Sensitive Skin: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Dealing with sensitive skin can leave you feeling frustrated, insecure, and hopeless. Sometimes it seems that no matter what you do, you still end up with skin reactions. In order to effectively deal with your sensitive skin, you need to understand the signs and the causes of it before moving on to treatment.

The best way to treat sensitive skin is through a tailored skincare regimen that utilizes gentle yet effective ingredients that can soothe current irritation while simultaneously preventing future ones.

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What Are the Symptoms of Sensitive Skin?

If you experience a bunch of seemingly random skin issues with no clear cause, you could actually be dealing with sensitive skin.

While everyone with sensitive skin experiences different symptoms, here are some things to be on the lookout for:

Frequent redness and inflammation on the skin
Frequent rashes and bumps on the skin
Frequent dryness, flakiness, or peeling of the skin
Frequent burning, stinging, or itchiness of the skin
Unexplained pain or discomfort of the skin

Of course, these symptoms should only become concerning if there’s no discernible cause. If you are exposed to poison ivy and experience these symptoms, then it’s probably not due to sensitive skin. On the other hand, if you experience these symptoms on a regular basis while carrying out your daily routine and using your regular products, you may be dealing with sensitive skin.

What Are the Causes of Sensitive Skin?

It can be difficult to nail down a cause of sensitive skin since this term is used to describe a general group of symptoms rather than a specific medical condition. However, it is important to understand and identify the cause of your sensitive skin so that you can effectively address it and get some relief.

The cause of everyone’s sensitive skin is different, but here are some potential causes that you may want to look into:

Skin conditions: Sensitive skin may be caused by an underlying skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea.
Ingredients: Sensitive skin may be triggered by irritating ingredients within your personal care products. These ingredients can be problematic not just in your skincare products, but within any product that comes into contact with your skin -- everything from detergents to shampoos can cause a reaction.
Environment: Environmental factors can contribute to sensitive skin. Specifically, weather conditions that involve heat, cold, wind, or sunlight can sensitize the skin. Additionally, environmental pollutants can irritate the skin -- especially in big cities where pollution is more prevalent.
Hormones and Immune System: Hormones can be causing your sensitive skin. Your body and skin go through changes based on your menstrual cycle. Many women experience hormonal acne at certain points in their cycle -- sensitivity can occur as well. If you have noticed increased sensitivity when you’re sick, this could be caused by your immune system.
Aging: Aging can contribute to sensitive skin as the skin begins to dry out and become thinner it can become more prone to irritation. So if you’re experiencing signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles alongside redness and irritation, this may be the cause of your sensitive skin.

When To Treat Sensitive Skin

If you don’t have a name or a cause for your skin concerns, odds are that you’re not going to take action and get treatment. But now that you know what sensitive skin is and what causes it, when should you seek treatment for these issues? Obviously, this is a deeply personal question. Although sensitive skin isn’t harmful or dangerous, the effects of sensitive skin can leave you feeling insecure. They can also leave you in pain and discomfort.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you when to seek treatment for sensitive skin. If you’re sick of dealing with irritation and discomfort in search of a better quality of life, then it’s time to take action and start treating your sensitive skin. Before you go to a dermatologist, you may want to personally consider the potential triggers of your sensitive skin to help them come up with the right treatment plan.

How To Treat Sensitive Skin

Unfortunately, treating sensitive skin isn’t a straightforward process. In fact, it really depends on the cause. For instance, sensitive skin triggered by irritating ingredients can be treated by avoiding said ingredients.

Sensitive skin triggered by the environment can be treated by protecting the skin from the elements and pollutants. Sensitive skin triggered by aging can be treated by supplementing the skin with collagen and elastin to effectively nourish it.

Here are more details on how to treat sensitive skin depending on the root cause of your symptoms:

Skin conditions: If you have an underlying skin condition that’s causing your sensitive skin, you likely need an official diagnosis and treatment plan from a board-certified dermatologist. For instance, eczema is typically treated with oral and topical antihistamines or corticosteroids. Rosacea is typically treated with oral antibiotics or oral acne medications.
Ingredients: If you suspect that irritating ingredients are causing your sensitive skin, then the easy fix is to limit your exposure to them. Obviously, this is easier said than done since it can be difficult to determine which specific ingredient(s) are causing your issues. A dermatologist may be able to perform a skin allergy test in which they expose your skin to a variety of different substances and monitor your reactions to determine specific allergies.
Environment: If you suspect that environmental factors are causing your sensitive skin, then you need to take extra precautions to protect your skin from the elements. On sunny days, this means wearing a hat, sunglasses, long sleeves, and applying extra sunscreen. On cold and windy days, this means wearing long sleeves, a beanie, and a scarf.
Hormones: If you suspect that hormones are causing your sensitive skin, there’s no easy treatment option since hormones cannot be eliminated. Instead, you may wish to manage them with things like hormonal contraceptive pills or simply adjust your skincare routine based on your menstrual cycle.
Aging: If you suspect that aging is causing your sensitive skin, you should incorporate anti-aging ingredients and products into your skincare routine to fight increased dryness. Look for nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or products that supplement the skin’s building blocks of collagen and elastin.

