One of the hardest types of skin to care for is sensitive skin. It only takes one wrong move or one wrong product for your skin to become irritated, red or acne filled. This is because sensitive skin can be very reactive to some products. Harsh ingredients, certain chemicals and even just plain old dirt can make your skin flare up. Below are thirteen tips that can help you take care of your sensitive skin.
1. Keep your face clean. Wash your face at least twice a day. “Deodorant” soap or highly fragranced soap contains strong detergents shouldn’t be used on your face. Soap-free cleansers such as sensitive-skin bars as well as most liquid facial cleansers are less likely to irritate your skin than are regular soaps.
2. Look for “skin-friendly” products that contain only a few ingredients and little or no fragrance. Avoid products containing antibacterial or deodorant ingredients, alcohol and retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids.
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3. Get a good night’s sleep. Having enough sleep can actually help the skin regenerate. At night, your skin can also breath without being blocked by make up.
4. Eat a balanced diet. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help your skin stay soft and supple.
5. Moisturize. The skin on your face needs to be kept moisturized constantly. Moisturizing your skin will help prevent wrinkles and lines and will help your skin resist drying and abrasion.
6. Cleansing routine. Follow a cleansing routine every day. Always remove your make-up before going to sleep.
7. Sunscreen. The sun can cause a lot of damage to your skin–the sun is the number one culprit when it comes to wrinkles and dark spots. Put sunscreen of SPH 15 or higher on every day, even on cloudy days.
8. Use a gentle cleanser to remove oil. Wash your face each night to remove surface oil and makeup. Look for a gentle cleanser that will not disrupt your natural pH.
9. Use a new washcloth each day. Clean your face with a soft, gentle washcloth. Start with a clean washcloth every time in order to avoid adding unwanted bacteria to your skin.
10. Do not exfoliate. Avoid harsh scrubs. Scrubbing the skin so hard will disrupt acne and spread bacteria, resulting in more acne forming, increased inflammation and redness.
11. Avoid pore-clogging ingredients. Skin care products that contain isopropyl palmitate, laureth-4, octyl stearate and sodium lauryl sulfate can clog pores as well as cause acne. Avoid products containing these chemicals that can clog pores and irritate sensitive skin.
12. Treat flaky skin. If you’re experiencing scaliness, the most likely cause is an irritant in one of your products or an allergic reaction to an ingredient. Treat the inflammation with a 2.5% hydrocortisone cream and refrain from using scrubs, retinoids, and alpha hydroxyl acids. Also, use a moisturizer that contains niacin.
13. Avoid constricting fabrics. It’s not only your face that may be sensitive but all of your skin as well. Try to your keep clothes loose. Choose breathable fabrics.
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