Expert Tips on Caring for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you may have days where you feel like everything irritates it - from pollen, to the sun, pets, washing detergent and even emotions such as stress. And, while you can’t completely avoid all of these external factors, you can help ease the symptoms with a sensitive skin care routine. Read on to find out more about skin care for sensitive skin, along with products to add to your routine that can help, like antiperspirant deodorant for sensitive skin.

What is sensitive skin?

Having sensitive skin means your skin is reactive to things that don’t typically cause irritation. This can include triggers like skincare and makeup, soap and shower products and laundry products. Sensitivity can also be triggered in other ways, for example, hormone changes, health conditions, stress and even weather conditions can all affect your skin. You might notice your skin feels itchy, irritated or develops a rash during or after using certain skincare products. These symptoms usually disappear when the irritant is removed, and your skin has had a chance to return to normal.

Symptoms of sensitive skin

Sensitive skin can affect most areas of the body, including the scalp, lips, hands, body and face, and is usually best identified by the feeling it creates, such as itching, soreness, burning, stinging and tightness. It can also cause redness in the skin and sometimes roughness, swelling or a rash. In most cases, you’ll feel your skin becoming sensitive before you see it. Some of the most common symptoms of sensitive skin include:

• Burning or itching
• Stinging or tingling 
• A rash or raised skin
• Hives or blisters 
• Dry or peeling skin
• Redness 

The causes of sensitive skin

Our skin protects itself from aggressors in the environment (such as pollution and bacteria) with a natural protective barrier. This barrier also helps your skin stay hydrated and prevents too much water from leaving your body. When your skin starts to feel sensitive, however, it’s a sign that the barrier has been weakened – either by factors happening inside the body, like stress and fatigue, or externally, such as a change in temperature or humidity.

Skin care for sensitive skin

While you can’t control everything in your environment that irritates your skin, you can control the skin care products you use to keep it clean and moisturised. Try to avoid anything too harsh or drying, such as soap and overly perfumed products, as these can strip the skin of the natural oils and lipids that help to keep your protective skin barrier hydrated. Instead, adopt a sensitive skin care routine that will keep it feeling nourished and hydrated. 

In the shower

Cleanse your body in the bath or shower with a gentle product such as Sanex Expert Skin Health Sensitive Shower Gel. Formulated with Lactoserum, it will leave your skin feeling comfortable and soft. And, for very sensitive skin, you can also use Sanex Expert Skin Health Sensitive Shower Gel. It contains no artificial colour or soap and is completely fragrance-free with no fragrance allergens. Use this when your skin is feeling hypersensitive.

In the bath

If you love nothing more than a long soak in the bath but find the sulphates in bubble bath too irritating, try a gentler alternative like Sanex Expert Skin Health Sensitive Shower Gel. The formula contains Lactoserum, an ingredient rich in milk proteins, that helps to leave the skin soft and comfortable. It can also help your skin restore its own natural pH levels.

Under the arms

The underarms are one area of your body that can become very sensitive, especially when the weather is very humid or very cold. If you find that deodorants can make the skin under your arms red and sensitive, swap to something more gentle, such as Sanex antiperspirant deodorant for sensitive skin, our Derma Care Sensitive Roll-on or spray. It provides effective protection against odour for up to 48 hours but contains no Aluminium Chlorohydrate (ACH) or Ethyl Alcohol.

Body

Sensitive skin needs hydration to help repair the protective barrier and replace lost lipids. So, once you come out of the bath or shower, apply an unfragranced moisturiser to your whole body. Fragrance-free body lotion and moisturiser are a better choice for sensitive skin, as added fragrance can be both drying and irritating. Immediately after showering, apply body lotion to damp skin to help lock in as much moisture as possible.  

Hands

Sensitive skin on your hands is very common, so it’s important to keep them hydrated and protected throughout the day. Make sure you wear protective gloves for chores such as washing up and cleaning, and apply a hand cream after every wash

FAQs

Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about sensitive skin care and antiperspirant deodorant for sensitive skin. 

Are antiperspirant deodorants suitable for sensitive skin?

The best antiperspirant for sensitive skin is formulated with 0% alcohol and respects your skin’s natural barrier, while helping to protect it against irritation. Sanex Derma Care Sensitive Spray and Roll-on provide 48-hour sweat and odour protection with a hypoallergenic formula that’s gentle on sensitive skin. 

How to tell if you have sensitive skin?

If you have sensitive skin, you may notice it reacts to certain products or environmental changes, like skin care products, body lotions or shower gel, temperature changes, certain fabrics or even pets. You may notice redness, itching, burning or develop a rash. If this sounds like you, using skin care products for sensitive skin may help to avoid irritation. 

What should a sensitive skin care routine look like? 

A good sensitive skin care routine should consist of short, warm showers and using gentle products that add hydration to your skin. You should avoid any products that contain harsh ingredients like fragrance, alcohol, soap or sulphates and look for skin care products for sensitive skin.