We treat many patients with varying degrees of sensitive skin at Linia Skin Clinic in London’s Harley Street, but what is sensitive skin and what can we do about it?
In this post, we explore what sensitive skin means, who is most likely to have it, the symptoms, and 10 step guide for what you can do about it.
If you want a personal skin consultation, you can book one now with Dr Simon Zokaie here
Is there an agreed definition of what sensitive skin is?
That’s a very good question. There isn’t a medical diagnosis for sensitive skin and people generally self-diagnose as having sensitive skin. It usually refers to a person’s skin being more likely to react to adverse conditions, such as products or UV rays from the sun. Often becoming irritated.
Combine that with the number of different products there are out there that supposedly treat and help sensitive skin, and it’s clear it is a hot topic. But when it comes to breaking it down, what is sensitive skin?
The truth is that there is not a very good or agreed-upon definition of what sensitive skin is. Especially not by any professional organisation or governing body.
By far the most functional and practical definition of sensitive skin from a clinical point of view that we have found is skin that has reactions to certain cosmetic products.
For instance, when patients come to the practice and tell our practitioners that they have trouble finding creams or oils that don’t sting or burn their skin or they can’t find a sunscreen that feels comfortable or too many moisturisers leave them feeling irritated.
In those instances, we know there is enough historical evidence to suggest they have sensitive skin.
How common is sensitive skin?
This is another interesting question. It may be more than you think.
According to a survey conducted over the telephone in the United States in 2007 it was found of the 994 people who were asked, around 44% stated they either had very sensitive skin or mildly sensitive skin.
There are various factors, including environmental factors that can contribute to a person suffering from skin sensitivity, hypersensitive skin and irritable skin.
People with sensitive skin conditions tend to have other issues such as dry skin, atopic dermatitis or rosacea and it’s thought that a skin barrier could be created as a result of the latter.
Are there sex, age, or ethnic differences in the prevalence of sensitive skin?
In the same survey mentioned above, all of these factors were explored with some interesting results.
Gender
There were differences in women and men, with just 38.2% of men noting that they had hypersensitive skin and 50.9% of the women participants.
In the past, it was more likely the case that men would say they had tough skin and it didn’t bother them. However, all that is starting to change.
There were 2 surveys conducted by dermatologists in both the United States and Europe that had evidence suggesting more men were looking for treatments for sensitive skin.
It is thought that this is because many more men self-identifying as people with sensitive skin and are more likely to use skin care products and other cosmetic products than ever before.
Age
When it comes to age, there seems to be some evidence that younger people are more likely to have sensitive skin.
Ethnic Background
Perhaps the most curious and surprising finding is how little difference it made to skin sensitivity between participants of various ethnic backgrounds.
Various reports suggest, though, that Japanese women tend to have a much stronger sensory reaction. This was found when sodium lauryl sulfate patch tests were performed on their forearms.
There may be an inherent misconception that Mediterranean people have more tolerant skin because it’s more oily, whereas when it comes to Asian people sensitive skin may be more common.
Sensitive skin occurs in all ethnicities. There is a huge amount of variety from one person to the next, however, which is what dictates the choice of treatment.
Does sensitive skin affect just the face or does it affect other anatomical sites?
Generally speaking, sensitive skin can affect various parts of the body, but it is on your face where you are most likely to experience it and where patients notice this.
A study looking at sensitivity levels in different parts of your face, discovered that it was the nasolabial fold is the most sensitive, closely followed by the upper lips, forehead, chin and malar eminence.
The feet, scalp and hands are the most common areas that experience sensitive skin that isn’t on your face.
What are the signs and symptoms of sensitive skin?
The most crucial symptoms and signs of sensitive skin are:
- Burning and stinging sensation
- A raw or tender feeling in the skin
- Mild itching and redness, irritation
- Inflammation
- As a secondary stage, there could be peeling and scaling
10 ways to care for and treat your sensitive skin
The best way to advise patients with sensitive skin is often to take the same approach as with atopic dermatitis – eczema.
- Skin barrier products like creams should be used to strengthen and prepare the skin.
- Then good quality moisturisers should be used on dry skin to dampen skin following bathing to enhance the skin barrier and skin hydration. Generally, heavier moisturisers are recommended, such as lotions, creams and ointments.
- It’s important to note that water-based skin products are drying when used on their own. There is also the fact that water-based skin products that require a lot more preservatives, which can cause an allergic reaction and irritation.
- Treatments that need to be avoided include harsher and more abrasive soaps and cleansers, as well as synthetic detergents, which should also be used very sparingly, and only when they are necessary.
- It is also important to pay close attention to the pH levels of skin products.
- There are some skin cleansers on the market that are being marketed to sensitive skin that have higher than normal pH levels. However, as these are high in alkaline, they can disrupt the skin’s acid mantle.
- On the skin’s outer layer, there is what is called the acid mantle, and this needs to have a pH level somewhere between 4.5 and 5.5, which has higher levels of acid than other parts of the body. It is the acid mantle that plays a very important role as a skin barrier and for antimicrobial defence and the integrity of the stratum corneum.
- If the skin mantle has raised levels of alkaline because harsher creams and cleansers have been used, the skin’s barrier can damage very quickly and then Staphylococcus can be allowed to grow.
- To preserve the acid mantle, skin care products that are suitable for sensitive skin should have a neutral pH level or at least be a little more acidic than alkaline.
- Regular moisturising will also help. As well as using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
We hope you have found this article helpful and that it helps you to look after your skin sensitivity. If you are still struggling, feel free to call us for a personal consultation.
If you would like a personal skin consultation, you can book one now with Dr Simon Zokaie here
References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51513423_Sensitive_skin_in_the_American_population_Prevalence_clinical_data_and_role_of_the_dermatologist – International journal of dermatology 50(8):961-7
