How Should Sensitive Skin Care Be? How to Identify and Improve the Four Different Types of Skin Sensitivity What is Allergic Sensitivity, Acne Sensitivity, Heat Sensitivity, Moisture Sensitivity? How to Solve?

by Evolvy Skincare April 15, 2022

“Is Your Skin Sensitive?” to ten of our clients. I'm sure seven of them would say they have sensitive skin. It is very important to know what type of sensitivity your skin, which becomes sensitive and unhappy especially in the spring months, is experiencing. Because only if you know what type of sensitivity you are experiencing, you can organize a care routine according to his needs and manage the sensitivity situation better.

What is Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin can be very complicated to describe, but simply put, the skin you "can't get along with" is sensitive skin. Sensitive skin manifests itself in various reactions to lifestyle changes, skin care and make-up products.

There is no such skin type as sensitive skin. Regardless of your skin type, at some point in your life you will experience a period when your skin becomes sensitive. These periods may be short, or it may take years to come to terms and calm the sensitivity.

It is useful to divide people with sensitive skin into two categories. The first is familial, those born with genetically sensitive skin. The other is those who cause their skin to become sensitive due to the lifestyle they adopt or the products they use. Most people with sensitivity problems fall into the second group.

4 Different Types of Skin Sensitivity

It is not correct to classify sensitivity as only redness. When we consider sensitivity as the hyperresponsiveness of the skin, we can talk about four types of skin sensitivity.

1-Allergic Sensitivity:

Allergy is the body's response to substances that the immune system does not recognize. Even natural substances such as honey, strawberries and peanuts can give an allergic reaction to the body. An allergic reaction is an unpredictable reaction.

Anyone can have allergies, so all skin types can experience this type of sensitivity. Even food allergies can occur on the skin, as your skin acts as an excretory system to get rid of what the body does not accept. A food sensitivity can occur around the mouth, neck, or face – basically anywhere food comes into contact with your skin.

Dealing with an allergic reaction can be difficult because eventually you need to find the root cause. This is where you need to be your own doctor. You can best detect allergens yourself.

Allergic reactions usually occur within 24-48 hours of coming into contact with an allergen, so it's a good idea to review and take note of what you're using. Remember that when it comes to skincare products, you're less likely to suddenly react to something you've been using for a long time, so consider anything you've just added to your routine.

Characteristics of Allergic Sensitivity

erythema (redness)
Skin rash and/or itching
skin swelling
Urticaria (raised rash)
Inflammation in the skin

Common Causes of Allergic Sensitization

People who are allergic to foods or generally have an allergic body are more likely to experience allergies on their skin. Apart from that, an allergy is unfortunately an unpredictable reaction. The best precaution is to do a patch test before starting a new product. Click to learn how to do an allergy test.

How to Deal with Allergic Sensitivity

Stop using suspected allergens: This could be skin care products, foods, or anything you suspect might be causing a reaction in the first place.
Give importance to function rather than feeling in your skin care products. Although the wonderful vibrant cream colors and artificial scents that fill your nose may seem tempting at first, remember that fragrances and coloring substances have a high risk of causing allergies.
Simplify your skincare routine. Stick to essential care products. Use a cleanser, toner and moisturizer. You can use a calming mask or serum to help your skin care.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you're experiencing swelling, itching, or discomfort, your healthcare provider may recommend an anti-histamine pill or cream.

2-Acne Sensitivity

If your skin care products are causing clogged pores or acne, it could be you. Acne can occur when acne-prone skin produces thick, sticky sebum. It is not only sebum that is responsible for this condition. Dead skin cells fill the pores and prevent oxygen from circulating in the pores, which creates a great environment for bacteria to thrive. The reason may be due to genetics or lifestyle. It is difficult to pinpoint the underlying cause. But the good news is there are many things you can do to minimize this kind of sensitivity.

Characteristics of Acne Sensitivity

Rough skin texture (closed comedones)
white buttons
Spots (pustules and cysts)
milia

Products that cause acne sensitivity:

sonic cleaning brushes
Intense foundations (especially long-lasting)
Dense primers
cream blush
Comedogenic natural oils (eg cocoa butter)
Waterproof sunscreens (especially when combined with heat from the sun)

How to Deal with Acne Sensitivity?

