Skin Sensitivity: Is It Luck or Can You Make Your Skin Less Sensitive?

Does any of this sound familiar?...

…You try out a new product all your friends are excited about but for you, all it does is make your skin red.

…A core part of your makeup routine is managing redness.

…You keep getting these little bumps on your skin that aren’t quite pimples but they sure are annoying to try to cover up.

If you can identify with any of those scenarios, you might have sensitive skin. Sensitive skin has been a bit ambiguous for not only the people who suffer from it but, honestly, for skin care providers too. But fortunately, researchers are learning more and more about it so let’s dig in.

How Do You Know if You Have Sensitive Skin?

One of the toughest parts about treating sensitive skin is just identifying it in the first place. It’s not a specific condition but more of a vague description. Generally, having sensitive skin means that your skin becomes very easily irritated, inflamed, or broken out.

To some, sensitive skin can look like redness, or it may also have pustules or bumps on your skin. For some, it’s a bit irritated on a daily basis and for others, it just reacts strongly to irritants. It can be a tricky thing to pin down because you might think you have sensitivity but in reality, you just have a distinct skin allergy and you’ve been unknowingly putting that allergen on your skin every day.

A dermatologist can confirm it for you, but the general guideline is that if your skin gets irritated or inflamed frequently, you probably have sensitive skin.

What Causes Sensitive Skin?

Most people think that sensitive skin is just the luck of the draw. That’s partially true – genetics does seem to play a role. But there are a lot of other factors that can contribute to sensitive skin too.

For example, dryness plays a part. Your skin’s protective barrier needs a certain amount of water to function at its best, so if your skin is dry, the protective barrier is weaker and your skin is more reactive to irritants.

Sensitive skin can also be a symptom of a skin condition like eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis. It could also be a skin allergy. Even stress can contribute and make your skin more sensitive than normal. Or you could develop sensitive skin after long term overexposure to environments that damage your skin like excessive sun exposure or extreme heat or cold.

Can You Make Your Skin Less Sensitive?

You might be able to make your skin less sensitive depending on the factors that are contributing to the sensitivity. For example, managing any underlying skin condition that’s causing the sensitivity will help. Your dermatologist can determine if this is the case and can give you specialized treatment to address that condition, like medications or ointments. Keeping your skin hydrated can also lower your sensitivity, so reach for your rich moisturizer a few times a day.

Tips for Managing Sensitive Skin

Whether or not your sensitive skin comes from factors that you can control, there are plenty of ways to manage sensitive skin so you don’t have to constantly worry about whether you look like you’re blushing. Follow these tips to keep your sensitive skin a little happier.

Be Selective About Your Skin Care Products

As you’re shopping for skin care products, choose products that are specifically noted to be safer for sensitive skin. This isn’t a guarantee that your skin won’t react but it makes it a lot more likely to be non-irritating for you. As a general rule, it’s also a good idea avoid products with dyes or fragrances and to choose a hydrating cleanser.

Look for Patterns and Find What Works for Your Skin

No two people with sensitive skin will react the same way to all the same products, so the key is getting to know your skin and what it responds to. Start to note down when your skin flares up and what products you’ve put on your skin that day. I’m not just talking about skin care but also makeup, perfume, and other products you’ve applied to your skin.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a lot of general skin care advice doesn’t work well for people with sensitive skin. For example, most people benefit from exfoliating once or twice a week, but for you, it may do more harm than good. It’s all a matter of trial and error and seeing what seems to make your skin calm and happy.

Get Your Scents from Essential Oils

The artificial fragrances that are in perfumes are often irritating to sensitive skin. You don’t just have to smell au naturale, but when you want to wear a scent, a safer bet is to use a few drops of essential oils instead.

Test Every New Product

You never know for sure whether a product will make you skin break out, so it’s always best to do a test patch when you’re trying out a new product. Just apply it to a small area that’s not very visible when you’re out and about, like the underside of your chin, for instance. Wait and see how your skin responds to it and if you don’t see an irritation that day, you’ve got the green light to apply it to your full face. Just keep in mind that this isn’t a full guarantee since some areas of your face might be more sensitive than others.

Learning to Live with Your Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin can be frustrating to say the least, and for a lot of people, sensitivity is here to stay. But with the tips above, you can learn how to cater to your sensitive skin and keep your skin looking soothed and spectacular.