What does sensitive skin look like?

What signs should you look for?

Visible signs include rough or scaly patches, raised patches, rashes, bumps, hives and sometimes blisters. Sensitivity is not always bright red: discoloration can look darker than the surrounding skin. You can have just one or a few signs, rather than the whole list. Symptoms are most common on the face, but they can affect other parts of the body.1

The pattern matters as much as the appearance. Sensitive skin reacts to things that would not normally cause discomfort, such as skincare products or environmental changes. Stinging, tingling, burning and itching can occur without visible inflammation. Sensitive skin is not simply dry skin on its way to becoming eczema or rosacea; dryness and sensitivity can overlap without being the same thing.23

What tends to set it off?

Makeup, soap and lotion can all be triggers, which gives the bathroom shelf a surprisingly long suspect list. Fragranced products, laundry detergent, cleaning products and certain fabrics are other common triggers. Note when symptoms start and what touched your skin beforehand. Include clothes and household products, not just face creams.1

Heat, cold, low humidity, sunlight and friction can also irritate skin. A product tolerated on your body can still irritate your face, particularly the eyelids. Irritation does not automatically mean an allergy: irritant contact dermatitis is inflammation caused by contact with an irritating substance or factor, without an allergic response. A dermatologist can use patch testing to identify a contact allergy when needed.2

Could it be eczema or rosacea?

An ongoing, intensely itchy, scaly rash can be atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema. Skin can develop raw areas from scratching, blisters that ooze or crust, and thickened patches. In older children and adults, eczema often affects the inside of the elbows and knees, as well as the neck, hands and feet. Those features deserve more than a sensitive skin label.4

Repeated facial flushing, redness that lasts longer, visible small blood vessels and bumps resembling acne are signs of rosacea. Washing or applying skincare can also cause burning or stinging. A dermatologist can distinguish rosacea from other causes of irritation. Irritated, bloodshot eyes or red, swollen eyelids associated with rosacea need immediate care.5

What should you do next?

1. 1Stop using products that trigger irritation, and keep a note of the reaction.
2. 2Wash gently with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water. Avoid long, hot showers and scrubbing.
3. 3Apply a fragrance free moisturizer regularly. For dry skin, smooth an emollient gently over the skin after washing and whenever it feels dry or tight.
4. 4Use sun protection and limit sun exposure. For itching, try a cool damp towel or pat the area instead of scratching.

An emollient soap substitute does not need foam to clean skin, despite the bathroom advertising department's commitment to bubbles. If an emollient wash keeps stinging after rinsing, ask a pharmacist for an alternative.7

When should you get it checked?

Skin usually settles once the irritant is removed and it has time to recover. If home care has not helped after about a week, or symptoms are very bothersome, see a healthcare professional. Seek assessment for severe itching, itching all over your body, recurring symptoms or itching during pregnancy. Fever or increasing redness and pain with an eczema rash need medical attention because they can signal infection.146