Use non-concentrated skin care products. Avoid products with a very thick texture, as well as heavy oils and sunscreens (especially water-resistant sunscreens).
Slowly add active ingredients to your routine. If you are prone to acne and already have clogged pores, be aware that active ingredients such as exfoliating acids or retinoids can cause purging. This is when the following problems come to the surface as the cell renewal rate increases. This will disappear once your skin cells get used to it, but you should gradually add active ingredients to your routine to minimize clarification. Start only once a week and increase gradually.
Use toner in your skincare routine. Apply your skin care tonic by wiping your skin with a cotton or recyclable cloth. The rationale behind this is that you gently exfoliate (removing dead skin cells) your skin daily. In this way, you prevent dead skin cells from filling the pores and forming acne.
Use moisturizer. Acne skins avoid using moisturizer because they are afraid of acne. Drying out your skin causes more uncontrolled sebum secretion. Be sure to moisturize your skin.
Be aware of how makeup products affect your skin.

3-Heat Activated Sensitivity

Some people's skin is sensitive to heat. This is because the heat causes an increase in blood flow in the capillaries (small blood vessels just below the skin surface). The capillaries expand, which makes them more visible and thus causes the skin to appear red. When the internal temperature of the skin drops, the capillaries will narrow again and the redness will disappear.

Ideally, it's best to avoid these repeated stretches and contractions because they can eventually lead to permanently enlarged capillaries that remain visible on the skin surface. If you are someone struggling with rosacea, you are particularly prone to heat-activated sensitivity.

Characteristics of Heat Activated Sensitivity

Redness and flushing
Inflammation in the skin
Visible capillaries

Common Causes of Heat Activated Sensitization

Intense Exercise
hot bath and shower
sun exposure
Saunas or steam rooms

How to Deal with Heat-Activated Sensitivity

Avoid exposing your skin to high temperatures whenever possible. This means avoiding hot water, intense exercise (like high-impact cardio and hot yoga), and even cutting out spicy foods.
Look for products that contain soothing ingredients. Soothing ingredients include bisabolol, allantoin, aloe vera, licorice extract and lavender etc.
Physically cool your skin. Use an ice pack or try putting your products in the fridge so they can cool the skin.

4-Dryness/Dampness Sensitivity

The underlying cause of almost all dry and dehydrated sensitivity is a damaged or impaired skin barrier. When the protective barrier of the skin is broken, microscopic cracks appear. These cracks allow moisture to escape and irritants to penetrate the skin. You can answer this test to find out if your skin barrier is damaged. If you want to learn about the skin barrier in detail, click here.

Dryness/Non-moisture Characteristics of Sensitivity

flaking or peeling
eczema prone skin
Itching
Tension
rough skin texture
stinging or burning sensation

Dryness/Lack of Moisture Common Causes of Sensitivity

Dry climate or air travel
Seasonal changes
Chemical fragrances and perfumes.
Undiluted essential oils.
Cosmetic ingredients such as avobenzone or sodium lauryl sulfate
Foaming cleansers.
Harsh, drying products used to treat acne
Use of products with unsuitable pH.

How to Deal with Dryness/Dampness Sensitivity?

Use a gentle cleanser. It is very important to use a cleanser that does not strip the skin of moisture. Also, avoid heavily scented products as they can further irritate sensitive skin.
Use a moisturizing toner.
Look for a moisturizer that contains ingredients that support the barrier.
Become conscious of ingredients that support and repair the skin barrier.
Review the habits you need to fix in your lifestyle.

I hope this article has helped you understand why your sensitive skin behaves the way it does. With the hope that you can get along with your skin and make it and yourself happy...

The secret of achieving a beautiful skin that shines with health is the right information about skin and skin care, with the right products, and stable skin care.

If you have more questions about the skin barrier, you can contact us via Instagram (@evolvy.skincare) or email ( info@evolvy.co ) and send your questions.

On behalf of the Evolvy team

Pharmacist Evrim Damar Guest