The skin becomes sensitive for a number of reasons. This may be a disadvantage nutrients, vitamins and minerals in the body, as well as improper skin care, as well as aggressive effects environment, as a result of all this, the hydrolipid layer of the skin is disturbed, it often begins to peel off and become stained. The sensitivity of the skin can also be hereditary, due to the small number of sebaceous glands on the skin by nature, as well as their low activity.

For all of the above reasons, the skin becomes unable to secrete fat and retain moisture inside, metabolism is disturbed, and the life cycle of cells is reduced. The skin becomes much thinner and a pronounced pattern appears on it.

Sensitive skin very fragile and immediately reacts to wind, sun, frost, in general, to all changes in temperature. Of course, this skin is much more prone to aging than other types, especially the skin around the eyes and lips.

There are several types of degree of skin sensitivity:

Your skin is naturally sensitive, dry and thin, light color face, quickly blushes in the sun; often there is a feeling of tightness, dryness, tingling, etc.

Your skin is hypersensitive and prone to irritation, and any aggressive exposure causes burning and flaking.

Your skin simply does not tolerate excess sunlight, extreme cold, as well as aggressive cosmetics.

Your skin is hypersensitive or allergic. It reacts to the presence of fragrances, preservatives in the products, an allergic reaction appears: itching, eczema, contact dermatitis, redness, skin rash.

There are several types of skin sensitivity:

This type of skin is characterized by feelings of tightness and discomfort, which requires you to take decisive action.

Dry to very dry skin

In this type of skin, the main protective functions are weakened and wrinkles quickly become noticeable, the pattern is pronounced.

Mixed or oily skin
Such skin is very shiny, there may be inflammation, acne, and at the same time it reacts strongly to external stimuli, it can peel off.

Skin sensitive to external influences
Even regardless of the type of skin, any change makes it very fragile, reacting to any aggressive impact.

To restore the vital functions of the skin, it is necessary to regularly provide it with nutrients from the outside. At the same time, it is important not to suppress the immune system of the skin, but, on the contrary, to strengthen it, and not to provoke irritation, but to help the skin fight it on its own.

Causes of Sensitive Skin

This type of skin is quite dry by nature, which means that the sebaceous glands secrete little oil. As a result, the stratum corneum is very thin and does not protect the skin well enough from external influences. Harmful substances easily penetrate through this layer. Sensitive skin often affects fair-skinned blondes that lack protective pigmentation.

Dermatologists blame the increased sensitivity of the skin and external factors such as air pollution, stress, bad cosmetics. Many women find that their skin is sensitive due to any type of allergy. However, this is not quite true. There are only external symptoms. According to experts, we are talking about allergies only in cases where our immune system is affected. This is determined only by a blood test.

An allergy is recognized by the following signs: it never appears just like that, that is, it never happens immediately after applying any cream. On the skin, an allergic reaction appears only after 3-5 hours. Sensitive skin, on the contrary, will instantly react to a bad cream.

What is important to know about sensitive skin

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that care is not very difficult. This applies to both the formulation and the drugs used. Because in one care procedure with cleansing (milk and eau de toilette) and application of cream, the skin comes into contact with about 30 different substances. But the fewer substances that affect the skin, the less the danger that some of them it will not be able to endure. This means that it is necessary to abandon such a care program when two creams are applied one on top of the other. For example, instead of a day cream and tone, it is desirable to use a tinted day cream, etc.

For sensitive skin, try new preparations only when it is not subjected to various stresses. The rush to work, family quarrels, can spoil the skin so much that it will not tolerate a cream that under normal conditions could be very suitable for it.

Expose your face to ultraviolet rays as little as possible, and if you go out into the sun, apply a protective preparation with strong light-protective filters. Waterproof sunscreen can protect your skin from the harsh effects of chlorinated pool water.

During stressful periods, give up everything that can spoil the skin from the inside: coffee, black tea or carbonated drinks. You need to be careful with alcohol and hot spices and dishes. They stimulate blood circulation, increase nervousness, which often leads to dermatitis and itching in sensitive skin.

Sensitive skin care

Basic rules for the care of sensitive skin.

The main rule that people with sensitive skin should follow is that the less care products, the better. Wash your face with warm or cool water in the morning. But not cold water, it irritates the skin and causes redness. In the evenings, remove make-up and dirt with a gentle cleansing milk. Then blot your face with non-alcoholic eau de toilette or tonic.

Sensitive skin needs simple care. While the skin is young, a nourishing cream for any age will be quite enough for it, and starting from the age of 25, it is necessary to use a series for sensitive, tired skin. On the packaging of such cosmetics must be written "hypoallergenic". This means that such products have been tested in clinics on people with allergies, and conventional cosmetics are tested on people with healthy skin.

Hypoallergenic cosmetics do not contain substances that irritate the skin. It contains only soothing and nourishing additives.

Many women think that cosmetics based on natural herbal products, very mild and therefore intended for sensitive skin. But this is a mistake. Some plants are very irritating to the skin and cause allergies. Among them are pharmacy chamomile and calendula.

In case you have sensitive skin:

To prevent irritation caused by bacteria, try adding some vinegar to your bath. This remedy works especially well during the summer months.

Don't overuse cleansers. By removing the natural protective barrier, you open your skin to bacteria and dirt.

If you use fabric softener, choose one that is fragrance-free. It would seem that there are not many of them, but even this can become an irritant.

It is best to apply moisturizer in several layers. This will help moisturize the skin better and prevent it from drying out.

When choosing skin care products, stick to a few that you know and have been approved by a dermatologist.

Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks. They can have too strong a stimulating effect on the nervous system.

Be sure to use sunscreen when out in the sun. And this is necessary not only in the summer.

Care for sensitive skin suggests products designed specifically to meet its needs. Do not spare money on expensive cosmetics: the miser pays twice.

Avoid products that contain substances that are potential allergens, such as PABA sunscreen or perfume.

Choose the right moisturizer: it should also be unscented and contain natural oils.

Wash your face with regular baby soap and lukewarm water. Pat your face gently with a soft towel. And never rub!

Never use new makeup without doing a mini-test. Apply a little on the crook of your elbow and observe the reaction throughout the day.

Use sun protection of at least SPF 25.

Foods high in fluids and vitamins will help keep your skin healthy.

Drink as much as you can more water daily. But avoid heavy drinking at night - it can cause puffiness in the morning.

If possible, choose hypoallergenic brands of cosmetics.

Our mistakes in the care of sensitive skin.
What can we do wrong when we have sensitive skin.

Mistake 1: stress.
If you have sensitive skin, you must remember: she does not tolerate haste, nervous stress and reacts to them with unexpected redness, spots and itching, which can be very inopportune, especially if you are going to an important event.

Our advice. Try not to pay attention to stressful situations, or rather be able to defeat them. Yoga and auto-training will suit you. Therapists confidently assert that inner peace and balance can stabilize the condition of the skin for a long time.

Mistake 2: coffee, strong tea, soda, alcohol.
Coffee, black tea, sweet water, champagne - these pleasures are just not for people with sensitive skin. They strongly stimulate blood circulation and increase nervousness. And this is what leads to the appearance of red spots and irritated areas.

Our advice. Try to avoid foods that increase nervous tension. Drink useful infusions and nettle teas, daily, even 5-6 cups can be. This tea is very calming.

Mistake 3: different experiments.
Women with sensitive skin always have difficulty choosing new cosmetics. Therefore, many constantly try new and new creams on their faces. As a result, the skin becomes even more sensitive and one day can get completely out of control.

Our advice. Give up all these experiments. Sensitive skin requires the most gentle care products, less is more. Any new product may contain some harmful substance to which the skin can react very negatively. And if you are already desperate and do not know what to do, then follow our advice. For a week, try not to use any cream at all. Yes, it will cause discomfort, but only in the first few days, but then the skin will begin to use its own internal resources and its condition will constantly improve.

Mistake 4: Frequent peeling.
We all know that sensitive skin is naturally very delicate, finely porous, with a thin stratum corneum. The use of exfoliating products is very harmful for her. They make the skin even thinner and negatively affect the condition of the stratum corneum. In the worst case, this can all lead to severe eczema.

Our advice. Intensive cleansing for sensitive skin is of course acceptable, but you need to know the measure and a more or less gentle way. Even if you just wipe your face with a rough terry mitten when washing, consider that you have already made a gentle, harmless peeling.

Masks for sensitive skin

masks is one of the most effective cosmetic procedures. According to experts, masks act on the skin much more energetically than creams and other cosmetics. But you need to remember that for sensitive skin, softening and nourishing masks should be chosen. They nourish the skin, accelerate metabolic processes give the face freshness. Make masks should be at least 1-2 times a week.

Salad mask.
Finely chopped lettuce pour a small amount of water, boil for 5 minutes. Put the boiled leaves on a gauze napkin and apply to the skin in a warm form. The remaining liquid can be used for wiping the face and for compresses. Salad is rich in vitamins and minerals. The mask helps with skin irritations, sunburn, acne.

Mint mask.
1 tablespoon of crushed dry or 3 tablespoons of fresh leaves pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. In the infusion, add starch to the density of sour cream. The mask is applied for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with cool water and wipe your face ice cube prepared from the same infusion.

Mayonnaise mask.
Rub the yolk with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a few drops lemon juice. Cover the mask with a towel soaked in hot water and wrung out. Keep on the skin for 10 minutes. Make sure the towel is hot. To do this, during the procedure it must be changed 2-3 times. After removing the mask, a compress with 3% boron water should be applied to the face for 10 minutes.

Potato mask.
Mash boiled potatoes with milk and one of the fruit or vegetable juices (lemon, orange, berry, tomato, cucumber) until gruel is formed. The mask is applied for 20 minutes.

Curd mask.
Mix 2 teaspoons of cottage cheese with 1 tablespoon of honey and add a few drops of vegetable oil. Apply to face and neck for 10 minutes.

mask from oatmeal.
Mix ground oatmeal (2 tablespoons) with 3-4 tablespoons of sour cream or milk. Let the cereal swell. After that, apply the gruel for 15-20 minutes.

Chamomile mask.
As a mask for sensitive and easily irritated skin, it is better to prepare a cream mask: melt 50 g of margarine in a water bath. Add with thorough stirring 3 teaspoons of vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons of castor oil, 1 teaspoon of glycerin, 2 yolks, 30 g of camphor alcohol and 1/4 cup of chamomile infusion. The infusion is prepared from I tablespoon of chamomile, poured "/2 cups of boiling water. Infuse for 3 hours, then filter.

Linseed mask.
Pour 1 tablespoon of flaxseed into 2 cups of hot water. When the seed is boiled, apply a warm gruel to the skin of the face and neck. The mask will soothe irritated skin.

Calendula mask.
Brew a tablespoon of marigolds with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for 30 minutes. Season the infusion with starch and hold on your face for 15-20 minutes.

