Nearly half of our population has a form of sensitive skin. To determine if you have sensitive skin, here is a list of things to monitor!

• Have you had more than 3 skin reactions to any of the following: soaps, lotions, creams, sunscreens, hair products, or shampoos?
• Have you had reactions to topical prescriptive medications?
• Are you sensitive to fragrances?
• Do you have a history of allergies, asthma, eczema or hay fever?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, you most likely do have sensitive skin! We understand that having skin sensitivities can affect many things in your life, so to help you out, let’s explore the 3 TOP REASONS why you may have sensitive skin.

ALLERGIES

Skin irritation can be caused by a history of general allergies, meaning your sensitive skin is linked to your DNA.  In this case, you need to be aware of things which trigger your allergies. Reading the skin care ingredients, and knowing the components which affect your skin negatively can be frustrating, but is the key to living with less aggravated skin.

Food allergies can also make your skin sensitive. The most common culprits are Whet, Dairy, Eggs, and Nuts. But, a less known one is the Nightshades – this is a group of foods known to increase inflammation in the body, and because most skin issues are inflammatory conditions, eliminating these can also be a step to relieve symptoms. These typically include potatoes, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, and cayenne peppers.

DRY SKIN

The second reason you might find yourself with sensitive skin is linked to dryness. If your hydration barrier has been broken, it causes more skin agitation. If you do not repair your skin’s barrier or give your skin the time it needs to heal, even products that have worked for you in the past will be painful to use. It is best to use simplified creams and cleansers like Cetaphil, or Vaseline until you can talk with doctors who can assess your skin and help you heal.

HORMONE CHANGES

Finally, your body’s hormonal changes could be the factor which causes skin sensitivity. If you are a woman around the age of 50, your body is throwing new curveballs, causing new reactions in your skin.  Finding the right balance of hormones, like estrogen, can be a difficult battle. If your estrogen level is too low, it can lead to overall dryness, while too much estrogen can cause acne breakouts. If your nails are cracking, splitting, peeling, or the skin of your heels and hands are cracking, you might be low in progesterone.  Working with your personal physician to help balance your body from the inside out is important to start in your mid 40’s.