What causes dry sensitive skin?
You know you have sensitive skin when your skin has a higher tendency than average to react to products. Sounds familiar? This happens when the skin barrier is weaker, making irritants penetrate your skin easily. You can have sensitive skin whether you have oily, normal, dry, or combination skin – no skin type is immune (sorry guys). Learn more about the skin barrier here.
In fact, we all experience a bit of sensitivity from time to time when trying out new products – that’s expected. It’s just that sometimes hyperpigmentation, a STUBBORN skin care concern many women in Kenya encounter, also occurs after using new products in which case you should check out our recommended hyperpigmentation solutions in Kenya here. Tough times never last loves. Ongoing sensitivity to products is where you should draw the line though. This could indicate underlying skin conditions such as eczema.
The risk of sensitive skin is higher for people with dry skin (Misery et al., 2018). Whenever the skin barrier is damaged this translates to moisture escaping from the skin more easily which in turn leads to dryness. The skin barrier also tends to thin as we age making sensitivity a common occurrence for mature dry skin, if this is a concern of yours, do check out our Neulii cica-pepta repair serum, infused with Centella asiatica and peptides that protect your skin barrier and improve the health of your skin. Shop here.
PS: Need some help with your skincare routine? Take our skin quiz to view your customized product recommendations based on your skin concerns.
Here are 5 signs and symptoms of dry sensitive skin
- Tightness and discomfort.
- Stinging, itching, or a burning sensation.
- Rashes.
- Swelling.
- Scaling.
NB: Both dehydrated and dry skin show signs of dryness, but both have different underlying causes. To learn more about dehydrated skin click here.
5 factors that affect dry sensitive skin
Internal and external factors that could affect the skin’s moisture distribution channels are as follows:
- Hormones
A reduction in estrogen levels during menopause causes the skin to be dry. The menstrual cycle is also controlled by hormones that affect the appearance of the skin at different times of the cycle. Sebum production is at its lowest during the first 6 days of the cycle – which results in the skin having difficulties retaining its moisture content. The skin tends to get drier for all skin types so if you have dry sensitive skin you may notice even more dryness than usual at this time – BUMMER we know!
- Diet
What you eat can impact how your skin looks (so it’s only fair that you make the right choices). Avoid gluten, soy, wine, egg whites, and dairy if you have dry sensitive skin. Instead, pack up on sweet potatoes, avocados, coconut, salmon, dark leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, and tomatoes. A good lifestyle coupled with an Uncover skincare products, will make a difference to your skin. Shop all Uncover products here.
- Skincare choices
Guys, ensure the ingredients in the skincare products you’re using are mild and safe for the skin – ditch all the harsh stuff. Simple things like washing your skin with lukewarm or warm water rather than hot water also count. Check out our blog on 6 ingredients to avoid in skincare products here to know what you absolutely should NOT be putting on your skin whether or not you have sensitive skin.
- UV radiation
What we do when we’re exposed to the sun during peak hours or at all has an impact on dry sensitive skin. Remember to wear protective clothing and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ or higher to protect your skin. Sensitive skin has a weaker structure and is less resilient to external aggressors such as the sun resulting in short-term and long-term damage, particularly in children, people with mature skin, and those with acne-prone skin.
- Medication
Sometimes we can suffer side effects after using certain medicine. This can show up on the skin in numerous forms, one of them being acne for instance. As if that’s not enough, the medication used to treat acne, and many commonly used topical and oral medications increase the sensitivity of the skin to the sun and other irritants. If you have dry sensitive skin ensure to limit your exposure to the sun and other known irritants. Photosensitivity is associated with painkillers such as ibuprofen, antibiotics, antifungals, and retinoids. See why sunscreen is a necessary savior?
5 tips for caring for dry sensitive skin
- Use highly moisturising products and ingredients
Key ingredients to look out for include Centella asiatica, Derma clera, Ectoin, Squalane, and Desertica. Centella asiatica, derma clera, and ectoin work together to strengthen the skin barrier, soothe the skin and add moisture to it. Shop our soothing Neulii derma ecto-cica 12 serum here, for best results, use after Neulii derma ecto-cica 11 toner . Squalane protects the skin and increases its moisture content while desertica penetrates the skin and keeps it moisturized from deep within without causing greasy skin and clogging pores. Shop our Neulii natural squalane desertica moisture cream here. Ensure to moisturize the skin regularly.
2. Build a dry sensitive skincare routine
They key here is to keep your skin as moisturised as possible. A skincare routine consisting of a cleanser, hydrating serum (for added moisture), moisturiser and sunscreen will support your dry sensitive skin. Here is what we recommend, begin cleansing with our gentle Beausta cica recipe cleansing foam , follow with our Neulii Derma ecto-cica 12 serum , then the Neulii derma ecto-cica 23 emulsion and finish layering with SPF 30+. If you need help building a skincare routine check out our beginner’s guide here to ensure you’re using the right products depending on your skin goals or concerns.
- Consult an expert
Consulting an expert is always a good idea no matter how minimal or severe an issue is. We totally get that, which is why we created a redeemable consultation service. What this means is that for every 20-minute skin consultation, payment can be redeemed after the session for Uncover Skincare products – isn’t this IDEAL? Well, let us know in the comments! Book a one-on-one consultation with our in-house therapist, Joyce Waiharo, here for expert guidance on your skincare concerns.
- Avoid known irritants
Once you know what irritates your skin, do your best to avoid it as much as possible – whether that’s fragrances, certain foods, products, or ingredients, for instance.
Got any questions? Drop them in the comments below 🙂
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