The Symptoms of Sensitive Skin & How to Treat Them

Is Your Skin Sensitive?

Sensitive skin is caused by nerve endings in the top layer of the skin becoming irritated. It's often the result of damage to the skin’s protective barrier – allowing irritants and allergens to penetrate the skin and cause redness. Nearly half of all people say they have sensitive skin. Think you're one of them? Sensitive skin is characterized by a feeling of:

Tightness
Dryness
Itching
Burning
Redness

Skin sensitivity can be triggered by multiple factors.

While some people are genetically predisposed to sensitive skin, many others are sensitized by their environment and lifestyle. Sensitive skin triggers include:

Ultraviolet radiation
Smoking
Alcohol
Diet
Hormonal fluctuations
Cosmetic / medical procedures
Cosmetics
Soap
Chemical / synthetic dyes
Temperature changes
Pollution
Stress

Skin sensitivity can affect anyone, especially when the skin is in a more delicate or vulnerable state.

While some people are genetically predisposed to sensitive skin, many others are sensitized by their environment and lifestyle. Sensitive skin triggers include:

Red Skin
Itchy Skin
Dry Skin
Cracked, Flaky, Scaling Skin
Oncologic Dry Skin
Diabetic Dry Skin
Psoriatic Dry Skin
Eczematic Dry Skin

How can sensitive skin symptoms affect quality of life?

Baby Eczema

of children with Eczema experience sleep disturbances¹

Diabetes

up to 97% of people with Diabetes experience a skin-related disorder⁵

Mental Well-Being

of people with skin conditions like acne or rosacea experience psychological disorders⁹

Rosacea

rosacea patients say their condition lowers their self-confidence and self-esteem²

Psoriasis

of Psoriasis patients suffer from itching⁶

Cancer

of all side effects for some systemic cancers therapies are dermatological^7,8

Adult Eczema

of people experience itching on a daily basis^3,4

Depression

those with eczema face a 3x times higher risk of anxiety or depression^10,11,12

^{1. Fishbein AB, Cheng BT, Tilley CC, et al. Sleep Disturbance in School-Aged Children with Atopic Dermatitis: Prevalence and Severity in a Cross-Sectional Sample. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021;9(8):3120-3129.e3.}^{2. New Rosacea Survey Shows Emotional Toll of Facial Redness Equals Impact of Bumps, Pimples | Rosacea.org}^{3. Yosipovitch G, Ansari N, Goon A, Chan Y. H, Goh C. L. Clinical characteristics of pruritus in chronic idiopathic urticaria. Br. J. Dermatol. 2002;147:32–36.}^{4. Dawn A, Papoiu A. D, Chan Y. H, Rapp S. R, Rassette N, Yosipovitch G. Itch characteristics in atopic dermatitis: Results of a web-based questionnaire. Br. J. Dermatol. 2009;160:642–644.}^{5. Campos de Macedo GM et al. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2016;8:63.}^{6. Prignano F et al. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2009;2:9-13.}^{7. Salzmann M et al. Breast Care. 2019;14:72-77.}^{8. Drucker AM et al. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012;135(2):347-354.}^{9. Guerra-Tapia A, Asensio Martínez Á, García Campayo J. The emotional impact of skin diseases. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2015;106:699–702. 10. The Emotional Impact of Skin Diseases - PubMed (nih.gov)}^{Silverberg JI, Gelfand JM, Margolis DJ, et al. Symptoms and diagnosis of anxiety and depression in atopic dermatitis in U.S. adults. Br J Dermatol. 2019;181(3):554-565.}^{11. Yu SH, Silverberg JI. Association between Atopic Dermatitis and Depression in US Adults. J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(12):3183-3186.}^{12. Cheng BT, Silverberg JI. Depression and psychological distress in US adults with atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019;123(2):179-185.}

Lifestyle changes can help soothe sensitive skin:

Detox

Rid your routine of environmental irritants in your personal care items, laundry items, household cleaners, furniture, paint, etc.

Be wary of bacteria

This means replacing your washcloth and pillowcase more often and tossing out old makeup and cosmetic products. Wash your makeup brushes often and let them air dry.

Test new products

When you’re trying a new product, always test it on your wrist, arm, or behind the ear first before putting it on your face or more broadly on your body.

Avoid your triggers

As much as you can, avoid common triggers like harsh soaps, alcohols, and fragrances. Check the labels on your skin care products.

Use a humidifier

Unless you live in a humid climate, use a humidifier to help your skin stay moisturized.

Manage stress and establish a healthy sleep schedule

Stress and sleep are significant lifestyle factors that can affect skin health.

Here are a few tips:

Cleanse thoroughly, but gently.

Use lukewarm (not hot) water
Use mild, soap that won’t over dry or irritate, compromising  your skin’s moisture barrier
Gently pat skin dry – don’t rub
Avoid using scrubs and washcloths

Sensitive skin tips, a woman with a cheerful smile applying cream on her face.

Moisturize, calm and protect

Apply facial and body moisturizers to damp skin (within minutes of taking a bath or shower)
If prescribed by your doctor, apply any special medications first and then liberally apply moisturizer. For some medications, you may be advised to wait 15-20 minutes after applying before applying moisturizer, so be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Use hats, clothing, and broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreens