Two sensitive skin types are often confused because they both manifest as adverse reactions to certain skin care ingredients: Stinging subtypes experience (you guessed it) stinging as a result of highly sensitive nerve endings.
Allergic subtypes, on the other hand, tend to experience redness, inflammation, and itching. Their reactions occur when allergens and other chemicals penetrate a weakened skin barrier and invade the deeper layers of skin.
Stinging
Have you ever applied a skin cream, then rushed to wash it off due to stinging? If so, you're a "stinger."
Stingers often react to the following ingredients:
- Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, phytic acid, citric acid)
- Avobenzone (a.k.a. Parsol)
- Azelaic acid
- Benzoic acid
- Lactic acid
- Sorbic acid
- Urea
- Vitamin C
Not everyone reacts to all of these, though. I'm a stinger and cannot tolerate benzoic acid, but the others don't cause a reaction. Learn which ingredients bother you and avoid them.
Allergic
Skin allergies are most common in dry sensitive types. Why? A compromised skin barrier is more permeable and less able to retain moisture than a healthy barrier.
Similarly, that compromised barrier is less able to block allergens. Take a look back at previous entries for tips on strengthening your skin barrier, which will help minimize allergic reactions.
The most common allergens in skin care products are preservatives, fragrance, and formaldehyde. Unfortunately, the list of preservatives and fragrances to watch out for is long. Believe it or not, even formaldehyde goes by many different names! What to do?
A dermatologist can efficiently diagnose whether you are an allergic subtype - and, more importantly, what you're allergic to. During what is called a patch test, as many as one hundred potential allergens are taped to a patient's back; when the tape is removed 24 to 48 hours later, red or swollen areas reveal corresponding allergies.
Finally, although our focus is skin care concerns, remember that allergic reactions aren't caused by skin care ingredients alone - don't overlook foods, laundry detergents, or dry-cleaning chemicals, for example, when considering the cause of skin reactions.
Wishing you great skin!
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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book, " The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com.
All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.
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