Have you ever experienced a skin reaction after using a certain skin care product? This may be in the form of feeling itching or burning when using the product, often without any visible reactions. If this is the case, you may have sensitive skin – a very common skin condition. 

Sensitive Skin Explained

Skin that has a hyperreactivity to certain factors, including soaps and cosmetics[1], may be characterized as ‘sensitive’. This may not be visible to external parties, as it does not always involve redness, or irritated looking skin. It is more likely to be skin feeling itchy, tight or having sensations of burning or stinging.¹ It has been reported that up to 40% of the population may have ‘sensitive’ skin, with half of those people having no visible signs of skin inflammation.¹

Avoiding irritation with your sensitive skin

There are some good ways to avoid irritating your sensitive skin. The most effective method is to try to find which ingredients may be causing the sensitivity, and avoiding these.

It may be tricky to find out what your skin reacts to as there is no list of ingredients which could be responsible for the itching, burning or discomfort. It may be useful to use the process of elimination to try to determine which ingredients may be responsible. If you are looking for a great starting point, consider the following common irritants:

1.       Soap

2.       Lanolin

3.       Fragrance

4.       Propylene Glycol

5.       Colour

It might be wise to use products which are specially formulated for sensitive skin, such as the QV Face and Body ranges which are pH balanced and formulated to be gentle and non-irritating on skin.

If you are concerned about your skin sensitivities, or feel that they are particularly severe you may be interested in seeking advice from your health care practitioner who will be able to offer skin patch testing.

References:

1. Berardesca E, Fluhr JW, Maibach HI (eds). Sensitive skin syndrome. New York: Taylor & Francis Group; 2006. p1-6.