| Is your skin easily damaged or irritated? | | | | |
| Is your skin dry, delicate and prone to irritant or | | | | What to do about your skin? |
| allergic reactions? | | | | Perfume or scented creams can be irritating. |
| Does your skin have a reduced tolerance to cold, | | | | Rinse well after using cleansing products, which |
| heat, wind, temperature changes, or pollution? | | | | should be mild and soap-free as they do not |
| If you answer yes to any or all of these | | | | remove so much oil from the skin. |
| questions, consider yourself a member of the | | | | Use a moisturizer and sunscreen that is |
| “sensitive skin†club to which | | | | formulated for sensitive skin |
| 56 per cent of Canadian women claim to belong. | | | | Don't over wash your face. Temperature of the |
| Of this group, more than 46 per cent also have | | | | water should be tepid; neither hot or cold |
| dry skin. | | | | Don't use exfoliants |
| What is sensitive skin? | | | | Be aware of seasonal temperatures. The sudden |
| Generally if you have easily irritated or reactive | | | | dryness of winter can mean itchy, dry skin until |
| skin, then you have ‘sensitive | | | | the skin responds by increasing oil production to |
| skin’. Most of the time sensitive skin | | | | reduce the water loss |
| relates to the face. Sensitive skin can be caused | | | | For breakouts use a cleanser with salicylic acid to |
| by a genetic predisposition or environmental | | | | help exfoliate pores. There are also moisturizers |
| factors. It appears as a redness, a swelling, itchy | | | | that contain salicylic acid |
| and dry irritation to the face. One of the major | | | | Be sensitive to stress |
| jobs of the skin is to waterproof. This is done to | | | | The causes and effects of stress on the body |
| the epidermis or surface layer of the skin, | | | | are not fully known, but for some people stress |
| producing a fat-protein sandwich that is always | | | | interferes with the body's systems that repair |
| being replaced and is vital to prevent too much | | | | and regulate the skin. Stress kills your natural |
| water loss from the skin. | | | | antioxidant defenses, which help to prevent |
| Symptoms of sensitive skin include: | | | | accelerated aging of the skin. Hormones can also |
| * A tingling or tightening of the skin without visible | | | | trigger a histamine release within the skin causing |
| signs | | | | it to erupt in bumpy redness, or breakout in hives. |
| * “Overreaction†to skin care | | | | |
| or cosmetic products | | | | Desensitize yourself |
| * Reactions to shaving, or other physical stress to | | | | When choosing makeup, especially foundation and |
| the skin | | | | blush, buy oil-free products. Makeup that is |
| Sensitive skin can also be a heads-up for other | | | | water-based won't clog pores. Look for |
| conditions, such as: | | | | oil-absorbing foundations that help keep oil off the |
| * Altered skin -- due to shaving, waxing, | | | | face. |
| medications or heat, cold, wind, and pollution. Also, | | | | As for the rest of your body, check ingredients |
| laser or chemical peels or scar removal | | | | and avoid harsh chemicals in soaps, shampoos, |
| * Allergic skin – the sudden appearance | | | | body cleansers and creams, bath oils, bubble |
| of redness or swelling and itchiness | | | | baths, etc. |
| * Atopic skin – dry skin that is itchy | | | | Put your best face forward Watch your alcohol |
| and produces eczema. Eczema is related to | | | | intake, spicy foods and caffeine |
| hayfever and asthma. (see Eczema Guide for | | | | Try to avoid excessive temperature changes |
| more information) | | | | Use the right cleansers, moisturizers and |
| * Rosacea skin - blood vessels of the face | | | | cosmetics |
| enlarge resulting in a flushed sensation or a | | | | Manage stress as best you can. |
| redness of the skin | | | | |