Having sensitive skin on your face can be difficult to deal with, in more ways than one. From a practical point of view, finding products which don’t irritate your skin is easier said than done and from a confidence point of view, areas of redness and feelings of tightness can make you feel self-conscious. There are several factors which can make sensitive skin worse, so we thought we’d take a look at those triggers in the hope that avoiding them will help minimise your symptoms.
Daily pollutants
Believe it or not, just being out and about in areas with environmental pollution can increase the effects of skin sensitivity, which means that you’ll need a good, gentle cleanser to rid your skin of any nasties which may be clinging on after a busy day in the city. Dermalogica’s UltraCalming System offers several products which will help.
Hormones
Most women will be well aware that breakouts can be worse in the lead up to, or during, ‘that’ time of the month, but overall sensitivity can be worse too, thanks to the body releasing certain hormones which mess with the skin’s natural balance of oils. Try to use gentle products such as Decleor Harmonie Calm Soothing Milky Cream which will soothe and soften sensitive skin.
Diet and Hydration
Eating unhealthy foods and not drinking enough water are two of the most common causes of skin sensitivity. Anything which is too salty will cause the body to draw moisture away from other parts to help flush the salt through the system and failing to replace it will exacerbate dryness and sensitivity. Ensure you eat well and keep fluid levels up if you’re prone to sensitive skin.
Hard Water
It may sound crazy but something as simple as washing in water from a hard water area can increase tightness and dryness of the skin. This is because hard water contains certain diluted elements which make it highly alkaline, which messes with the skin’s natural pH balance. If you live in a hard water area, using a product such as Decleor Harmonie Calm Comforting Milky Gel-Cream Mask will help to soothe your face.
Central Heating
This time of year can play havoc with sensitive skin, as going from cold air to centrally heated homes and offices will dry your skin out faster than you can say ‘Dermalogica’! There’s not a whole lot you can do to prevent this as heated homes are a fact of life, but using a good moisturiser and staying well hydrated is a good start.