In a previous post, we discussed about the importance of knowing and understanding your skin type. Here’s a quick recap:
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Normal skin: balanced oil glands and sweat glands
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Oily skin: overly active oil glands
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Dehydrated skin: lack of water in the skin
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Dry skin: lack of oil in the skin
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Sensitive skin: may result from dehydrated skin, or from genetic reasons
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Ageing skin: not a skin type, but a process we can slow down!
Today, we touch on a sensitive topic - facials for sensitive skin.
What is Sensitive Skin?
Understanding the difference between sensitive skin and reactive skin is step one to diagnosing your skin right. Just like our bodies reacting to the food we eat, our skin react to the skin care products we use, environment aggressors and other factors on a daily basis. However, skin reactions that include stinging, tightness, discomfort or even redness may not mean you have sensitive skin. Here’s the difference between sensitive and reactive skin:
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Sensitive skin: people born with sensitive skin have thinner skin and their blood vessels are more easily inflamed - which can lead to redness under the skin. They may also experience broken capillaries - the blood vessels are thin and can burst when it expands too much, which is then visible due to their thin skin.
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Reactive skin: skin changes due to skin care usage - some products contain active ingredients which can cause tingling or itchy sensations. This is a natural process of using the skin care products and it does not mean that you have sensitive skin, your skin is simply absorbing and reacting to the active ingredients you are feeding it.
What causes sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin can result from underlying skin conditions: Eczema, Rosacea, Psoriasis and more.
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Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) - affects your skin’s ability to protect itself from pollutants such as germs or chemicals. This can increase your skin sensitivity to products and cause rashes.
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Rosacea - a common skin disease that affects the face, it causes extreme sensitivity and usage of some products may result in a burning and painful sensation. The first signs of rosacea include flushing easily.
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Psoriasis - a common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells which causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin
More often than not, however, sensitive skin is caused by dehydrated skin. Our bodies cannot function properly without sufficient water; our skin cannot protect itself if it lacks moisture and oil.
Excessively dry and dehydrated skin will result in itchy, flaky skin that can feel rough to the touch. It can also be more prone to redness and look dull. In addition, putting on skincare products may cause a tingly sensation - this is not a symptom of sensitive skin, but rather a cause of small, invisible cracks on your skin due to severe dryness. Keeping your skin hydrated is key to reducing sensitive skin - especially if you do not have an underlying skin condition that increases your skin’s sensitivity.
Good treatments for sensitive skin should focus on rehydrating the skin while treating underlying skin conditions that may cause increased sensitivity: strengthening the skin by improving microcirculation and protecting it.
The Right Treatment for Sensitive Skin
1. Soin Dermatologique Sécheresse Treatment
Our skin needs moisture to stay smooth and supple but retaining moisture can be difficult due to (1) poor skincare habits, (2) skin ageing and (3) environmental aggressors. Neurodermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis and Psosriasis are all conditions caused by the overactive process of skin cell renewal. The rapid shedding of skin cells causes the skin surface to become flaky, itchy and prone to irritation, weakening the lipid layer and causing the skin to lose moisture.
The Soin Dermatologique Sécheresse Treatment helps to solve sensitive skin caused by dryness and even reduces symptoms of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis with rich, hydrating lipid-containing products. These active ingredients stabilise the skin’s hydro-lipid barrier; helping to protect the skin from moisture and lipid loss.
Intensively hydrating, the treatment reduce itchiness and irritation, moisturise the skin, improve suppleness and leave the skin feeling smooth and silky soft.
Active ingredients used includes:
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An innovative extract from the bulb of bunch-flowered narcissus - helps reduce symptoms of Psoriasis and feelings of tightness, itching and flaking is eliminated
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Centella Asiastica Plant Extract - its antioxidant properties help sooth and strengthen the skin’s hydro-lipid barrier
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Seed Oil from Luffa Cylindrica - rich in essential fatty acids, it strengthens the skin’s protection mechanisms and restores balance to the hydrolipidic film.
2. Soin Dermatologique Rougeurs Treatment
Created to treat red skin, the Soin Dermatologique Rougeurs Treatment is extremely effective in stimulating micro-circulation and strengthening the capillary walls - visibly reducing redness and irritation. The skin is soothed and formation of new redness is prevented.
Red, Couperose and Rosacea skin are all characterised by red patches on the cheeks and nose, caused by poor blood circulation. In normal skin, momentary flushing occurs when dilated capillaries bring blood to the surface - these then contract, pushing the blood away again. In red skin, however, the capillaries remain dilated so the blood remains at the surface, giving rise to a permanently flushes and irritated complexion.
This treatment not only treats skin redness, but strengthens the skin to prevent future redness with active ingredients that include:
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Esculin - extracted from horse chestnut, this active ingredient reduces irritations and redness, strengthens the capillary walls and stimulates microcirculation
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Algin - provides the skin with moisture and protects it from dehydration
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Anti-Pollution Complex of Horseradish Tree Seed Extract and Nasturtium Extract - releases the skin of pollutants and acts like a protective shield, stimulating the skin’s natural process to boost its immunity against external aggressors
To test the efficacy of the Soin Dermatologique Rougeurs Treatment, dermatologists assessed a sample of 19 people with Rosacea and Couperose - participants saw a significant improvement in skin redness after using the products twice daily for 8 weeks.
The Soin Dermatologique Sécheresse Treatment and the Soin Dermatologique Rougeurs Treatment are most created by dermatologists to help treat and prevent sensitive skin. We understand the frustrations of pain, itchy skin that is reactive and red - let us help you strengthen and protect your skin. Call +65 63370060 for a personalised skin consultation and see your best skin!