OVERVIEW

What is sensitive skin?

In modern society, more and more people use expensive cosmetics while still feeling their skin is sensitive and fragile. After switching cosmetic brands, prolonged sun exposure, moving between air-conditioned environments, or staying up late, issues like dryness, itching, redness, swelling, and peeling often occur.

This is actually a relatively common skin problem, known as sensitive skin.

Sensitive skin is an unhealthy skin condition and does not fall under the category of skin diseases. It occurs when both moisture and oil in the skin decrease, weakening the skin's barrier function and making it highly susceptible to external irritants.

However, sensitive skin is not the same as allergic skin, and there is a clear distinction between the two. Allergic skin is a type of hyper-reactive disease currently affecting the skin, while sensitive skin has the potential to develop into allergic skin.

SYMPTOMS

What are the manifestations of sensitive skin?

Specific symptoms include varying degrees of burning, stinging, itching, and tightness after the skin is exposed to physical, chemical, or psychological stimuli. Some cases may appear normal in appearance, while others may exhibit patchy or diffuse flushing, erythema, and capillary dilation, possibly accompanied by dryness and fine scaling.

CAUSES

What Causes Sensitive Skin?

• Individual factors: Including genetics, age, gender, hormone levels, and psychological factors. Sensitive skin is somewhat related to genetics, more common in younger individuals than the elderly, more prevalent in women than men, and stress can also influence skin sensitivity.
• External factors: Long-term use of certain medications (such as corticosteroids, retinoids, or salicylic acid), excessive cleansing or exfoliation, improper skincare routines, and incorrect whitening or spot-removal methods.
• Skin-related conditions: Such as acne, rosacea, eczema, or contact dermatitis, which can trigger skin sensitivity.

DIAGNOSIS

How to Diagnose Sensitive Skin?

The skin is prone to burning, stinging, itching, and tightness when irritated; redness, erythema, capillary dilation, and scaling may occur, indicating self-assessed sensitive skin.

In rare cases, lactic acid stimulation tests, capsaicin tests, and assessments of skin barrier function may be conducted.

TREATMENT

How to Treat Sensitive Skin?

• Cold spray and cold compress: Low temperature can constrict dilated capillaries, reducing inflammation.
• Intense pulsed light (IPL): Commonly known as photorejuvenation, appropriate wavelengths and energy can selectively target and close dilated capillaries while photomodulating epidermal cells to promote skin barrier repair and alleviate sensitivity.
• Medication: For those with severe symptoms, oral antihistamines or anti-inflammatory drugs may be considered.

DIET & LIFESTYLE

What should sensitive skin pay attention to in daily life?

• Gentle cleansing: Choose mild cleansers, leave on face for no more than 1 minute with gentle motions. Avoid facial brushes, scrubs, or exfoliants. Apply moisturizers while skin is still slightly damp to create an oil film and moisture barrier.
• Soothing hydration: Use mild, simple-formula moisturizing products. Avoid ingredients containing fruit acids, alcohol, or exfoliating components.
• Strict sun protection: Avoid going out during peak UV hours. Besides sunscreen, use umbrellas, hats, and sunglasses for additional protection.

PREVENTION

How to prevent sensitive skin?

For congenital sensitive skin, there are generally no effective preventive measures.

To prevent acquired sensitive skin, avoid unguided acid exfoliation, excessive skin cleansing, and refrain from taking medications that may lower resistance without guidance. Maintain skin hydration, avoid incorrect skincare practices, and actively treat hormonal imbalances in the body.

How to prevent sensitive skin from developing into allergic skin?

Avoid triggers such as alcohol consumption, spicy foods, emotional fluctuations, and enclosed hot environments.