best. Introduce one thing at a time, testing small areas (like the wrist) to see how you respond. And as tempting as it may be, don’t dive face first into your fave influencer’s recommendations. FYI, this is sage advice for anyone but especially relevant if you’ve experienced any skin reactions in the past.

Soothing Skin-care Products You Need

To help you, we’ve rounded up some of the best products for sensitive skin without worrying about irritation. Keep this nearby as your cheat sheet the next time you go shopping or click checkout.

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water

Designed specifically for sensitive skin, it calms and treats irritated or inflamed skin. It can also be used to cool and refresh all skin types.

R199 at Clicks

READ MORE: Skin And Workouts: 6 Gross Things That Happen To Your Skin While Exercising

Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion

Impressively lightweight, this oil-free moisturiser won’t clog pores. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic and also fragrance-free.

R420 at Clicks

SKOON. Gel-to-Milk Cleanser

Who’s for this all-in-one cleanser and make-up remover that soothes while cleansing?

With just enough water added, it goes from soft gel to milky fluid.

R470 at Wellness Warehouse

READ MORE: 9 Mineral Sunscreens That Won’t Damage Your Skin – Or The Environment While Exercising

Eau Thermale Avène Tolérance Soothing Recovery Cream

A soothing cream for hypersensitive, reactive, intolerant or allergic skin. Why we are loving this one? Calms skin in 30 seconds and lastingly reduces skin discomfort.

R380 at Dermastore

Dermalogica Calm Water Gel

This featherweight gel lotion instantly nourishes irritated skin by creating a barrier that safeguards your skin from environmental aggressors.

R999 at Dermalogica

Eucerin Gel-Cream Dry Touch Sensitive Protect SPF 50+  

An ultra-light gel-cream sunscreen that offers superior protection from the sun, for all skin types. Soothes sensitive skin and protects from sun-induced skin damage. Easy to apply. Absorbs very quickly. 0% residue.

R360 at Clicks

REN Clean Skincare Redness Relief Serum

Our fave aspect about this serum is that it’s fast-acting and visibly reduces redness and calms skin, while soothing signs of sensitivity in seven days including, dryness, itching, discomfort, flakiness, tightness or burning sensations.

R950 at Clicks

Clarins Calm-Essentiel Restoring Treatment Oil

A treatment suited to the needs of sensitive and fragile skin. Featuring 95% to 98% natural ingredients. The skin is comforted, supple, and soft—plus, its tolerance threshold improves day after day. Recommended use of this oil alone as a treatment is for 10 to 20 days, depending on your needs.

R735 at Clarins

Bioderma Sensibio DS+ Foaming Cleanser

An ultra-gentle, fragrance-free foaming gel for face and body, targeting the unique needs of sensitive skin prone to redness and scaling. Suitable for skin prone to seborrhoeic dermatitis (a common skin condition that mainly affects your scalp. It causes scaly patches, inflamed skin and stubborn dandruff).

R335 at Dischem

FEEV Hyper-Fortifying Barrier Cream

This is a concentrated repair cream that absorbs easily and provides immediate comfort to a sensitive, impaired skin. Suitable for dry, rosacea, or dry acne-prone skin.

R740 at Dermastore

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective

A lightweight serum that is calming and hydrating for irritated skin. Suitable for all skin types but especially beneficial for sensitive, flushed, or rosacea-prone skin.

R1450 at Dermastore

pHformula SOS Rescue Cream

A rich barrier cream that forms a shield on the skin’s surface, protecting the skin against cold or dry air, windburn, and even sunburnt skin or lips. Suitable for very dry and sensitive skin.

R788 at Dermastore

This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com