DO I HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?
SYMPTOMS, CAUSES & PREVENTION

If you landed in this section, you are probably wondering if you are among the 1 in 2 people that have sensitive skin at some time in their lives. Sensitive skin can be tricky to determine, primarily because it is defined by what people feel rather than what the physician sees in the clinic. From the person’s perspective, sensitive skin can be a distressing daily reality. Skin feels tight, prickles or tingles, sometimes constantly. While from the skin expert's perspective, sensitive skin can look a little red or dry, but its appearance is essentially normal.

YOUR QUESTIONS
OUR ANSWERS

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What causes sensitive skin?

Sensitive skin has two main causes. First, its surface barrier is weakened, allowing external irritants to penetrate more deeply. Second, the nerve endings in the skin are hypersensitive, firing off pain signals in response to harmless stimuli. To soothe sensitive skin, make sure you cleanse gently with a micellar water, followed by a thermal water mist and an moisturizer.

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What is sensitive skin?

If you experience unpleasant sensations - pulling, prickling, burning or stinging - in response to factors such as temperature changes, wind, UV, hard water or harsh products, in the absence of a visible rash, you probably have sensitive skin. If you have redness or rashes, you are more likely to have reactive or allergic skin. Consider seeing a dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis.

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Why is my skin sensitive to touch?

If your skin experiences discomfort when you simply touch it, you may have very sensitive skin. In sensitive skin, the nerve endings are hypersensitive, firing off pain signals in response to harmless stimuli. However, if your skin is sensitive due to being red and inflamed, you should see a doctor to make sure there is no infection or other medical issue to explain it.

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What is the best moisturizer for sensitive skin?

If you have sensitive skin, you need a moisturizer formulated for this skin type free of ingredients such as fragrance, colorant, lanolin and alcohol, and with soothing ingredients such as Neurosensine and La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water. Finally, it should also contain prebiotic ingredients to rebalance your skin’s microbiome, aka. its friendly bacteria.

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TRUE
OR FALSE

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SPICY FOOD CAN
TRIGGER SKIN SENSITIVTY. .

TRUE An illustration of a correct answer to a question.

If the walls of your blood vessels have become fragile, certain external factors like eating spices, hot baths, or too much central heating can trigger flushing and skin sensitivity
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NATURAL HOME REMEDIES MAKE
GOOD TREATMENTS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN.

FALSE An illustration of an incorrect answer to a question.

Though tasty, the contents of your fridge or kitchen cupboards are actually more likely to harm yoursensitive skin. “Natural” or DIY home remedies such as honey, oatmeal, avocadoand chocolate masks are best avoided as they could contain potential allergens and irritants. Instead, look out for expert skincare and solutions.
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SENSITIVE SKIN NECESSARILY
LOOKS DIFFERENT.

FALSE An illustration of an incorrect answer to a question.

One of the frustrating things about sensitive skin is that however annoying your symptoms may be, doctors will often say the skin is “normal” since it shows no visible signs. But clued-in dermatologists will recognise the features of sensitive skin and recommend specific treatments for sensitized or hypersensitive skin.
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IDENTIFYING
SENSITIVE SKIN

So, how is sensitive skin identified? It is essentially a “diagnosis of exclusion” meaning the skin expert determines sensitive skin after ruling out other skin conditions, based on the individual's complaints of unpleasant signs in everyday situations. It is also possible to test for sensitive skin by applying a dilute acid solution to skin and seeing whether this reproduces the same symptoms.

HOW TO PREVENT 
SENSITIVE SKIN

The causes of sensitive skin are an impaired surface barrier function in the skin. Sensitive skin may also have an unbalanced “microbiome” - the population of friendly and less friendly bacteria that live on its surface.

"To prevent sensitive skin manifestations, your approach should be three-fold:  - restore skin’s protective barrier - intensely soothe skin, and  - rebalance the microbiome (don’t worry, we’ll tell you how)."

In this subsection, you’ll find in-depth information on the internal and external causes of sensitive skin, ranging from too-hot showers to the wrong cosmetics choices to spicy food and stress.

We also offer lifestyle tips on how to minimise sensitive reactions plus suitable skincare routines to reduce skin’s sensitivity day by day.

You’ll also learn how sensitive skin can truly impact wellbeing (and how to take action), and how sensitive skin varies at different times of life, by season and even the time of day.

OUR SAFETY
COMMITMENTS

Safety standards beyond international cosmetics regulations.

La Roche-Posay's product allergy-tested safety commitment

100% PRODUCTS
ALLERGY TESTED

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One Prerequisite = Zero Allergic reactions
If we detect a single case, we go back to the labs and reformulate
Safety Commitment Formula Protection Product

FORMULA PROTECTION
OVER TIME

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We select the most protective packaging associated with only the necessary preservatives, to provide intact tolerance and efficacy over time.
Safety Commitment Essential Active Dose Product

JUST THE ESSENTIAL,
AT THE RIGHT ACTIVE DOSE

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Developed in collaboration with dermatologist and toxicologist, our products contain only the necessary ingredients, at the right active dose.
laroche posay safety commitment sensitive skin model baby

TESTED
ON VERY SENSITIVE
 SKIN

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Our products' tolerance is verified on the most sensitive skin: reactive, allergic, or acne-prone.

DEAR
READERS

The information displayed here is intended for general educational purposes only and should not in any case be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any medical question.