Is this cause for concern?
Sensitive skin isn’t a disease that a doctor can diagnose you with. It’s usually a symptom of another condition. You may not even know you have sensitive skin until you have a bad reaction to a cosmetic product, like soap, moisturizer, or makeup.
Conditions that cause sensitive skin are rarely serious. You can usually keep your symptoms under control with a few simple changes to your skin care routine.
Keep reading to learn more about what may be causing your sensitive skin, other symptoms to watch for, and products that should be safe for you to use.
What causes sensitive skin?
Skin becomes dry when it loses too much water and oil.
This can cause your skin to:
- itch
- scale or flake
- peel
- feel rough to the touch
- crack and bleed
- appear red or ashy-looking
Dry skin can happen anywhere on your body, but it’s particularly common on the:
- hands
- feet
- arms
- lower legs
What you can do
You can treat dry skin by returning moisture to the affected areas. Applying a moisturizing cream or ointment two to three times per day will help restore moisture and prevent your skin from drying out in the future. Try using a fragrance-free moisturizer designed for people with sensitive skin.
Products you can use
If you have dry skin, your skin care routine should focus on retaining moisture.
To cleanse:
- Use a gentle, soap-free cleanser that won’t wash away healthy oils. Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser is designed for even the most delicate skin.
To moisturize:
- Face. A gentle, fragrance-free, cream-based moisturizer can help lock in moisture and protect your skin all day long. Cetaphil’s Daily Hydrating Lotion may be a good choice. It contains hydraulic acid, a powerful moisturizing agent.
- Body. Try a natural oil that won’t irritate your skin. Shea butter is particularly soothing.
- Hands. Your hands are extra vulnerable to dry winter air. Keep them soft and smooth with a powerful moisturizer like Aveeno’s Intense Relief Hand Cream For Dry Hands or O’Keeffes Working Hands Hand Cream.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) affects your skin’s ability to protect you from irritants, like germs in the air or chemicals in your laundry detergent. This can make you extra sensitive to products that don’t bother other people, like soaps and cosmetics.
The symptoms of eczema vary widely from person to person. You could notice any of the following:
- dryness
- itchiness
- small bumps that may leak fluid and crust over
- red to brownish-gray patches of skin
- raw, swollen skin
- thick, cracked, or scaly skin
What you can do
Sometimes over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch creams and moisturizers are enough to ease symptoms. If your symptoms are severe, see your healthcare provider.
Products you can use
If you have eczema, it’s important to choose sensitive products that won’t irritate your skin:
- Moisturizers. Try using a moisturizer, like CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion, that contains ceramides. Ceramides can help form a protective layer over your skin.
- Detergents. Try switching to a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic laundry detergent like Tide Free & Gentle.
- Anti-itch creams. The National Eczema Association recommends Neosporin’s Eczema Cream, because it soothes and protects irritated skin.
Irritant contact dermatitis is a red, itchy rash that develops when the protective layer of your skin is damaged by something it touches.
In most cases, a rash will only develop on the area that directly touches the irritant.
Symptoms include:
- red rash
- itchiness
- dry, cracked, scaly skin
- bumps and blisters, which may ooze fluid and crust over
- swelling
- burning
- tenderness
