Almost everyone experiences skin irritation in their lifetime. Whether it is mild redness, itching, burning, or even flaking, skin irritation is never fun. And while you may find it is sometimes easier to attribute skin irritation to just “sensitive skin”, as skin health experts, we think it’s important to know if you are dealing with a skin type (sensitive) or skin condition (sensitized).
In our expert skin health clinic, we often treat clients with dry or irritated skin. What we often discover together is that their skin type is not sensitive. Their skin condition is sensitized. And it is up to us to find the root causes so we can treat and transform the skin to the best health. Common causes of skin irritation? Lifestyle changes, skincare goat milk products, and even pollution can contribute to sensitized skin. And while sensitized skin looks and feels different to everyone, knowing how to manage it is key. Understanding the difference between sensitive and sensitized skin is an essential first stage in knowing how to sustain healthy, beautiful skin. Keep scrolling to better understand skin care for sensitive skin and sensitized skin and the differences between each.
What is sensitive skin?
While most people generally think of sensitive skin as easily irritated skin, there’s a whole lot more to it. When learning to tell if you have sensitive skin, think about the symptoms you commonly experience. Are there any environmental factors that cause occasional redness, itching, or rashes? If so, you may have a skin type that is considered sensitive.
While sensitive skin as a skin type and sensitized skin as a skin condition may start to irritation, itching, and swelling, somebody with sensitive skin confronts these problems regularly throughout their life. People with sensitive skin have usually experienced these symptoms all their lives. This lack of pigment means sensitive skin has less of a protective barrier, making it more easily affected by environmental factors.
Because sensitive skin is genetic, it is not something that can simply be “fixed.” Fortunately, sensitive skin can be treated and taken care of. Developing a gentle skincare routine for your sensitive skin will help soothe your skin and provide it with the extra protection it needs. Investing in quality products for sensitive skin, like our Goat Milk Cleanser and Goat Milk Moisturizer, can help hydrate the skin barrier and keep it looking and feeling its best.
What is sensitized skin?
Just like sensitive skin, sensitized skin tends to have a blotchy appearance with visible dryness and irritation. This similarity in appearance is what makes it so difficult to tell the two apart. Sensitized skin might be resolved and treated while sensitive skin is something with which you are born.
Are you beginning to recognize if you have a sensitive skin type or sensitized skin caused by an irritant? To help you better understand your skin, let us look at two of the most common factors that contribute to sensitized skin and how you can combat them.
An overload of skin care products
Often, skin care regimens are the main cause of sensitized skin. Although you may think that an elaborate skincare routine or a routine full of harsh ingredients helps rid your skin of unwanted irritants, it could be the cause of the dryness and irritation. The truth is that our skin does an excellent job of protecting itself. By producing natural oils, our skin creates a barrier that keeps environmental irritants out. When we use harsh cleansers and products that strip the skin of natural oils, it can often lead to increased rashes, redness, inflammation, and irritation. If your skin is sensitized, we recommend simplifying your routine to just a few steps. Using a gentle cleanser is the perfect way to remove pore-clogging makeup and oil while helping to keep the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Next, you will need to cure the symptoms of your sensitized skin with a frothy serum. Just two drops twice a day after cleansing supply much-needed hydration and long-lasting relief. Finally, seal in the soothing effects of cleanser and serum with Recovery Cream. This breakthrough clinical recovery moisturizer for sensitive skin can help soothe your skin. And restore it to its naturally healthy, supple nature. Ingredients like Tasmania Lanceolata Fruit. And Ginger Root Extract do together in this cream to aid to support. A healthy skin barrier to safeguard sensitive skin from ecological irritants.
Allergies
Allergies are another major cause of sensitized skin. It is important to note that you may develop adverse skin reactions to any skincare ingredient at any time. Shampoos, lotions, preservatives, and even laundry detergents all cause allergic skin reactions. When developing your skincare routine, take note of the facial products you already have and how they affect your skin. While you may like cleaning products with a built-in fragrance, fragrances are one of the ingredients in a product that can cause a reaction. Fragrance-free products like goat milk soap are lightweight and specially formulated to restore moisture to sensitized skin. By supporting a healthy skin barrier. This hydrating serum can also help protect your skin from external irritants or allergens that can cause dry skin and inflammation.
So, is your skin sensitive or sensitized?
Now that you better understand the differences between sensitive and sensitized skin. It is time to figure out which skincare products are right for you! Is sensitive skin common in your family? Do you also suffer from unrelated skin allergies? If so, chances are you have sensitive skin, which requires a personalized skincare routine. Environmental irritants, or an allergic reaction to an ingredient. If so, it is essential to find which product/irritant is irritating your skin type and find a mild alternative. Remember that our skin changes over time and you may need to change. Your skincare routine seasonally to create a method that works for you! If you are not sure what type of skin you have. See a dermatologist to confirm, so you can find a treatment that is right for you.