Ingredients To Use and Ingredients To Avoid for Sensitive Skin

Even though everyone’s skin reacts differently to different ingredients, certain things are considered safer while others are considered harsher and potentially irritating. Until you are able to determine your specific triggers, these ingredient lists can act as a useful guide to determining which skincare products are safe for use.

Gentle Ingredients To Use on Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you should use gentle ingredients to avoid irritating it. Again, no ingredient is 100% safe but there are certain ingredients that have low risks of reaction. Here are some gentle ingredients that are ideal for use on sensitive skin:

Aloe vera: Aloe vera is world-renowned for its healing and soothing properties. So naturally, it’s a gentle ingredient that can be used safely on sensitive skin. Whether you get it straight from the plant in your yard or use it in your skincare products, aloe is one of the best ingredients for sensitive skin.
Rose water: Rose water has been used for thousands of years thanks to its many benefits. Many of those benefits relate to skin health as it’s able to gently cleanse the skin and soothe irritation. Again, you can either make rose water on your own at home or use a skincare product that has been formulated with it.
Calendula: Calendula may look like just a weed, but it’s really so much more than that. This natural skincare ingredient is able to effectively fight redness and irritation for reactive skin. This ingredient is especially beneficial for those dealing with dermatitis or eczema.
Squalane: Squalane is derived from oils and is natural and safe to use for sensitive skin. While many moisturizing ingredients can irritate sensitive skin, squalane is able to provide the skin with a gentle yet deep level of moisture that will not irritate it.
Oats: Oats can be used in the kitchen and in your sensitive skincare. However, the oats in skincare aren’t the same as the oats in your kitchen. Instead, colloidal oatmeal can be used to soothe the skin and relieve redness and itchiness.
Jojoba oil: Jojoba oil is a common skin and hair ingredient that is safe to use for sensitive skin. This ingredient is gentle enough to use on sensitive skin due to its compatibility with the skin’s structure. It is able to be easily absorbed into the skin and provide it with moisture and nourishment.

Potentially Irritating Ingredients to Avoid for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid using potentially irritating ingredients on your skin to prevent negative reactions.

Here are some ingredients that could prove problematic for sensitive skin:

Fragrances: While fragrances may make your products smell good, they could trigger skin reactions. Fragrances are especially problematic since companies aren’t required to list the specific components of a fragrance on the label. Therefore, it can be difficult for you to determine if they are problematic or not. For this reason, dermatologists often recommend choosing fragrance-free formulas if you’re experiencing sensitive skin -- or at the very least, avoiding the use of products with synthetic fragrances.
Preservatives: Preservatives are often used in personal care products to extend their shelf life. On the flip side, they can also trigger skin sensitivities. This is especially true when it comes to parabens and methylisothiazolinone. So be on the lookout for these preservatives and others when choosing your products.
Dyes: While dyes are found in obvious products like hair products, they are also found in other personal care items to give the product a color. Although you may love having a pretty blue shampoo, the dye in this product could potentially cause an allergic reaction. Specifically, a dye called paraphenylenediamine (PPD) commonly found in permanent hair dyes can cause negative skin reactions. For this reason, you should avoid harsh dyes and instead choose products with a natural color.
Sulfates: Sulfates like sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate are used to provide lather in personal care products like shampoos, face washes, and even toothpaste. However, these ingredients are quite harsh on the skin and can strip it of its natural oils -- leaving it dry and irritated as a result. So be on the lookout for sulfate-free formulas in all of your personal care products.
Aluminum: While you expect to see aluminum in your kitchen rather than in your bathroom products, this ingredient is common in deodorants. However, this ingredient can cause redness and peeling in the affected area. For this reason, you should avoid personal care products with aluminum compounds.
Alcohols: Alcohols are used to clean and dry the skin in products like toners or face creams. However, they can be incredibly drying and irritating as they affect the skin’s moisture and natural barrier. If you’re looking for a gentle yet effective toner, skip the alcohol-based ones in favor of gentler alternatives.
Acids: Acids are commonly used for chemical exfoliation as they are able to dissolve the chemical bonds that hold dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. And while these ingredients can be beneficial for many, they can be irritating to others. This is especially true for stronger acids like glycolic acid or even salicylic acid. Instead of using alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids to exfoliate, try using amino fruit acids instead.
Physical exfoliants: On the flip side, physical exfoliants use rough and jagged particles to physically remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin through scrubbing. Again, this method of exfoliation is definitely effective, but it can take a real toll on sensitive skin. So instead of using exfoliants like ground nuts or fruits, use oats instead for a gentler alternative that won’t irritate your skin.
Essential oils: While essential oils are known to be “safe” and “natural” since they come from plants, they can still trigger allergic reactions in some people with sensitive skin. This is especially true if they are a primary ingredient in a product. While this doesn’t mean that you should necessarily avoid any and all essential oils, instead, use them with caution -- especially when it comes to citrus extracts and mint extracts that are known to cause irritation.

