5 Signs That Show You Have Skin Sensitivity And What You Can Do About It
Heal your skin barrier and start to get that beautiful glow back!
Published for CETAPHIL, 24 Aug 2022, 04:33 PM
Did you know that whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin, you can still suffer from skin sensitivity? Yikes! >.<
Fret not, it's more common than you think! Based on The Cetaphil Skin Health Survey 2021, more than 50% of people in Malaysia struggle with at least one sign of skin sensitivity.
If your skin gets easily triggered and is prone to breakouts even when it's not that time of the month, then you are probably dealing with skin sensitivity.
Although this can be caused by multiple factors that are out of your control, such as genetics or environmental conditions, choosing the right skincare products can also play a huge part helping you attain healthy-looking skin.
But before that, you'll need to identify the different types of skin sensitivity that you might suffer from, so that you know which skincare products are suitable for you.
1. Your skin looks dry and dull
Just because Malaysia is humid, it doesn't mean you can't suffer from dry skin like those who live in countries with drier climates. Due to insufficient natural oils, your skin can look like it lacks colour, feel rough and scaly, or in severe cases, even crack or bleed!
As you get older, you'll notice your skin slowly losing its ability to produce natural oils. Apart from ageing, using harsh cleansers can also make our skin lose its natural moisture. This can destroy our skin barrier, which is the top layer of our skin, and may cause harmful external aggressors to penetrate into the skin.
What you can do: Whenever your skin is dry, apply a hypoallergenic, thick moisturiser that contains ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, urea, or shea butter.
2. Your skin gets red and irritated after using certain products
Have you experienced itching, a burning or stinging sensation, or redness when you use certain products? Sometimes, even a pea-sized amount of products can cause flare ups, and it can take quite a while for your skin to go back to its natural state.
Although it's hard to tell what exactly causes inflammation, it's best to stay away from products with alcohol, fragrances, or bad acids. Exposure to these substances can harm the skin barrier, which then allows these substances to go deeper into our skin and cause inflammation.
What you can do: Keep your skincare routine at a minimum by using a gentle cleanser and moisturiser, followed by sunscreen during the day. Remember, less is more!
3. Your skin barrier is weak
The skin barrier is the outermost layer of our skin. It consists of tough skin cells held together by mortar-like lipids (cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids), which are responsible for keeping away harmful toxins, pollutants, bacteria, and UV rays.
When the skin barrier is weak, your skin loses the ability to hold on to the good substances like hydration, which then causes water loss and makes the skin more vulnerable to external aggressors. This can happen if you over-cleanse or over-exfoliate your skin, pick on the skin's surface, or forget to wear sunscreen!
What you can do: Pick out a good broad-spectrum sunscreen, preferably SPF 30 and above. Don't forget to apply it using the two-finger method, where you squeeze out your sunscreen on your pointer and middle fingers before applying it all over your face and neck area.
4. Your skin feels rough and looks uneven in certain areas
Having glowy, bouncy, and supple skin is everybody's goal because it helps us feel confident. But, if you notice your skin peeling, cracking, or has uneven texture on certain parts, this could mean that you have rough skin.
Skin roughness can be caused by excessive dryness, irritation, or even sun damage. Although dry skin leads to having rough skin, they are both different. Roughness can be caused by too much build-up of dead skin cells, whereas dryness is mainly caused by not having enough natural oils in the skin.
What you can do: Instead of using physical exfoliants that has beads or small, solid particles in them, opt for a chemical exfoliant that won't scratch the surface of the skin, like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or lactic acid.
5. Your skin feels tight after cleansing
Cleansing is one of the most crucial steps of any skincare routine, as it removes all the accumulated gunk, oil, dead skin cells, makeup, or sunscreen off the surface of the skin. However, if you feel like your skin is not stretchy or you can't move your face with ease, it means you're facing skin tightness.
There can be two reasons to why your skin feels this way — dryness or dehydration. When your skin has inadequate amount of oils on the surface, you will start having dry skin. But if water evaporates out of your skin, it means your skin is dehydrated. The most important way to tackle both these problems is by avoiding harsh soaps that contain high pH levels and surfactant concentration, which strips away the skin's natural oils.
What you can do: Look for a gentle cleanser that is hypoallergenic, soap-free, fragrance-free, and has a pH balanced formula. And, don't over-cleanse your face, two times a day is good enough!
With their all-new look and formula, Cetaphil is here to help your skin barrier heal so you can get back that healthy glow!
Not only do Cetaphil's new formulas contain gentle and science-backed blend of ingredients like niacinamide, panthenol, and glycerin, their products are also safe to be used for all those peeps with skin sensitivity. Yay! :D
For 75 years, Cetaphil has been a trusted brand that is committed to advancing sensitive skincare solutions. Apart from being the no.1 dermatological skincare brand in Malaysia*, their skincare products also help to strengthen the skin barrier and defend against the five signs of skin sensitivity, which are dryness, irritation, roughness, tightness, and weak skin barrier.
Plus, their formulas are biodegradable and free of parabens, sulfates, and animal origins ingredients. Amazinggg! :)
*IQVIA Malaysia, Emollients & Protectives Market, MAT Sep 2021 (Value)
The Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is suitable for all skin types, as it doesn't strip the skin's natural oils. Plus, it contains glycerin, vitamin B3, and pro-vitamin B5, while being fragrance-free, soap-free, and hypoallergenic!
Another great essential to add to your skincare routine would be the Cetaphil Moisturising Cream. On top of being hypoallergenic and having a non-greasy formula, the moisturiser is perfect for those with dry and sensitive skin, as it can hydrate the skin for up to 48 hours* and restore the skin's moisture barrier in one week**.
*Galderma data on file GLI.04.SRE.US10402
**Galderma data on file GLI.04.SRE.US10403
If you want to get your hands on Cetaphil's latest products to tackle your skin issues, head over to their website today!
Want to take a closer look at your skin's health? With Cetaphil's advanced skin analyser, you'll get personalised skincare recommendations based on your skin's concerns. Scan the QR code in the image below to start analysing your skin and get free samples of the recommended products.