Honey Lemon Mask
Mix 100 g of liquid honey with a small crushed lemon. Apply this composition on the face for 10-15 minutes. before washing daily. This mask can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time.

Honey-curd mask.
Mix 3 teaspoons of cottage cheese and 1 teaspoon of honey and apply on the face for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with a swab dipped in cold milk.

Egg mask.
put an egg yolk on a face lubricated with vegetable oil and rub it with wet fingers, periodically dipping them in hot water. When rubbing the yolk with butter with wet hands, a white foamy mass is formed, resembling mayonnaise. Apply for 20 minutes. This mask is effective for dry and aging skin.

Carrot egg mask.
Grate 1-2 carrots, mix with 1 yolk and apply on face for 20-25 minutes. Wash off the mask with warm boiled water. Course - 1-2 times a week.

Carrot-milk mask.
Mix 1 grated carrot with 1 tablespoon of milk and apply on the skin for 20 minutes. Wash off the mask with warm boiled water.

Curd Lemon Mask
Mix 1 tablespoon of pasteurized cottage cheese with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply the composition for 15 minutes and rinse with cool boiled water. If the skin is very dry, it is useful to pre-lubricate it with warm vegetable oil.

Honey-apple mask.
Grind 1 tablespoon butter with 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon honey and 1 tablespoon apple gruel until smooth. Apply the resulting mask on the face for 20-30 minutes, remove the excess with a paper towel.

Camphor mask.
Mix 2 teaspoons of cottage cheese with 1 teaspoon of apple juice, add 1/2 egg yolk and 1 teaspoon of camphor oil, mix everything well. Apply to face for 15-20 minutes and rinse first with warm, then cold water.

Cucumber mask.
only cucumber peel is applied to the face, cut to the skin. The mask softens the skin and improves complexion.

Apricot (peach) mask.
Apricots (or peaches) are peeled, the pulp is kneaded and applied to the face. The mask moisturizes sensitive, irritated skin, helps with sunburn. In the same way, masks are made from strawberries, raspberries, lingonberries, blackberries.

Cabbage mask.
Sensitive, dehydrated skin is useful to wipe with olive oil, and then apply for 10-15 minutes. white cabbage gruel mask.

Potato mask
Boil a large potato in its skin, peel it, mash it, add a little fresh milk and yolk. Warm up the resulting puree and spread it on your face. Keep the mask for 20-25 minutes, then rinse with warm boiled water. This mask makes the skin soft and supple.

Tomato mask
Grated large tomato mixed with 2 tablespoons of wheat flour. Apply the mixture on your face, wash off with warm water after half an hour. This mask is good for sensitive skin prone to redness.

Milk rice mask
Stir 1 teaspoon of milk, 1 teaspoon of glycerin, add rice starch until the consistency of a thin ointment is obtained. Such a mask helps well when the skin on the face becomes inflamed and begins to peel off. Spread this mixture at night sore spot. In the morning, wash off with warm water or linden infusion.

Plum mask
Pour 2 pcs. prunes 1 cup boiling water and leave until softened. Then crush, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of honey and oatmeal until a paste forms. Apply to face for 20 minutes. Remove the remnants of the mask with a cotton swab dipped in a decoction of herbs or a weak infusion of tea. Such a mask relieves inflammation, tones, restores the acid-base balance.

Oatmeal mask
2 tbsp. tablespoons ground oatmeal mixed with 3 tbsp. spoons of milk; after the flakes swell, apply the mass on the face and neck and hold for 15-20 minutes, then rinse the mask with warm boiled water.

flaxseed mask
1 tablespoon flaxseed to 2 cups boiling water. Apply to the face, wash off after 15 minutes with cool water and apply a nourishing cream to the still damp skin.

Yoghurt mask
mix 180-250 grams of unfilled yogurt, 30-60 grams of oatmeal and 2 teaspoons beeswax or honey. Apply the mask to a previously cleansed face. For optimal results, keep the mask on for 20 minutes, then rinse. Oats have a calming, softening and cleansing effect. Honey is used as an emulsifier, which contributes to a good adhesion of the mask to the skin. If honey can cause you an allergic reaction, replace it with 2 teaspoons of mashed banana.

Yeast mask
Grind 50 grams of fresh yeast with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vegetable oil to gruel. Apply to face and neck for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

A mask with aloe and honey is very useful for sensitive skin.
It is necessary to cut the aloe leaves into halves and put a teaspoon of the pulp in a cup. Add egg yolk, a teaspoon of warmed honey and beat. Pour about 3 teaspoons of powdered milk and beat until the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply for 20 minutes.

An emollient, soothing lettuce mask to relieve facial redness.
This mask is especially useful after exposure to the sun: lettuce leaves are poured with a small amount of water, brought to a boil and boiled for 2-5 minutes. Water is drained into a separate container and used to wipe the face instead of a tonic. Hot lettuce leaves are crushed, spread on a gauze napkin, cover the face with it and hold for 25-30 minutes. If necessary, such a mask can be done 2-3 times a day.

Anti-inflammatory herbal mask
to a tablespoon of gruel from nettle leaves and plantain (taken in equal parts), add a tablespoon of citrus juice and apply on a face previously cleansed with lotion. Wash off with cold water after 20 minutes.

In cosmetology, sensitive facial skin stands out in a special category, as it requires a special and very thorough care system. There are many problems with it, but this does not mean at all that there is no way out. There are many salon techniques and folk remedies that can improve her condition in a short time. So, even with this type of skin, you can not complex at all: with proper care others will not even suspect that you are the owner of sensitive facial skin. So, how can you identify it?

