Having sensitive skin can be super annoying as you always need to be extra gentle with your skin. And you can’t also just use or apply any skincare product to your skin.
Sensitive skin can easily become irritated that’s why it needs extra care.
Personally, I have super sensitive skin so I know how it feels to have this skin type and I know how it can be hard sometimes to deal with it.
Following the right skincare routine for sensitive skin can help keep your skin healthy which will make you feel more confident and comfortable.
In this article, I will include the top signs that can tell if your skin is sensitive and help you figure out your skin type.
Table of Contents
What Is Sensitive Skin?
We can’t say sensitive skin is a medical diagnosis but it typically refers to the skin that with a high tendency to get inflamed.
What causes inflammation or irritation varies from one individual to another.
Most people don’t know their skin is sensitive until their skin reacts badly to some skincare products, soaps, cleansers, or makeup products.
After this skin reaction, you will probably ask yourself why my skin is so sensitive to this product.
You will also pay more attention to the symptoms your skin develops after using certain products.
Once you know what makes your skin flare up, you keep those symptoms under control by avoiding the trigger.
Do You Really Have Sensitive Skin?
When you know for sure your skin type, the rest will be easier as we can now look for what is ideal for your skin.
Many people around the world believe they have sensitive skin.
But actually, their skin could be just reacting to some skincare products or certain irritants causing burning, irritation, or stinging.
And This would make them feel uncomfortable and think their skin is sensitive.
So how to determine if someone has sensitive skin?
There is no definite checklist to use to define sensitive skin. However, Dermatologists look for certain things when diagnosing sensitive skin:
- Skin reactions like skin pumps or pustules.
- Skin erosion.
- Super dry skin.
- Skin prone to flushing and blushing.
You should also know that Genes play a role in determining your skin type. So if you have sensitive skin, one of your parents would probably have it too.
Environmental conditions can make it worse and affect your skin badly.
People with some skin conditions like Eczema, Rosacea, Acne, or Psoriasis usually have sensitive skin.
Consulting a dermatologist is the safest way to find out your skin type.
The dermatologist will examine you and ask you some questions about the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Additionally, there are some common symptoms that can help you determine if your skin is sensitive:
Top 11 Signs Of Sensitive Skin:
1- Sensitive Skin Turns Red Easily
When we talk about sensitive skin, redness is its permanent companion.
People with sensitive skin develop some amount of redness on the face or body. They will start noticing red bumps, rash, blushing, or flushing.
Applying treatment or avoiding the trigger can help calm the skin and reduce redness.
Sometimes your skin may need a laser treatment if the redness persists. It’s an effective way to help clear the skin.
My face used to be red all the time due to my skin sensitivity and Rosacea.
To fix this issue, the dermatologist recommends laser treatment for facial redness, and after a couple of sessions, redness reduced significantly.
2- Your Skin Is Dry
Another common sign of sensitive skin is dryness. Your skin tends to become super dry if you don’t take care of it well or due to extrinsic factors.
This happens when your skin barrier couldn’t lock in moisture.
Moisturizing the skin daily can help protect the skin barrier and prevent dehydration.
I have this problem, suddenly I find my skin is super dry but when I use a good moisturizer that is made especially for sensitive skin, my skin feels better and healthy.
What could be causing your skin to dry is taking hot showers, using harsh cleansers, or seasonal changes. Avoid the triggers to maintain healthy skin.
3- You’re Prone To Breakouts
Dry sensitive skin usually produces more oils to replenish moisture loss.
And this causes the pores to be clogged which will lead to breakouts.
The best way to deal with this sign is to wash your wash with a gentle cleanser twice a day and apply a good exfoliant that contains salicylic acid.
This helps clear up your skin without causing irritation, it works well with me.
And I apply also a good moisturizer to keep my skin well hydrated.
4- Your Skin Is Itchy
Your skin becomes itchy and tight easily if you take a hot shower or use products with harsh ingredients on the skin.
Hot showers always make my skin itchy and dry and turn my skin red.
Don’t scratch your skin as this can cause more irritation and may lead to a skin infection.
