Do you suspect you have sensitive skin but aren’t sure?  Are you annoyed that everything you use from skin care to laundry detergent seems to itch or irritate your skin and are simply looking for better ways to manage your sensitive skin? Keep reading this week’s article to learn more about sensitive skin and how to manage it.

What is sensitive?

Sensitive skin is classified as both a skin type and skin condition. It is characterized by a variety of symptoms including redness, itching, swelling, hives, weeping, and general irritation on the surface of the skin that occurs immediately or over a period of weeks or months. It is caused by a variety of factors ranging from the presence of a skin disorder i.e. eczema or psoriasis, overly dry or injured skin that can no longer protect nerve endings, leading to skin reactions, environmental factors, and genetics, age, gender, or race.

The Role of Dermatitis

Dermatitis is a general term to describe an inflammation of the skin. There are three different types of dermatitis: atopic, contact, and seborrheic. Sensitive skin is usually afflicted by contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis results from direct irritation of the skin by a substance such as a chemical, or an allergic reaction to a particular substance that has been in contact with the skin, injected or taken by mouth. There are different types of contact dermatitis and each type has its own symptoms. Irritant contact dermatitis for example is very common, it can develop quickly i.e.  as soon as the skin comes in contact with an irritating substance. Allergic contact dermatitis on the other hand takes more time to develop. It develops in response to the skin coming in regular contact with a particular substance that irritates the skin. Over the course of a few days as the skin remembers the irritant the skin will respond with redness, swelling or one of the symptoms that typically accompany sensitive skin.

Common Allergens

Curious about the source of your allergic reaction? A list of common allergens includes: preservatives, fragrances, surfactants, emulsifiers, hair dyes, textile dyes, metals, topical medications, plastics, rubbers, adhesives, and antibacterial ointments.

Treatment

When it comes to sensitive skin there is no room for guess work.  An allergist or dermatologist are the best people to see and patch testing is a must.  Patch testing is done in a medical setting by an allergist to determine what specific ingredients you are allergic to. An allergist can identify specific ingredients and also help you understand all of the forms that a particular ingredient may take in your skincare products. A medical professional can also help you determine if or which YELLE skin care system is right for you.

YELLE Beauty wants to protect your sensitive skin. If you suspect a potential skin care allergy, check in with a medical professional and get evaluated with patch testing. We want to make sure you have a safe and beautiful experiencing while transforming your skin with our wonderful line of skin care products.