As much as 70 percent of people deal with some degree of sensitive skin, but identifying the triggers can be a challenge. The experts here at Laser Skin Solutions in Jacksonville Beach, Florida specialize in treating sensitive skin so you can prevent it in the future.
Symptoms of Sensitive Skin
Chronic Acne
If you experience a lot of breakouts or you notice frequent patches of red bumps on your skin; you might be more sensitive than you think. Trying different acne wash or face cream might seem like the right solution, but these products can often make the problem worse.
Getting help from professionals with the right solutions is the best way to handle chronic acne. A proper examination will help determine what the right course of action is for you. Our best tip is to stop self-medicating and get the right help.
Rosacea
Rosacea is very common and results in the visibility of blood vessels on the face. It can cause redness and blushing of the skin and can even produce bumps filled with pus. The symptoms can last for weeks causing discomfort and pain if left untreated.
Some signs of rosacea are flushing of the skin, protruding veins, bumps, burning, and an enlarged nose known as a rhinophyma. It’s important that you pay us a visit if you’re experiencing these symptoms. Rosacea not only affects your appearance but your overall health as well.
Sensitivity to Everyday Products
Some of us experience “reactive skin,” which means that we’re triggered by using certain products that wouldn’t bother other people. This can occur in areas of the body that are not as exposed, like the genitals. It can also happen to your hands, arms, legs, and face, too.
Fragrances, perfumes, and soaps are common culprits for those of you with sensitive skin. It’s important to understand what’s causing it and why it’s happening. This is why treatment from licensed and trained professionals is important. We’ll help you identify the triggers and what is causing you to experience sensitivity.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation occurs when specific areas of the skin become darker than others. This happens as a result of increased melanin in that area. Melanin is a brown pigment that aids in the production of normal skin color. Sometimes it forms a deposit in one area of the skin causing a dark spot.
You may have heard these called “liver” or “age” spots. They’re really the result of sun damage due to excess exposure over time. This is something that can happen to anyone, but it will affect those with sensitive skin more.
There are prescription creams that are used to treat these spots. It’s crucial that you get tested when noticing any types of changes to your skin. These dark spots could be cancerous and require treatment.
Excessively Itchy Skin
The medical name for itchy skin is pruritus, and it’s common in older individuals because the skin will start to dry out over time. Some people find relief from itchy skin by simply applying different moisturizing creams. Sometimes the very creams used to treat the itchy skin can then activate it and cause discomfort, burning, or more itching.
From there, scratching will occur which can lead to raised areas, open sores, and even infection if left untreated. If regular over-the-counter medications and creams do not work and the itchy skin is distracting you from normal life you may want to seek treatment.
Stinging or Burning Skin
The problem with many over-the-counter creams and lotions is they contain ingredients that can make your skin worse. Alcohol and various dyes can cause your skin to burn or sting when you apply them. The general notion is to ignore these types of things and trust the process, but that’s not the best option for you.
If your skin is burning or stinging when you apply different products, it’s because you have sensitive skin and you need a special type of medication to help. Continuing to use these products will only make the problem worse and could lead to further complications.
Abnormally Dry Skin
While itchy and dry skin often goes hand in hand, that isn’t always the case. Many of us experience a standard level of dry skin as a result of being outside in the cold and dry air. Our skin has a lot of natural oil that helps protect it. Some people don’t have enough of that oil which leaves their skin susceptible to weather and wind.
Using gentle moisturizers can help soothe the skin and protect it from the elements. Dry skin can begin to crack and open which can result in bleeding, scratching, and infection.
Sun Damaged Skin
If your skin is sensitive, it means that you’re already more prone to issues like a sunburn. It’s extra important that you protect yourself with sunscreen. That said, if you go out in the sun and you notice that your skin gets irritated or peels much faster than others, it could mean that your skin is sensitive. You’ll need to take extra steps to protect it.
Covering yourself with the proper clothing, hats, and umbrellas can help you. It’s also important to choose your sunscreen wisely. Many products contain chemicals that do more harm than good. You’ll also want to make sure to use a broad-spectrum product with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Causes of Sensitive Skin
What many people don’t realize is that sensitive skin is a reactive condition caused by something else. Something in your genetics or something you’re doing in your everyday life is causing this and the best way to figure it out is to get the help of a doctor to identify the problem.
To help you get started, here are some of the things that might be causing your skin sensitivity:
Eczema
Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a common cause of skin sensitivity because it impacts your skin’s ability to handle irritants. This leads to unusual sensitivities to things that other people may never notice. This can include makeup, soap, sun, wind, and even food.
The National Eczema Association recommends specific products to use to help soothe the symptoms of eczema.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
This is a red rash that occurs when the outer layer of your skin gets damaged by something. It could be something in your home such as a soap or it could be from excessive wind exposure or something like that. Either way, the problem generally clears up in a few weeks on its own. You can use hydrocortisone creams to reduce inflammation and itch.
Misconceptions
It’s easy to overlook something like sensitive skin with all the other issues we could run into in life. Our skin is what protects us from many irritants and contaminants that would be detrimental to our health if they got into our bloodstream.
In reality, there are many misconceptions about our skin. Here are some of them:
All Sunscreen Is the Same
This is a huge issue in our society and something we need to pay more attention to. Rubbing something on your skin is the same as putting something into your body. As a result, we should only be putting the highest quality products anywhere near our skin.
Make sure that you’re using sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients do not produce an allergic reaction and they don’t contain many of the hazardous chemicals that a lot of the other sunscreens do.
Skin Sensitivity Doesn’t Run in My Family
We hear this all the time, and it really doesn’t matter. Yes, you can inherit this issue from family members for sure, but it’s something that you can also develop on your own. Keep in mind that a lot of skin problems can be the result of a sudden change in life.
For example, if you were used to using a certain type of soap every time you shower and now you’ve changed to something else. That could be the cause of a rash that you noticed recently. You might simply have a bad reaction to an ingredient in that soap. If that’s the case, you should switch back or try a different product.
Get Help Today
Treating sensitive skin is simple when you have the right diagnostic tools and the right team of supportive doctors on your side. Visit us at Laser Skin Solutions in Jacksonville Beach, Florida and let us help you.
