Seeing red? Feeling itchy? If this is you, you\u2019ve 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\u2019s either you have sensitive or sensitised skin. While both look and feel similar, they\u2019re not one and the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Turns out, there are two kinds of issues \u2013 sensitive and sensitised \u2013 and it\u2019s very easy to confuse the two. \u201cSensitive skin is a descriptive term more than it is a medical diagnosis,\u201d says dermatologist Dr Alicia Zalka. While there may not be any specific tests for it, derms will determine if it\u2019s an issue by asking patients if they have redness, itching, flaking or other responses to products, says Dr Zalka. On the other hand, \u201csensitised skin means you have developed an allergy to something,\u201d explains Dr Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist. \u201cThis is an immune reaction that can be caused by food, airborne allergens, medications or product ingredients.\u201d Overall, anyone can have sensitive skin, while sensitised skin is genetic and caused by something external that suddenly starts bothering you.<\/p>\n
Most often, you\u2019ll 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 \u201cwhile it may be difficult to see pink or red, the skin may have scaling or itching that can also indicate an allergy or irritation,\u201d she adds. Also, symptoms don\u2019t always show up ASAP. Sometimes it\u2019s hours or even days later. Since blanket \u201cskin issues\u201d can be connected to a host of things, check with an expert rather than just deeming your skin sensitive and acting accordingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no cure for sensitive skin,\u201d 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 \u2013 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\u00a0a 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\u2019t dive face first into your fave influencer\u2019s recommendations. FYI, this is sage advice for anyone but especially relevant if you\u2019ve experienced any skin reactions in the past.<\/p>\n
To help you, we\u2019ve rounded up some of the best products for sensitive skin without worrying about irritation.\u00a0Keep this nearby as your cheat sheet the next time you go shopping or click checkout.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R199 at Clicks<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Skin And Workouts: 6 Gross Things That Happen To Your Skin While Exercising<\/p>\n Impressively lightweight, this oil-free moisturiser won\u2019t clog pores. Plus, it\u2019s hypoallergenic and also fragrance-free.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R420 at Clicks<\/p>\n Who\u2019s for this all-in-one cleanser and make-up remover that soothes while cleansing?<\/p>\n With just enough water added, it goes from soft gel to milky fluid.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R470 at Wellness Warehouse<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> 9 Mineral Sunscreens That Won\u2019t Damage Your Skin \u2013 Or The Environment While Exercising<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R380 at Dermastore<\/p>\n This featherweight gel lotion instantly nourishes irritated skin by creating a barrier that safeguards your skin from environmental aggressors.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R999 at Dermalogica<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R360 at Clicks<\/p>\n Our fave aspect about this serum is that it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R950 at Clicks<\/p>\n A treatment suited to the needs of sensitive and fragile skin. Featuring 95% to 98% natural ingredients. The skin is comforted, supple, and soft\u2014plus, 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R735 at Clarins<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R335 at Dischem<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R740 at Dermastore<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R1450 at Dermastore<\/p>\n A rich barrier cream that forms a shield on the skin\u2019s surface, protecting the skin against cold or dry air, windburn, and even sunburnt skin or lips. Suitable for very dry and sensitive skin.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n R788 at Dermastore<\/p>\n This article was originally published on\u00a0www.womenshealthmag.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Seeing red? Feeling itchy? If this is you, you\u2019ve 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\u2019s either you have sensitive or sensitised skin. While both look and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[976,969,970],"class_list":{"0":"post-4504","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-style-beauty","8":"tag-beauty","9":"tag-skin-issues","10":"tag-skincare"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4504"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5064,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4504\/revisions\/5064"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eufad.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water<\/h3>\n
Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion<\/h3>\n
SKOON. Gel-to-Milk Cleanser<\/h3>\n
Eau Thermale Av\u00e8ne Tol\u00e9rance Soothing Recovery Cream<\/h3>\n
Dermalogica Calm Water Gel<\/h3>\n
Eucerin Gel-Cream Dry Touch Sensitive Protect SPF 50+\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
REN Clean Skincare Redness Relief Serum<\/h3>\n
Clarins Calm-Essentiel Restoring Treatment Oil<\/h3>\n
Bioderma Sensibio DS+ Foaming Cleanser<\/h3>\n
FEEV Hyper-Fortifying Barrier Cream<\/h3>\n
SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective<\/h3>\n
pHformula SOS Rescue Cream<\/h3>\n