Sensitive skin is a common condition that makes your skin more prone to reactions such as redness and itching.
Sensitive skin may require a visit to the dermatologist.
There are many ways to ease the irritation and symptoms of sensitive skin.
Ellen Lindner / Verywell
This article discusses how to know if you have sensitive skin and what might be causing it.
It also discusses ways to care for it at home and signs you should see a dermatologist.
Symptoms include:
Sensitive skin can cause both objective signs and subjective symptoms.
They are changes to your skins protective barrier and are easy to observe from an outsiders perspective.
They are just as real, but only felt or observed by you.
What Causes Sensitive Skin?
If youre wondering, “Why does my skin hurt?
“one of these reasons may be the culprit.
In response, your body tries to protect itself from this perceived threat with an immune response.
This is like what you experience during an allergic reaction of the skin.
The best way to manage contact dermatitis is to avoid the substance that’s triggering it.
If these don’t help, you might be prescribed a topical calcineurin inhibitor to help with symptoms.
For more severe or widespread rashes, a provider may prescribe short-term oral or injectable corticosteroids.
These are effective but come with side effects, such as weight gain and sleeping issues.
Allergy
Dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin, can also be triggered by anallergic response.
When your skin has an allergic response, it means your immune system is in overdrive.
This will give you a clearer idea if any of your regular products are contributing to your skin sensitivity.
Hydrocortisone or another topical steroid may be prescribed to relieve itching.
For allergic reactions that don’t respond to those medications, injectable biologic therapies may help.
Rosacea
Rosaceais a skin condition that causes redness and swelling in the face and neck.
It can start as a flushing of the cheeks and can sometimes spread to the ears.
Because sunlight can trigger rosacea, people with this condition should wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 daily.
It is the most common reason for seeing a dermatologist.
Acne is triggered when your skin pores become clogged.
Over-the-counter acne medicines may also help.
These can be found over the counter or may be prescribed.
The best time to apply moisturizer is within a few minutes of washing.
A humidifier may also help by adding moisture to dry air inside your home.
Photodermatoses
Photodermatosesare skin reactions that occur in response to the UV rays in sunlight.
Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is one common throw in of photodermatosis.
The condition is more likely to cause problems in the warmer months.
If you do have a reaction, aloe vera can help soothe your skin.
It is more common in children than in adults.
Mast cells release histamines in response to an irritating substance like an ingredient in a skincare product.
This is what causes symptoms such as skin lesions, redness, and itching.
Antihistamines can also help relieve symptoms like redness and itching.
They can itch and swell.
Other Causes
There are other, less common causes of skin sensitivity.
One theory for why women are more prone to skin sensitivity is differences in skin thickness.
Women may also be more at risk for dehydration and dry skin due to hormonal changes.
These theories still require further research.
Your practitioner will know what questions to ask and what tests to run to move forward.
A number of things can lead to flare-ups, such as allergies or rosacea.
2015;38(2):120-127. doi:10.1111/ics.12283
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Contact dermatitis overview.
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Skin allergy.
American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Who gets and causes.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rosacea treatment: Acne-like breakouts.
American Academy of Dermatology.Acne: Who gets and causes.
American Academy of Dermatology.Dry skin: Who gets and causes.
2017;92(4):521-525. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.201756111