Signs of sensitive skin

There are different types of facial skin that can change with age. And each of them can become problematic: there is both oily and dry sensitive facial skin. No one is immune from this misfortune: for some, the skin remains tender and thin throughout life (but this is rare), for some - only in youth, for many - after a certain age threshold. How to understand that your skin has become sensitive at some stage? There are a number of signs by which you can find out:

• very thin;

• too thin layer of sebum;

• quite pale due to a deficiency of coloring pigment;

• constant feeling of tightness after washing with water;

• frequent, large-scale, strong irritations;

• regular education age spots, unknown origin of redness;

• a violent reaction to the use of decorative and even natural cosmetics;

• frequent burning sensation;

• peeling;

• the impossibility of a full tan due to frequent sunburn.

If even after this list you doubt whether you are the owner of sensitive facial skin, conduct a kind of test that will give you a 100% correct result.

Swipe the blunt end of the pen across the cheek: after that, everyone will have a red stripe on the skin. But for most, it will quickly disappear. Sensitive skin, for which this procedure will be a real stress, will keep a red stripe for at least 2 minutes.

Usually it is inherent in red or blond women. Although in practice, sensitivity is characteristic of any type of skin. To cope with her constant peeling, inflammation and instant reactions to any irritant, you just need to learn how to properly care for her.

Sensitive skin care tips

Special care for sensitive facial skin is necessary because it does not from time to time, but constantly reacts negatively to any irritants. For example, it may become blotchy after applying foundation or start to peel off after a walk in the heat, become inflamed from some food you ate the day before, or wrinkle from extreme cold.

Of course, ideally, you first need to find out which factor acts as an irritant for sensitive skin, and eliminate its influence.

But sometimes this can be quite difficult to do. Therefore, cosmetologists have developed a whole system of care for such an unusual and delicate skin type.

• Avoid any thermal (tanning, baths, saunas), contrast (shower, sudden changes in temperature), aggressive (mechanical cleaning of the skin, hard peeling) procedures.

• Do not use alcohol-containing facial cosmetics - lotions, tonics, soaps, as well as scrubs and peels with retinoids and glycolic acid in the composition.

• Avoid aromatherapy.

• Constantly keep under control the amount of any preparations applied to the skin of the face: it should be minimal in order to eliminate unwanted reactions from sensitive skin.

• Year-round, and not just in the summer, apply products with SPF to the skin. And give preference to creams with physical filters, which include zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, etc.

• Avoid excessive insolation (exposure to sunlight on the street or in a solarium), sudden changes in temperature (from food and fluid intake to the environment), too hot and very cold foods, marinades, spices, pickles, coffee, carbonated drinks, strong tea , alcohol (the most harmful in this regard is champagne) and food that can cause allergies (citrus fruits, eggs, chocolate, berries, honey, food additives, etc.).

• Do not smoke.

• Do not get carried away with saunas and baths (the temperature in them should not exceed 50 ° C, while the face should be covered with a towel). As for water procedures, give preference to a shower with temperature regime at 34–35°C, ending with a dousing of cool water.

• Take vasoconstrictor drugs as prescribed by your doctor.

• Adjust your hormonal status if there is an imbalance (here you can not do without consulting a gynecologist-endocrinologist).

• If you have sensitive oily skin, it needs to be strengthened with moisturizing, nourishing and protective cosmetics with a concentration of unsaturated fatty acids within 12%. Excessive drying and exfoliation of such skin will only exacerbate the problem.

• Requires special care and dry sensitive facial skin: here the main emphasis should be placed on its hydration and nutrition (the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids is 10-12%), strengthening the vascular walls with the help of special products designed for sensitive skin. The final stage is protection: in summer, use thermal water and products with SPF, in winter, use professional healing creams, cryoprotectors, if necessary, with an SPF component.

• Eat oils (olive, linseed, sesame, grape), fiber, flax seeds, bran, olives, almonds, avocados, rapeseed, peanuts, high-quality dairy products, vegetables, fruits, berries, drink enough filtered water.

• A very useful addition will be the periodic intake of vitamin and mineral complexes. They will strengthen blood vessels and lower the threshold of skin sensitivity.

If you follow all these care rules, even very sensitive facial skin will become less responsive to various irritants and look much better.

If some of the points in this manual seem impossible to you because of your usual lifestyle (for example, you cannot quit smoking or not drinking your favorite coffee so abruptly), then at least strive for this (limit the number of cigarettes you smoke and cups of coffee you drink per day) .

In this case, the main thing is the desire and desire to become the owner of beautiful and velvety skin. There are also various salon treatments that can help with this problem.

Salon treatments for sensitive skin

To improve the condition of sensitive skin, if you have finances, you can contact a beauty salon. Specialists will conduct an examination, identify existing problems and offer you a choice of different procedures, the purpose of which is to adapt sensitive skin to the environment. It can be:

• microcurrent therapy will provide an excellent desensitizing effect, in particular - according to the biogenie method: a course of microcurrents increases local immunity, strengthens the vascular walls, and reduces inflammation;

• fractional photothermolysis(phototherapy, IPL), diode laser remove visible stars on the skin: the laser is more expensive, but very effective and compares favorably with the absence of adverse reactions;

• biorevitalization using hyaluronic acid: the procedure has a pronounced anti-aging effect, strengthens blood vessels, has an anti-inflammatory effect, normalizes microcirculation;

• mesotherapy It is used mainly for mature sensitive skin, as it copes well with wrinkles and flaking.

