What is your skin type? Do you know how to distinguish an allergic reaction from sensitive skin and skin hypersensitivity?
We often call "allergy" anything unusual that happens to us, but often our skin condition shows through several types of reactions its intolerance to various cosmetic products or environmental factors.
How to tell if you have sensitive, irritated, or allergic skin?
Sensitive or reactive skin is characterized by a burning sensation on the face, slight redness, and discomfort. Sensitive skin feels tight or stretched but does not itch. If you have such sensations, it means your sensitive skin needs as little cosmetics as possible, preferably without or with very mild fragrance. It is advisable to avoid using soaps, exfoliating masks, and products containing hydroxy acids, retinaldehyde, and tretinoin (vitamin A derivatives). When you notice, for example, redness of the skin caused by external irritants such as sun, UV rays, wind, or air-conditioned environments, it is recommended to use creams with a light texture, even cooling ones.
Irritated skin results from using unsuitable cosmetic products. As a result, you may experience symptoms such as sensitivity to touch, redness, and in some areas wrinkled skin with a tendency to flake, but again without itching on the face. It is best to pay attention to the irritation as soon as possible and treat it, because otherwise you risk reduced barrier function and the development of allergies. To minimize irritation, it is important that your skincare routine includes cleansing with neutral lotions – not only micellar water and makeup removal wipes, for example – and warm, but not hot water – to reduce water loss from the dermis, especially if you have thin skin on your body, and last but not least – to use creams containing the right ingredients according to the type of irritation. Of course, self-treatment is not recommended in this case either, so it is best to trust a dermatologist. Using sunscreen cosmetics when you are outdoors, even for a short time, also helps reduce discomfort regardless of your skin type.
When it comes to allergy, it is almost certain that you will struggle with intense itching. Also, your skin condition will likely be red, rough, whether dry or moist. Sure signs of allergic (contact) dermatitis caused by various cosmetic products or their ingredients are severe itching, redness, eczema, lichenification, hives, or pigmentation. If you have such reactions, be sure to consult a dermatologist.
Proving an allergy to a specific ingredient is possible with the help of so-called "patch tests," which are performed in dermatology and venereology clinics. Once the agent is identified, the only treatment is complete or temporary avoidance of the respective allergens in cosmetic products. Unfortunately, reducing sensitivity to a particular allergen is impossible. The only solution remains avoiding contact with the substances and products suspected of causing the reaction.
If you suspect that your skin suffers from any of the listed conditions, it is very important to carefully observe its reactions when you use or change your cosmetics so that you can respond appropriately and share the reactions with your dermatologist. This is extremely important for the proper treatment of the problem and the selection of the right cosmetics.
Sensitive, irritated, or allergic skin?
What is your skin type? Do you know how to distinguish an allergic reaction from sensitive skin and skin hypersensitivity?
We often call "allergy" anything unusual that happens to us, but often our skin condition shows through several types of reactions its intolerance to various cosmetic products or environmental factors.
How to tell if you have sensitive, irritated, or allergic skin?
Sensitive or reactive skin is characterized by a burning sensation on the face, slight redness, and discomfort. Sensitive skin feels tight or stretched but does not itch. If you have such sensations, it means your sensitive skin needs as little cosmetics as possible, preferably without or with very mild fragrance. It is advisable to avoid using soaps, exfoliating masks, and products containing hydroxy acids, retinaldehyde, and tretinoin (vitamin A derivatives). When you notice, for example, redness of the skin caused by external irritants such as sun, UV rays, wind, or air-conditioned environments, it is recommended to use creams with a light texture, even cooling ones.
Irritated skin results from using unsuitable cosmetic products. As a result, you may experience symptoms such as sensitivity to touch, redness, and in some areas wrinkled skin with a tendency to flake, but again without itching on the face. It is best to pay attention to the irritation as soon as possible and treat it, because otherwise you risk reduced barrier function and the development of allergies. To minimize irritation, it is important that your skincare routine includes cleansing with neutral lotions – not only micellar water and makeup removal wipes, for example – and warm, but not hot water – to reduce water loss from the dermis, especially if you have thin skin on your body, and last but not least – to use creams containing the right ingredients according to the type of irritation. Of course, self-treatment is not recommended in this case either, so it is best to trust a dermatologist. Using sunscreen cosmetics when you are outdoors, even for a short time, also helps reduce discomfort regardless of your skin type.
When it comes to allergy, it is almost certain that you will struggle with intense itching. Also, your skin condition will likely be red, rough, whether dry or moist. Sure signs of allergic (contact) dermatitis caused by various cosmetic products or their ingredients are severe itching, redness, eczema, lichenification, hives, or pigmentation. If you have such reactions, be sure to consult a dermatologist.
Proving an allergy to a specific ingredient is possible with the help of so-called "patch tests," which are performed in dermatology and venereology clinics. Once the agent is identified, the only treatment is complete or temporary avoidance of the respective allergens in cosmetic products. Unfortunately, reducing sensitivity to a particular allergen is impossible. The only solution remains avoiding contact with the substances and products suspected of causing the reaction.
If you suspect that your skin suffers from any of the listed conditions, it is very important to carefully observe its reactions when you use or change your cosmetics so that you can respond appropriately and share the reactions with your dermatologist. This is extremely important for the proper treatment of the problem and the selection of the right cosmetics.