Sensitive skin is a common affliction, with around 50% of women and 40% of men suffering from it. However, dermatologists have specific criteria in defining sensitive skin; even the tendency to blush can be a sign of sensitive skin. People can develop sensitive skin from certain skin care or household products. There are additional causes and we will explore these in this article.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis?

Do you work in conditions that leave your hands exposed to chemical irritants? Do you wash your dishes by hand, without wearing dish washing gloves? Is your skin naturally dry and pale? Has your skin developed a painful rash? Does this rash have blisters and swelling? Is your skin cracking? Have you been trying out a new makeup that has resulted in facial redness?
If you have answered 'yes' to the majority of these questions, then you probably have Irritant Contact Dermatitis.
Treatment: The first thing you will need to do is discover what is causing the irritation. If you perform a job handling chemicals or fiberglass, then this is the most likely irritant. Other causes are makeup, dish washing detergent, rubber gloves, and cold dry air.
Once you have established what is causing the irritation, you will need to either restrict contact with it or completely remove all contact. To get rid of the existing rash, ointments and creams can be applied to the skin. These include topical creams, emollient creams, and antibiotic ointments.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis?

Has your skin become irritated quickly within a few hours? Have you worn latex gloves lately, or other latex material? Is the irritation localized to one specific region? Does the irritated skin appear red, swollen, blistered, dry, or bumpy?
If you have answered 'yes' to the majority of these questions, you most likely have allergic contact dermatitis.
Treatment: The first thing that you will need to do is determine the cause of the irritation. The most likely cause of this type of irritation is latex. To treat the rash you will need to apply specific creams or ointments. The most common types of creams include emollient creams and topical steroids. For more severe cases, oral steroids will be administered for a short duration.

Contact Urticaria?

Did the sensitive skin manifest within a few hours? Have you been exposed to one of the following: raw meat, fish, fragrances, metals, or rubber latex gloves? Do you have a burning, tingling, or itchy sensation on your skin? Is there red swelling on your hands? Are you experiencing watery eyes, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or wheezing?
If you have answered 'yes' to all these questions (not counting the last one, as this only occurs in very rare and severe cases) then you most likely have contact urticaria.
Treatment: The first thing that you will need to do is determine what caused the irritation. Once you have determined the external cause, you can avoid it in the future. To avoid severe reactions, medication may be prescribed.

Rosacea?

Are you between 30 and 60 years old? Do you have fair skin, blue eyes, and a Celtic background? Do you have a persistent rash on your face? Does the rash have dome shaped pustules? Is there swelling, scaling, or extreme redness or dryness? Does it look like you are constantly blushing? Are your eyes extremely sore and tender?
If you have answered 'yes' to the above questions, then you properly have rosacea.
Treatment: Oral antibiotics will be administered to reduce redness, pustules, and eye discomfort. The typical duration for oral antibiotics is between 6 to 12 weeks. For severe cases, metronidazole cream or gel will coincide with oral antibiotics. Only the cream and gel will be needed for mild cases. If oral antibiotics are proven effective, oral isotretinoin may be used instead. This will be administered in small doses for a long period of time.

Home Remedies for Sensitive Skin

Cleansing: Individuals with sensitive skin will need to use specific substances to wash their skin. Ideal cleansing substances will have a low pH level and without fragrance. There are special products made specifically for sensitive skin, so it is recommended that you purchase these.

Moisturizing: Purchase moisturizers that are not fragrance and are suitable for sensitive skin. Moisturizing is an important part of the skin routine as it protects your skin from external environmental factors and retains its moisture. The ideal moisturizer should contain petrolatum, linoleic acid, mineral oil, ceramides, dimethicone, or glycerin.

Cosmetics: Only purchase cosmetics that are made for sensitive skin.

Sun: If your skin is sensitive to touch, you should limit sun exposure. If you do go out in the sun make sure to wear sunscreen, a hat, and suitable clothes.

Home: Try to keep your house mild and not too hot. An overheated home can make your skin prone to dryness, flaking, and itching.

Bathing: When you take a bath or shower, make sure that the water is mild, not too hot or cold. After the bath or shower, gently pat your skin dry as opposed to rubbing it dry.

Diet: A healthy diet can greatly influence the condition of your skin. Try to supplement your diet with vitamin B. Some recommended foods include rice, oatmeal, eggs, fish, almonds, and dairy.