These are one of the most effective and relevant salon techniques that allow you not to complex about the condition of your sensitive skin. However, you should also know those procedures that are contraindicated with such a delicate and thin epidermis. These include:

• most types of facial massages, especially - plastic;

• superficial chemical peel(for example, fruit acids) is allowed to be used only during the period of remission, when there is no irritation, but at minimal concentrations;

• glycolic peeling, which is considered a "stress" technique;

• laser resurfacing dangerous in that there may be such side effects, as an inflammatory reaction, rosacea or increased hyperreactivity of the skin.

About all these salon procedures, indicated and contraindicated for sensitive skin, you will be told in detail in the beauty parlor. If there is some fear of hardware cosmetology or a problem in the financial support of such an expensive event, you can also choose home remedies for sensitive facial skin that you can cook with your own hands.

Home remedies for sensitive skin

From various foodstuffs, spices, medicinal herbs and oils at home, you can prepare simple cosmetics for sensitive facial skin. With their regular and proper use, her condition will improve significantly. Advantages folk recipes in that they do not have to spend fabulous sums (as when contacting a beauty parlor, for example), and they very rarely cause skin rejection. Be sure to use several recipes to tidy up your appearance and eliminate existing problems on your face.

• Mask for sensitive skin

Mix homemade cottage cheese (2 tablespoons) with warm low-fat milk (1 tablespoon), pulp cucumber(1 tablespoon). Action time - 15 minutes. Frequency of use - 1 time per week.

• Tonic for sensitive skin

Boil 100 ml of birch sap, cool, add 1 teaspoon of honey, bring to a homogeneous consistency by stirring. Wipe sensitive skin with this tonic 2 times a day.

• Scrub for sensitive skin

Grind in a blender 250 gr fresh, ripe, but not giving juice strawberries. Add 50 ml of liquid honey. Massage lightly with this composition on the skin of the face, then rinse with water. Frequency of use - 1 time in 7-10 days.

• Oils for sensitive skin

You can wipe the sensitive skin of the face every other day with cosmetic oils such as sea buckthorn, rose, black cumin, St. John's wort, lemon, burdock.

• Cream for sensitive skin

Heat 30 g of base oil (black cumin) in a water bath to 60 ° C, pour 2 ml of emulsifier (stearic acid) into it until completely dissolved, pour 60 ml of green tea, without ceasing to heat. When the mixture becomes creamy, remove from heat, cool to 35°C, stirring occasionally. Add 7 ml of active substance (chamomile extract), 5 drops essential oil verbena. Frequency of use - 1 time per day.

Now you can prepare any cosmetic product for the care of sensitive skin with your own hands so that it does not react so violently to various environmental factors. If you have finances, you can seek help from specialists in a beauty salon, where you will select the appropriate procedure. Compliance with the basic rules for caring for such an unusual skin type will make you forget that you have any cosmetic problems.

The thin skin of the face is very sensitive and can be irritated by almost any impact, whether it be a cold wind or low-quality cosmetics. This leads to redness, severe itching, burning and even peeling.

We will talk about the main causes of hypersensitivity and competent care for problem skin.

Causes of skin sensitivity

Sensitive facial skin is a special condition of the dermis that cannot be considered normal. Absolutely all types of covers are subject to this problem, from dry to normal.

Hypersensitivity occurs when the hydrolipid mantle becomes thinner, which plays the role of a barrier, protecting tissues from negative chemical and mechanical effects.

When protective "shell" weakens its defenses, any external factors cause the epidermis to become irritated. As a result, this leads to the appearance of redness and a feeling of tightness.

In some cases, increased irritability provokes the occurrence of allergic reactions.

Signs of skin hypersensitivity

Too many people confuse allergies with hypersensitivity and therefore take the wrong steps to deal with the problem. An allergic reaction occurs approximately 30-60 minutes after exposure to the irritant. In case of hypersensitivity, unpleasant symptoms will show up almost instantly.

Signs of sensitive skin:

• After washing, there is a feeling of contraction;
• Redness appears on the face;
• Feel itching or burning;
• Exfoliation occurs upper layers epidermis;
• Red spots form on the chin, décolleté and forehead.

As a rule, women face such a problem, which is due to the thinness of the integument and, accordingly, the hydrolipid mantle.

Factors leading to hypersensitivity

Before providing competent care for thin skin of the face, it is necessary to exclude factors that lead to the destruction of the protective layer of the dermis.

These include:

Problem skin care

What should be done first if you have very sensitive facial skin?

To begin with, you should deal with daily care, which will include several stages:

1. Morning care:

• Cleansing. Every morning you need to wash your face only with warm water, and preferably not chlorinated. After that, it is necessary to treat the face with a tonic for deep cleansing of the pores;
• Hydration. Day cream is indispensable at this stage. Therefore, purchase a product that matches your skin type.
• Protection. In summer, it is advisable to use special sunscreens during the day, and in winter - creams to protect against the cold;

1. Evening care:

• Cleansing. Use cosmetic milk to remove makeup, then use a tonic, preferably without alcohol;
• Nutrition. Apply a special night cream to nourish the dermis.

Masks for hypersensitive skin

To ensure the normal functioning of the sebaceous glands and prevent the splitting of the hydrolipid mantle, from time to time it is necessary to make masks for sensitive facial skin. The best option will be products prepared at home from natural ingredients.

They nourish the dermis and accelerate the process of cell regeneration.

What does hypersensitive skin not like?

In order not to provoke your own skin to irritation, it is necessary not only to provide it with complete care, but also to exclude factors that negatively affect its condition.

