Sensitive skin: causes, effects, and solutions

Whatever your skin type, certain factors can trigger or worsen over-sensitivity in your skin: this is when your skin reacts strongly to a substance that it shouldn't react to.

Natural sensitive skin: your skin is fine, fair, and often slightly dry; it peels on the surface, it blushes easily (perhaps the beginning of rosacea).

Reactive sensitive skin: the cold, the sun, the wind, unsuitable skincare products, and toiletries “ trouble ” your skin. Peels and laser therapy can cause your skin to react strongly.

Occasional sensitive skin: a skin condition, all of which can make your skin more sensitive.

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How do you tell the difference between sensitive skin and sensitised skin?

Sensitivity or intolerance, it all depends on the degree of dryness.

Differentiate between sensitive skin and sensitised skin.

Sensitive skin: the skin stings and feels tight. It reacts excessively to the wind, cold, unsuitable products or overly vigorous cleansing with hard water. Sometimes this sensitivity is “ exacerbated ”; the skin is not relieved by daily hydrating cosmetic products. It no longer tolerates anything. It becomes allergic. From then on, your skin stings and feels tight with redness and flaking.
Sensitised skin: certain intolerances to cleansing or skincare products are in fact real allergies. Consult your doctor to find the cause of this allergy.

OUR EXPERT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

Living better with sensitive skin

A survey was carried out by Laboratoires Pierre Fabre’s epidemiological research group
in eight European countries (285 million inhabitants). The results showed that :
• It’s a problem that affects women and men.
• Almost 100 million people are affected.
• More than one in three people report having sensitive skin.
• 66% of people reporting sensitive skin have an underlying skin disease.

Several factors are responsible:
• The use of unsuitable cosmetic products
• Environmental factors: pollution, wind, sun, etc.
• Lifestyles: stress, smoking, etc.

There are indeed several types of sensitive skin
• Sensitive dehydrated skin: tightness and discomfort...
• Dry and very dry sensitive skin: essential protective functions are weakened, fine lines
appear...
• Sensitive, slightly combination or oily skin: small shiny areas on the sides of the nose and the top of the
cheekbones...
• Skin sensitive to the environment: the slightest thing makes it more fragile; it reacts to the slightest aggressor

Firstly, you need to limit or avoid, if possible, the factors causing this
sensitivity.
• Use cosmetic products specifically intended for sensitive skin
• Avoid irritating or drying cleansing products
• If hard water from the tap damages your skin, use gentle, rinse-free products and spray
a fine mist of Thermal Spring Water to complete your routine.
• Opt for the most neutral skincare products possible: minimal ingredients, no alcohol, etc.
• Specific active ingredients, known to be irritating, should be avoided.