Sensitive skin is perhaps a nightmare to handle. Sensitive skin is extremely delicate and highly allergic to any foreign agents. It is characterized by its extreme thinness and increased vulnerability to damage by environmental factors like sun rays, changes in temperatures and harsh chemicals and cosmetics.

However, you curse your destiny for your sensitive skin, it is not going to help you deal with the situation. Rather, you need to accept the sheer sensitivity of your skin and adopt necessary measures to improve the overall health of your skin.

Sensitive Skin Care

Sensitive skin care is no easy business. Rather, you need to have an efficient skin care strategy to cater to the special requirements of your skin and nourish it appropriately. Caring for sensitive skin has two primary obligations -

Protecting the skin against potential allergens
Improving the skin immunity to fight against potential allergens

Here are some tips to take care of sensitive skin.

Use Only Sensitive Skin Care Products

Though it is always advisable to use skin care products that cater to your skin type, it becomes all the more important in the case of sensitive skin. This is because it is extremely susceptible to damage and needs to be handled very carefully. Sensitive skin care products generally contain mild ingredients that do not cause any irritations or inflammations.

Use Hypoallergenic Cosmetics

Hypoallergenic means that the cosmetics or skin care products are completely safe and have been thoroughly tested to ensure that they don't cause any allergic reactions on the skin. Women with sensitive skin should be especially careful to use hypoallergenic cosmetics and skin care products so they will not cause reactions on the skin.

Use Non-Comedogenic Skin Care Products

Another label that you should look for in skin care products is 'Non-Comedogenic'. It means that the skin care products will not block the pores of the skin. Sensitive skin can get extremely damaged if the skin pores get clogged with impurities and external particles. Thus, it is important to ensure that the skin care products that you use don't cause that.

Practice Efficient Skin Care Routine

If you practice an efficient skin care regimen diligently, you are less likely to suffer from the problems associated with sensitive skin. Therefore, make sure you take out time of your busy day for your skin and nourish it efficiently. Here are some basic steps that should be included in your skin care regimen.

Cleansing
Use a mild non-drying cleanser that removes all the toxins and impurities from the skin pores and leaves the skin absolutely clean. Regular cleansing makes sure your skin pores are clean and prevents any acne outbreaks and inflammations. You can use the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex by innovative skincare. It is great for resurfacing, deep cleaning and is anti-acneic. It is powerful but can be used on sensitive skin and does not leave the skin dry. It also contains antioxidants to fight free radicals.

Exfoliate
Exfoliation is a key process in all skin care regimens. However, women with sensitive skin should use a mild exfoliating product that doesn't contain any harsh particles that may damage the skin. Ideally, exfoliate your skin once or twice a week in order to scrape off the dead skin cells from the skin surface and reveal fresh new cells from underneath.

Moisturizing
Another important step for sensitive skin care if moisturization. Use a gentle moisturizer that gently hydrates your skin and leaves it smooth and supple. Make sure the moisturizer doesn't contain any harsh chemicals or ingredients that may be too strong for the skin. Try the Kinerase Lotion. It is an anti-aging and moisturizing lotion that contains Kinetin, a plant based agent that helps the skin retain moisture.

Sun Protection
Protecting your skin in the sunlight is yet another important step for sensitive skin. Therefore make sure you wear a broad spectrum sunscreen before venturing out in the sun. UV protected skin is very less likely to get damaged from external factors. Try the Obagi Nu Derm Sunfader SPF 15. It contains 4% hydroquinone and uses a SPF 15 sunscreen to even out skin pigmentation and protect your skin from ultraviolet damage. It also inhibits pigment production at the cellular level that causes dark patches and is paba-free.

Author's Bio: 

Dr. Marilynn Syrett is a skin care professional who graduated from Western University of Health Sciences. She has developed a keen interest in the study of skin care products and their effectiveness on various skin types like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin and combination skin.