What You Need to Know About Sensitive Skin

culled from:http://beautyhigh.com
Dry Skin and Eczema Are Not Interchangeable
“[Dry skin is often a result of ] atopic dermatitis which is like asthma of the skin ; or secondary to winter weather low humidity and dry heat indoors,” shares Dr. Verallo-Rowell. “Add to those conditions – psoriasis which may appear in late teens, or skip the young and appear in the 40’s. Eczema means increased bubbles or water in the epidermis so that it swells up, raises up, becomes watery, oozes and then dries up and becomes crusty.”

Rosacea Affects All Skin Tones
“There’s a perception that rosacea doesn’t affect people with skin of color, but it can happen to all complexions,” explains Harper. “Often with darker skin types it’s actually misdiagnosed or undiagnosed because the redness isn’t as obvious. The symptoms across complexions are the same— patches of chronically red or inflamed skin, usually on the cheeks or forehead, often accompanied by papules or small breakouts.”

MORE: A Former Power Ranger Teaches Us About Sensitive Skin

Sensitive Skin Isn’t Seasonal
“All seasons have challenges for sensitive skin,” says Dr. Marmur. “The summer sun, salt water, chlorine, and sunscreens are harsh on sensitive skin. The winter drop in barometer and lack of humidity are horrible for sensitive skin. Spring has loads of pollen and triggers sensitive skin. The fall is likely the kindest season.”

Pin Point The Cause of Reactions
“First, [ask yourself] have you added something new to your skin care regimen? Have you eaten anything new or changed detergents? Usually, its something new [that causes a reaction],” shares Trumbach. “However, people do develop allergies over time to things they are constantly exposed to—the process of elimination is the only way to pinpoint the cause of an this kind of allergy. Stop using all topically applied products and then patch test them in a small amount on the inner arm. If you develop itching or redness, you have found the culprit.”

Beware of the Term “Hypoallergenic”
“[By definition] hypoallergenic means that the product does not contain some common allergens to reduce the incidence of allergic reactions, “ explains Dr. O’Brien. “There are not specific regulations that have to be adhered to in order for a product to have this designation.”

Read The Fine Print
“The first step is to be able to read all of the ingredients on the label. The longer and harder to pronounce ingredients are almost always synthetic chemicals that can cause irritations,” advises Harper. “A big one to look for is anything ending in –cone, all silicones and dimethicone are occlusive ingredients that are commonly used in skin care and make up but have also been proven to cause rashes in the skin. Avoid synthetic dyes and colors, which usually have numbers in the name, like D&C Green No. 6, and are usually derived from coal tar.” Bottom line? “Embrace ingredients that you can understand– ingredients from plants and flowers and high-quality oils like rose hip and jojoba,” says Harper.