The occurrence of sensitive, reactive skin is alarmingly common. It is very often difficult and frustrating to identify the underlying cause, let alone resolve it!
In this article, I touch briefly on a few aspects of this nuanced topic.
My skin is currently irritated!
What now? Before I dive in, I want to make a very important point about skin irritation that is often overlooked.
Skin that is currently irritated will, in most circumstances, react to ANYTHING you put on it (except cold compresses with plain water)! When our skin is unhappy, we often reach for relief by applying things we hope will soothe, but it only makes things worse!
WHY?! Skin that is already irritated will, in most case, become even MORE IRRITATED, and things can quickly go from bad to WORSE!
General Lifestyle Habits to support cranky skin and help resolve irritation:
Use a Humidifier: Add moisture to the air to prevent skin from drying out.
Avoid Irritants: Steer clear of harsh soaps, alcohol-based toners, physical exfoliants, any and all perfume or synthetic fragrance (the number one skin irritant and source of indoor allergies!)
Watch Fabrics: Wear loose-fitting, soft materials like cotton and avoid itchy fabrics.
Reduce Systemic Inflammation: Manage stress, improve sleep quality, consume an anti-inflammatory diet high in antioxidants.
Turn down the heat: Hot water is a major skin irritant for a few reasons. Turn down the heat as low as you can stand.
Reduce how often you bathe: if possible, limit contact with water to once or twice a week. If you must shower more than that, just do a quick rinse and use soap just to clean the “stinky parts”.
Stop using soap anywhere but the stinky parts! Just use a soft, clean wet washcloth to gently “wash” everywhere else. Dive Deeper here in my article about the HISTORY OF SOAP AND BATHING for additional insights into this recommendation! You might be surprised by the implications!
Make a habit of soaking: soaking in warm, mineral-rich water with the addition of colloidal oatmeal can help soothe and restore irritated skin.
SENSITIVE SKIN AND ALLERGIES:
I formulate my skincare for those without major skin issues or medical conditions that affect skin function, or those who suffer from acute or chronic sensitive, reactive skin or allergies.
If you have sensitive, reactive skin, please check for irritation whenever you introduce a new product. Remember to change products very slowly and only ONE AT A TIME.
Next, we often combine products from different makers. This can be a hidden source of skin problems. Many ingredients that we desire in our skincare might not “play nice” with ingredients in a different product.
Furthermore, the common practice of multiple-step skin care routines can cause skin issues.
A note on allergies:
There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic product; it is, sadly, a marketing gimmick!
People with skin sensitivities should always, always perform patch tests to determine if a product causes a reaction (see below).
What does irritation feel like:
There’s always a chance that something applied to our skin can cause irritation.
The sensation of your skin crawling, or it gets red, or it feels tingly, or WORSE, your skin starts to sting - this is irritation. Irritation can be acute or chronic:
Immediately remove the product with cool or lukewarm water. Follow up immediately with a cold compress to calm the skin
Cold compresses are THE FASTEST and MOST effective way to relieve irritation.
Do not skip this step.
If the irritation progresses to an itch, a rash, or hives, it is wise to consider a brief course of antihistamines, as this is a histamine reaction. Antihistamines will often relieve the symptoms. If a short course of antihistamines does not solve the problem, then topical or oral steroids might be required to get the inflammation under control.
Pain killers: take Tylenol or ibuprofen to reduce pain or inflammation.
How to Perform a Patch Test:
Using the inside of the forearm, apply a small amount of product to the pad of a Band-Aid and keep the Band-Aid on the skin for 48 hours!
After 48 hours, remove the bandage and check for irritation.
If the skin under or around the bandage becomes red, swollen, itchy, or develops blisters, that is a reaction, and you should discard that product.
Essential Oils in Skincare and Cleaning Products: Essential oils are safe when used externally in low concentrations, ranging from 1% (very safe for leave-on products, all things held equal) to 4% for rinse-off products. To err on the side of caution, in formulations that I include essential oils, I keep my concentrations between 1 and 2.5%.
A small proportion of people may experience skin irritation, allergic reactions, or cross-sensitivity to essential oils. Cross-sensitivity is the potential for an allergic reaction to similar substances (for example, if you are allergic to ragweed, you might also be allergic to chamomile essential oils).
Irritation caused by essential oils is characterized by rapid-onset redness and pain in the skin exposed to the essential oil. It can occur with the first exposure. The skin generally heals without long-term problems, but you probably would not want to use the essential oil that irritates you again.
Medications and Supplements:
Always check for cross-reactivity with skincare products when you are taking medication. This is very important and often overlooked. Many medications can make the skin more sensitive to common irritants AND the sun. Skin issues can also arise from supplementation of isolated vitamins.
Pregnant? Breastfeeding? Precautions: I you are planning to get pregnant, already pregnant, or breastfeeding your child, you are advised against contact with essential oil without the consent of your doctor. Please seek advice from your physician. There are many resources available online as well which list essential oils to avoid, which are considered safe, and in what concentrations.