These include:

• chlorinated water. Overdried integuments inevitably become sensitive, so it is not advisable to use tap water when washing. When visiting the pool, apply a special protective water-repellent cream before the procedure;
• Frequent shift cosmetics care. Constant experiments with hygienic cosmetics lead to a violation of the mineral and water balance of the epidermis. Therefore, dermatologists do not recommend changing cosmetics more often than once every 2-3 months;
• Abuse of solarium and sunbathing. UV radiation promotes the synthesis of vitamin D in the body, but the abuse of sunbathing leads to overdrying of the epidermis and thinning of the protective mantle.

Skin that is very sensitive to external influences is a problem that women most often face. Often, hypersensitivity occurs with improper care or its complete absence.

If you want to get rid of the problem once and for all, eliminate the factors that lead to the destruction of the hydrolipidic layer, and from time to time use restorative masks, the recipes of which were suggested above.

Related materials

- this is not a type, as many people think. The skin becomes sensitive for a reason - it depends on the general state of health, as well as the influence of various negative factors, which are more than enough in our life - you don’t even need to list them. Of course, one of the reasons is inappropriate cosmetics and procedures, or too frequent use of them.

Causes of sensitive skin

You can still list the main reasons why the skin becomes sensitive.

Improper care can exhaust the skin, and it becomes too sensitive. This can happen when using low-quality cosmetics, which include mineral oils, petroleum products, or when you refuse to use a protective cream. The skin cannot tolerate such treatment indefinitely - the lipid layer that performs a protective function is destroyed.

Sometimes there is a skin that is called unstable: it can show unusual sensitivity for a certain period, and then returns to normal again. Such periods can last up to two years, and most often this is due to the stresses that our body experiences - diseases, nervous shocks, antibiotic treatment, severe overwork, etc.

Skin of any type can become sensitive, after suffering from infectious, gastrointestinal, skin and endocrine diseases, or due to allergies. In this case, as well as in many others, it is possible to restore health to the skin only by solving all health problems - otherwise no means will help.

It may be that the skin is predisposed to sensitivity from birth: it is thin and dry, it has little fat, and the stratum corneum is thin and very little protective pigment is produced.

Most often, such skin occurs in blondes or red-haired women. Any external irritants have a detrimental effect on it: summer heat, winter frosts and strong winds, UV radiation, dust and other aggressive factors. Such skin must be protected, provided with normal nutrition and protection.

Having found out the causes of skin sensitivity, you can find individual ways to solve this problem - in each case, the approach will be different.

Sensitive skin care

However, there are ways that always help to make the skin healthier and fresher, restore its tone, relieve irritation and slow down aging - these are all kinds of homemade and folk remedies. Most often these are masks, creams, lotions prepared on the basis of various products: juices, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and everything that can give our skin nutrition, health and protection.

Before using home remedies, you need to make sure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. To do this, prepare a little cream or lotion, and apply on small plot skin. Can be applied to the lips - they are very sensitive and will react immediately. However, it is best to take those foods that you can safely eat - then allergic reaction definitely won't.

When caring for sensitive skin, you can wash your face, as well as wash off all masks, only with slightly warm water.

Masks for sensitive skin

It is best to prepare masks from the simplest products. For example, masks made from cottage cheese, milk, fresh cucumber soothe the skin, moisturizing, softening and nourishing it. The skin of the face brightens, and redness and irritation disappear.

You can put gruel of grated cucumber on your face for 15 minutes, or just cucumber, cut into thin circles - as it is more convenient. Cottage cheese can be rubbed with a spoon and applied to the face; you can mix it with milk 1:1. good mask obtained from a mixture of all these products. Cottage cheese (1 tbsp) is rubbed with milk (2 tbsp) and cucumber gruel (1 tbsp), and the resulting mixture is applied to the face for 15-20 minutes.

Sensitive skin will love the cottage cheese, milk, carrot and banana mask. Cottage cheese, grated carrots and mashed banana pulp are taken 1 tbsp each, add 2 tbsp. milk and mix thoroughly. Apply the mask for 15 minutes.

An even simpler product that is always in the house is potatoes, and masks from it are wonderful.

Very dry and sensitive skin will calm down if a mask of grated raw potatoes with a small amount of olive oil is applied to the face for 15 minutes.

Peeling skin will soften the mask of boiled potatoes. It is necessary to boil a small potato in a peel, peel and crush. When the potato becomes slightly warm, you need to put it on your face for 15 minutes, and then wash it off - everything is very simple. You can add 1 tbsp to this potato. milk and 1 tsp. olive oil - such a mask will be more nutritious and make the skin soft. Mashed potatoes can also be mixed with raw egg yolk: 2 tbsp. puree and yolk - this mask nourishes and moisturizes the skin well.

Some women cannot wash their face with soap - their skin is so sensitive, and even gentle foams and gels can cause irritation. In such cases, potato paste added to the water for washing can help.

Potato starch (1 tsp) should be stirred in clean cold water (1 tbsp) until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. Pour this mixture over ¼ cup of boiling water and stir thoroughly again. Add the resulting potato paste to the water for washing - about 1 liter of lukewarm water. This formula is great for sensitive skin.

Oat flakes practically do not cause allergies in anyone, so they can be used as a scrub mask. 1 tbsp flakes should be poured with boiling water so that they are covered, covered and put in a warm place for 10-15 minutes. Apply warm steamed flakes to the face, gently massage for about a minute with your fingertips, and hold for another 10 minutes.

It is generally not recommended to use any exfoliating products on sensitive skin, but warm oatmeal will not harm it. If you brew cereals not with water, but with hot milk, then the skin will receive more nutrients. You can also add a couple of teaspoons of honey if you are not allergic to it.

Lotions for sensitive skin

In addition to masks, you can and should use homemade lotions to care for sensitive skin.

Lotion with aloe and herbs is very useful for sensitive skin with dilated capillaries, prone to constant irritation. You need to mix 1 tbsp. aloe leaves, plantain, parsley, mint, chamomile, sage and dry rose petals - finely chop all the greens beforehand. Store the mixture in a closed glassware, and take 1 tbsp. each time just before preparing the lotion. Pour 1 tbsp. mixture with a glass of boiling water and insist for 2 hours in a warm place, then filter and use. You can add 1 tbsp to the lotion. lemon juice, grapefruit or other sour juice. You need to wipe the skin with this lotion 2 times a day - in the morning and before going to bed, and after a while its condition will improve.

For sensitive dry skin, lemon-egg lotion is suitable - it is a little more difficult to prepare. First, egg yolks (2 pcs.) are ground with 0.5 tsp. salt. Then they take 0.5 cups of cream, and in turn add glycerin (1 tsp), vodka (¼ cup), and juice of a whole lemon. The resulting solution is slowly, stirring all the time, poured into the yolks, pounded with salt. First, the lotion is rubbed on the face and neck, and then applied to the skin with a thin layer and left for 20 minutes. This lotion cleanses dry sensitive skin, softens it and tones it.

Lotions made from widely known herbs are very simple: chamomile, mint, plantain, linden. Herbs can be used together or separately. For example, you can simply pour mint with boiling water (1 cup), leave for half an hour, strain and wipe your face. Dry mint should be taken 1 tbsp, and fresh mint will need 3 tbsp. The lotion reduces irritation, tones and smoothes the skin.

Plantain, chamomile and linden can be brewed together, insisted for 20 minutes, and also used as a tonic. Decoctions of herbs should be stored only in the refrigerator - no more than 2 days.

St. John's wort lotion prepared in the same way strengthens the skin, has an astringent effect on it and relieves inflammation - it contains tannins, carotene, vitamin C, and essential oil.

As a tonic in the morning, you can use strawberry (strawberry) lotion. Mash strawberries (1 tbsp), mix with cold water (1 cup), strain and wipe your face.

Lotions prepared at home can be used every day, choosing for yourself those recipes that work best on the skin. Masks for sensitive skin are usually carried out in a course of 20 procedures. You can do them every other day or daily - depending on the condition of the skin.

Suitable cosmetic products can be counted on the fingers? Is the slightest touch to the skin surface accompanied by discomfort? Does the skin peel off, rashes bother you, do you often feel burning and itching? Perhaps you have a sensitive skin type. Do not be upset, choosing the right care for sensitive skin of the face, many unpleasant phenomena can be avoided. But first the basics...

How to recognize the problem?

Any skin type can be sensitive. The special susceptibility of the skin surface to irritants often accompanies a person all his life, but sometimes it manifests itself only at certain intervals. Signs of pathology:

• Excessively whitish shade of the skin (due to a thin layer of skin and a lack of pigment).
• A tightening sensation after performing hygiene procedures.
• Irritations that occur "out of the blue" (rashes, redness, blisters, etc.).
• Tendency to form pigment spots.
• Burning, swelling, tingling, redness and itching are felt after almost every touch of the skin.
• Strong peeling.
• Susceptibility to ultraviolet rays (leads to burns).

The situation is typical for people with blond or red hair and light eyes. The reaction can be observed on a certain part of the body (hands, face, scalp, etc.) or on the entire surface of the skin at once. If signs of sensitive facial skin are only partially present, a simple test will help determine more accurately.

Test

Draw a strip on the cheek or inner surface of the forearm with a non-sharp object (a cap from a ballpoint pen will do). The action provoked the appearance of a reddish line on the skin, mark the period of time required for the restoration of normal color. An interval of more than 2 minutes indicates increased sensitivity.

Factors that provoke changes in the dermis

Very sensitive skin can react to any external and internal influences:

• Climate change (a sharp gust of wind, frost, sunshine, dryness or high humidity, heat, etc.).
• Medications (for oral and external intake).
• Cosmetics and salon procedures (peelings, exposure to radio frequency or laser radiation, ultrasound).
• Changes in the hormonal background (change of phases of menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, pathology of the endocrine system).
• Clothing material.
• Synthetic detergents (powder, rinse aid, bleach).
• Respiratory infections, a period of weakening the body's immune forces.

The causes of skin reactions may vary, in order to normalize the situation, it is desirable to know which irritant sensitive skin reacts to and eliminate its effect completely.

How to distinguish a sensitivity reaction from an allergy

Allergies and skin sensitivity are often present in a complex, but it is necessary to distinguish them, this affects approaches to care and treatment procedures.

1. Allergy is detected in a specialized study of venous blood (immunogram).
2. In the anamnesis of a patient with allergies, other manifestations of the reaction are often found: Quincke's edema, intolerance food products, medicines, contact dermatitis and the like.
3. An allergic reaction develops several hours after exposure (use of cosmetics, consumption of food), sensitive skin reacts immediately or after 10-30 minutes maximum.

Nuances of care

With sensitive skin, the water temperature for hygiene procedures should be in the range of 34-35 degrees. It is advisable to douse yourself with a cool stream of water after washing (not icy and not too cold!). Excessive enthusiasm for cleansing procedures leads to a complete washing off of the lipid barrier of the skin (sebum), which leads to an even greater severity of the problem. After each hygiene procedure, you should immediately apply a special soothing and moisturizing agent.