To avoid this problem, I take showers with lukewarm water and use a gentle soap to wash my body then apply moisturizer to my skin to keep it nourished.
5- Using Certain Beauty Products
Applying certain skincare products that contain harsh chemicals can make your skin sting and burn.
If your skin is sensitive, you have a thinner skin barrier that gets easily irritated by using harsh products.
Avoid using products that contain alcohol, harsh exfoliants, sulfates, petroleum, benzoyl peroxide, or certain essential oils.
Those ingredients can worsen your skin and lead to more annoying symptoms.
6- Fragrance Doesn’t Suit Your Skin
I know this is ridiculous and disturbing as we all love scented products, they smell great and make you smell nice too.
But unfortunately, products that contain fragrances are a common trigger for people with sensitive skin.
They will inflame, irritate, and burn your skin. The best way to avoid irritation is to use fragrance-free products.
Don’t be fooled by products that contain natural ingredients like peppermint essential oil or cinnamon. They are not suitable for your skin type and will cause painful symptoms.
7- You Develop Rashes Or Bumps
Your skin is prone to rashes or red dry bumps as a sign of sensitivity when exposed to a trigger.
This happens when you apply certain skincare products such as cream, toner, or exfoliant to your skin.
After contact, your skin will develop rashes and bumps which can be painful and will make you feel uncomfortable.
To fix this issue, I perform a patch test on a small area of my skin and wait for about 24 hours.
If my skin doesn’t react to the product, then I can apply it to my face or body safely.
Also, if your skin reacts to any skincare product, you will need to visit a dermatologist to prescribe the right treatment to get rid of rashes.
8- Your Reacts To The Weather
Some climatic conditions like windy cold days, dusty days, or extremely hot days can affect your skin badly.
Bad weather conditions are immediate triggers if your skin is sensitive.
Your skin will itch, burn, become dry & tight, and irritated. Those days are also irritating for people with skin conditions like Rosacea.
They suffer from redness, swollen, inflamed skin, and stinging.
When my skin flares up due to the weather, I use a moisturizer with soothing ingredients to calm my skin and maintain its health. Check out the products I use for my super sensitive skin, here.
9- Your Skin Is Reactive
Your skin will react to many factors as a sign of sensitivity. You will have skin reactions to dyes, perfumes, soaps, detergents, fragrances, skincare products, chemicals, and environmental changes.
Your skin will develop symptoms like itchiness, burning, dryness, reddening, or rash.
Consult with a dermatologist to help you find the best products that suit your skin type.
Also, learn to avoid the triggers that can cause flare-ups as it’s the best way to protect your skin and keep healthy-looking skin.
10- Your Skin Is Sensitive To UV Rays
Whatever your skin type is, you must apply sunscreen before exposing yourself to the sun.
The thing is sensitive skin is more susceptible to skin damage and harmful UV rays that’s why you should always wear sunscreen when you’re outside.
If your skin is sensitive and you walk outside without sunscreen, you will suffer from irritation, burning, redness, or skin rash for sure.
Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to avoid flare-ups.
Also, look for a sunscreen that is suitable for sensitive skin as many sunscreens contain chemical UV blockers that can cause irritation or allergic reactions.
The best sunscreen for your skin should contain titanium oxide or zinc oxide to protect the skin against harmful sun rays without triggering flares.
11- Your Skin Has Broken Capillaries
Broken capillaries are tiny blood vessels that are visible in some skin areas like the nose and cheeks.
A dermatologist usually looks for broken capillaries as a sign of sensitivity when diagnosing your skin type.
People with sensitive skin have thinner protective skin layers that’s why they are more prone to experiencing broken capillaries.
Wrapping Up
It’s a bit challenging to have sensitive skin especially if you have no idea what your skin type is or don’t follow any skincare routine.
I included some common signs that I experience to tell whether your is skin is sensitive. Those signs are common, if you suffer from them, you’re more likely to have sensitive skin.
I recommend visiting a dermatologist to help you know your skin type.
Now let me know the signs that you usually experience as a sign of sensitivity and how you deal with them.