Nobody:
Us: wow, everyone is so sensitive nowadays. Crazy.
Growing up, your parents taught you to have thick skin. This thick skin helped you to withstand the pressures of small island life. For some people, having thick skin meant standing up to bullies. While for others, having thick skin meant walking away when all you wanted to do was fight. What may drive one person up a wall may roll off the shoulder of another. This is what you call a complexity of life. In the same way that no two people are alike; neither are two skin types. In case you missed it, we touched on the five main skin types in this article.
To keep the trend going, we thought we’d get straight to the meat of the matter - sensitive skin. For starters, it’s funny that everyone thinks they have sensitive skin. One breakout that lasted 84284989 months then all of a sudden, my skin’s sensitive, help! We’re not judging - it’s funny. That’s all.
All jokes aside, it’s not uncommon for people to assume that they have sensitive skin. This belief comes after they have reactions to household products, skincare products, and other external factors. These reactions manifest as symptoms that are typical of people with sensitive skin. So, it makes sense why so many people think that they have sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin is not as much a skin type as it is a reaction to myriad external factors.
External factors aside, sensitive skin may be the result of preexisting skin issues. Common examples include rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis. According to WebMD, dermatologists consider the following factors when they diagnose sensitive skin:
Skin reactions such as pustules, skin bumps, or skin erosion
Very dry skin which doesn’t properly protect nerve endings in the skin
A tendency towards blushing and skin flushing (i.e. rosy skin)
Now, do you understand why we say that sensitive skin isn’t as much a skin type as it is a reaction? Now, the reasons listed above seem straightforward enough. Yet, there is one critical way that we can cause our skin to become sensitive. If you’re not wearing an SPF of at least 30 right now, take a break, put some sunscreen on, and come back to read the rest of this article. Shame! Excessive exposure to the sun and wind, as well as excessive cold or heat, can cause your skin to become sensitive. If you still believe the myth that black people don’t need sunscreen, you’re on the highway to sensitive skin.
The saying prevention is better than cure is critical here.
Now that you know the underlying causes of sensitive skin, does it seem easier to manage? We hope so. The saying prevention is better than cure is critical here. If you have a preexisting skin issue, then it’s best to use the proper natural ingredients, skincare products, or topical agents to reduce any reactions that you may have. Do them ahead of time so that you don't play catch up during the downward spiral.
If you don’t have a preexisting condition, then our best advice is to stick to a skincare routine that is simple and doesn’t involve skincare products with too many ingredients. Organic skincare products may be best and if you must use medical-grade products or procedures, stick to milder treatments such as a classic facial, brightening facial, or hydro dermabrasion. By the way, our collection of 100% organic cleansing bars will work best for you. They’re multi-use - for face and body - and formulated for people with sensitive skin and other skin disorders.
So there you have it, all the myths that you have about sensitive skin? Debunked. We hope. If you still think that you have sensitive skin even after reading this - drop by our studio. Our in-house medical esthetician will give you the right answers and even better results. Have you booked your consultation yet? See you soon!