You should follow a balanced diet, exclude the following foods:

• Coffee, caffeinated drinks.
• carbonated sweetened drinks and mineral water with gas.
• Unconventional spices.
• Alcohol.
• Highly allergenic foods (honey, cocoa, bright berries and fruits, citrus fruits, eggs, etc.).

AT without fail you should make an appointment with an endocrinologist or a female gynecologist-endocrinologist. The doctor will assess the hormonal balance of the body and help restore it if necessary. Except hormonal drugs vasodilators may be prescribed. Smoking is contraindicated for people with sensitive skin.

Face

How to take care of sensitive skin? A number of rules are known to help avoid hypersensitivity reactions and reduce discomfort.

1. Cosmetics for sensitive skin should have special designations and correspond to the type of skin, it is better to choose products labeled "hypoallergenic".
2. Lotions responsible for cleansing the skin are chosen without alcohol.
3. Soap in care is not used.
4. You should wash your face with melt water or ordinary mineral water, there is too much chlorine in the tap water.
5. If you want to remove makeup, it is advisable to do this with ordinary vegetable oils: sunflower, olive or almond.
6. The peeling procedure is carried out without acid peels, large abrasive particles, the products should not contain retinoids or glycolic acid.
7. Aromatic additives (perfumes) provoke a violent reaction of the skin; preparations with a large amount of them in the composition should be discarded.
8. Before using any remedy, it is necessary to conduct a sensitivity test (apply a small amount to the skin, evaluate the result in a day).
9. Every day, be sure to protect the skin surface from ultraviolet radiation, choose creams, lotions, milk, etc. with a maximum SPF filter. Preference is given to cosmetics with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide - they create a physical barrier to ultraviolet radiation.
10. Apply cosmetics in small portions strictly along the massage lines of the face, the movements should be patting (the pads of the ring fingers have the most minimal effect on the surface).
11. When going to a steam room, bath or sauna, the face must be covered with a thick towel.
12. You should drastically reduce the time spent in the heat, cold, under the direct rays of the sun.
13. A sensitivity reaction can begin not only to products applied directly to the skin, but also to vapors in the air. Therefore, aromatherapy falls into the stop list.
14. Solarium is prohibited.

Dry and sensitive facial skin needs a constant supply of necessary substances. Night care products should be nourishing, and daytime care products should be moisturizing (preferably one cosmetic series). Oily sensitive facial skin also causes a lot of trouble. Care should be dominated by products with a light texture (gel-creams or gels) with a moisturizing effect. This applies to both daytime and nighttime products. Combination skin requires careful selection of funds:

• in the case of a combination of dry and normal, care is carried out as for dry;
• in the case of a combination of oily and normal - the funds should be for the oily type of skin;
• if there is a combination of oily and dry skin (occurs quite rarely), it is better to act on different areas various means: on areas of high fat content - light moisturizing cosmetics, on dry areas - with fatty nutrients.

Body

Sensitive skin of the body does not tolerate soap, alcohol-containing cosmetics, rough cleansing and similar procedures. Preference should be given to shower gels with a neutral level of acidity and soft sponges. Intensive rubbing can mechanically affect the skin, so those with sensitive skin should lightly blot the body with a soft towel.

Ordinary water can also cause great harm (the chlorine contained in it adversely affects the epidermis). There is only one way out - immediately after water procedures, lubricate the surface of the body with specialized oils or moisturizers. Baby oils for babies do a good job, their composition contains maximum amount natural ingredients and perfectly restores the lipid barrier. To avoid leaving greasy marks on garments, wait until completely absorbed before dressing.

Head

What to do with sensitive scalp? Choosing the right shampoos Ideally, you should find a hair cleanser that contains soap tree root instead of sodium lauryl sulfate and its derivatives as a surfactant. In practice, to meet such shampoos on the shelves is a rarity. If the cherished jar is still found, then it costs, as a rule, not cheap. There is a little trick, look in the department of children's cosmetics and purchase shampoo for babies. Almost every label mentions that the product is used in infants and adults with sensitive scalp dermis. The scalp responds better to children's shampoos, but expect long hair to be difficult to detangle (a detangling baby conditioner in spray form will help in this situation).

Before washing your hair, it is good to apply vegetable oils to the root area and roots. Under a warming cap, you need to withstand such a mask for at least an hour or more (some sources recommend leaving the oil on all night). Oils that are suitable for masks:

• almond;
• grape seeds;
• avocado;
• jojoba;
• burdock;
• evening primrose;
• borago;
• olive.

In extreme cases, regular sunflower oil will do. The components can be mixed, but only one ingredient should be added each time (to avoid an allergic reaction). Oil extracts of plants enrich the skin with fatty acids, restore the lipid barrier, help to soothe the scalp and prevent dandruff.

Nutrition for sensitive skin

A specialized diet can significantly affect the quality of the skin.

1. Include vegetable oils in your diet. They should be added to salads and consumed in a non-thermally processed form.
2. Use all possible vitamins in vegetables and fruits, for this, consume at least half a kilogram of fresh natural gifts every day.
3. Fiber cleanses the body of toxins, it acts like a brush from the inside. It is rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables.
4. Lean meat is a supplier of valuable vitamins and minerals.
5. Fish is a storehouse of omega-3 fatty acids.

If you feel that nutrition is far from ideal, take a course of complex vitamin and mineral supplements for food.

Professional beauty treatments

Some salon procedures can affect the condition of sensitive skin and slightly adapt it to the external effects of aggressive factors.