Skin Care and Beauty
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Sensitive Skin: Symptoms and Causes
Sensitive skin is characterized by hyper-reactivity to external stimuli. This reactivity can manifest itself as one or several of the following: skin tightening, recurrent irritation, redness, blotchiness, itchiness, rash, flaking. Some dermatologists believe sensitive skin is a condition, others consider it a skin type of its own. One can argue sensitive skin can be both. In case it develops as a reaction to some temporary cause such as using wrong skin care products or prescription medication – it is a condition; in case it is genetically determined and is due to hereditary lowered skin barrier – it is a skin type. What all the experts agree on is that sensitive skin should be treated and taken care in a special way.
Causes of sensitive skin include:
1. Incorrect use of skin care products
2. Use of certain medications
3. Hereditary
4. Hormonal and immune dysfunctions
5. Chronic stress
6. Allergies
7. Environment (pollution, hot/cold weather etc.)
8. Life style involving smoking, alcohol, unbalanced diet
In most cases, causes mentioned above result in a lowered skin barrier function. Epidermis, and stratum corneum in particular, are responsible for normally functioning protective skin barrier. Special lipids of the stratum corneum, as well as sebum act to prevent the evaporation of water as well as penetration of bacteria, allergens and irritants. Dysfunctional skin barrier makes it possible for irritants to penetrate into deeper skin layers and cause inflammation and irritation.
If sensitive skin is not treated properly and the condition deteriorates, this can lead to more serious skin disorders. Several skin diseases can be linked to sensitive skin. For example: urticaria, eczema, and rosacea. These conditions tend to be present in individuals with overly sensitive skin.
Note, there are many of us who believe they have sensitive skin while in the reality we don’t. If your skin gets irritated, it may just be reacting to a new product or have become allergic to a product you have been using for a while. Irritation can also be a reaction to a change in the season or your stress level.
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