Do you have sensitive skin?
(and why it means different things to different people)
I’ve done over 5,000 skin analyses in my life and one of the most important thing to find out is whether patients have sensitive skin or not. The reason why this is important is because it’s going to dictate how aggressively we can proceed with the treatment options and active ingredients that are present in skin care products.
“Do you have sensitive skin?”
“Oh yes!”
“In what way?”
“Sensitive skin means different things to different people. In general, people have a tendency to overestimate their skin’s sensitivity”.
-Marie Bertrand
– Skin is sensitive to the sun and harsh chemicals.
– Skin is sensitive to specific ingredient(s) and fragrances.
– Skin gets itchy when a new product is introduced into the routine.
– Skin gets red and breaks out easily.
– Skin is sensitive because of current prescription products.
– Skin is sensitive because the patient is overexfoliating and too aggressive with procedures.
– Eczema, rosacea or psoriasis have been previously diagnosed.
– and so on and so forth.
For example, if somebody has a skin reaction from using salicylic acid, we will want to avoid products and procedures (such as peels) that contain that ingredient.
If somebody has been diagnosed with facial eczema, we will want to stick with fragrance-free, hypoallergenic products that rebuild the skin barrier with soothing the skin and reducing redness. While it is possible to do a medical facial on a client who has eczema, we need to be very careful about the products that will be used in the facial procedure, and generally avoid procedures like microdermabrasion, peels and laser that could further inflame the skin and lead to worsening of the condition.
If the person is sensitive to breakouts, one needs to be careful with the texture of products, avoiding heavy creams and oil- and silicone-based products and focus on light lotions and oil-free gels. Also, someone can be sensitive to breakouts if the active ingredients used to unclog pores are to irritating for the individual’s skin. Irritation of clogged pores can lead to their inflammation and therefore lead to more active breakouts. Moreover, having a multifaceted approach to acne management should help the patient be less prone to breakouts in the future.
Generally speaking, one can definitely see a tendency for the general population to overestimate the sensitivity of their skin. Research done by l’Oreal has shown that up to 60% of the population thinks their skin is sensitive, but that in reality, 25% is probably a more accurate number.
What about you?
To know more about your skin’s true level of sensitivity, book your 1-hour skin consultation and let’s find out which products and procedures are best for you! I look forward to meeting you soon!
In healthy skin,