How To Care for Sensitive Skin

Caring for sensitive skin can be confusing and frustrating. Sometimes it seems like no matter what you do, you’re still dealing with redness, irritation, and discomfort. However, it doesn’t have to be this way! While you may never be able to completely cure your sensitive skin, there are things you can do to effectively manage it.

The first thing you need to do is to figure out your triggers since everyone’s skin is different. While the “generally safe” and “potentially irritating” ingredients outlined above can be a helpful guide, this doesn’t mean that each and every ingredient on those lists will fit that category for your unique skin. So how can you determine your triggers and stop irritation in its tracks? The best thing to do is to create a skin journal in which you track your skin reactions.

Start by eliminating one product -- maybe it’s one with a lot of potentially irritating ingredients in it. Track the changes in your skin for a week or so in your skin journal. If you see an improvement, then you know what product to eliminate. If you don’t see an improvement, it’s likely that another product is the culprit. Keep moving down the list of your personal care products until you have a better idea of what products and ingredients are specifically causing your sensitive skin.

Another way that you can care for sensitive skin is to perform patch tests before you use any new products. While patch tests are usually recommended for anyone trying out a new product, they are especially necessary for those with sensitive skin. A patch test is a great way to avoid a nasty reaction on a visible area like your face.

To patch test a new product, apply a small amount of it to a more discrete area like your arm or the side of your neck. Repeat the process over the period of three or four days to ensure that you won’t develop a delayed reaction. If you don’t experience a poor reaction on your patch test, you should consider your new product safe to use.

How To Develop a Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin

Now that you know how to find the right skincare products and test them out for safety, it’s time to incorporate them into an actual skincare routine. In some cases, products that aren’t irritating on their own can become irritating if they aren’t used properly. For instance, the overuse of exfoliants can end up irritating the skin. Additionally, shaving can irritate sensitive skin if not done properly.

When it comes to sensitive skin, you need a skincare routine that is simple and safe. It can be difficult to determine the right products and routine on your own, which is why PROVEN Skincare developed a revolutionary system that does all the hard work for you.

PROVEN Skincare has gathered data from more than 20 million skincare consumer reviews, 20,000 skincare ingredients, and 4,000 skincare-related scientific papers.

Using this data, we developed the Skin Genome Quiz that is able to match you with the best combination for your unique skin using information about your skin type, skin concerns, environment, heritage, and lifestyle.

The experts at PROVEN know that 43% of customers have skin sensitivities, so we are totally dedicated to developing safe and effective products for those with sensitive skin.

Within your PROVEN regimen for sensitive skin, you will receive three expertly formulated products: a cleanser, moisturizer, and night cream. And while the exact formulations will vary depending on the results of your skin quiz, these three products are incredibly gentle yet effective.

For instance, the cleanser is able to gently cleanse your skin of dirt, sweat, and oil without stripping it of its natural oils and damaging the natural skin barrier. The cleanser is also formulated with gentle toning and exfoliating ingredients -- avoiding harsh components like witch hazel and acids if necessary.

Additionally, the moisturizer is formulated with nourishing and moisturizing ingredients that won’t irritate the skin, for instance, ceramides, squalane, and peptides. The moisturizer is also formulated with SPF 40 sun protection to help limit your product usage and reduce the risk of irritation caused by using a bunch of different products.

Finally, the night cream is formulated with soothing and calming ingredients that are able to calm sensitive and irritated skin. Ingredients like rose oil, lavender, niacinamide, and green tea extract are able to penetrate the skin while you sleep and leave you with nourished and even skin free of redness and irritation by the time you wake up. There’s truly no better way to start the day than flawless skin!

These three PROVEN products are incredibly easy to use and only involve a couple of steps. In the morning, you should cleanse your face with lukewarm water before applying your moisturizer with SPF protection. In the evening, you should cleanse your face with your custom cleanser before applying your night cream. With PROVEN, addressing sensitive skin with gentle yet effective products is super simple and straightforward.

While sensitive skin can be a frustrating issue to deal with, there are things you can do to improve the look and feel of your irritated skin. Using the right products with the right ingredients in the right order can soothe current irritations while preventing future ones. So instead of risking reactions by trying different store-bought skincare products, take a customized approach with PROVEN Skincare.

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