Sensitive Skin V Sensitized Skin
Why do redness and sensitivity occur in the skin ?There are two types ( and reasons) - Sensitive and Sensitized skin -SensitiveOften occurs in fair-haired people which traditionally have a finer, thinner almost transparent skin. This skin is predisposed to be more sensitive due to absorption of anything topically applied, enters the layers of the skin very quickly due to the thinness.Sensitized skinTreating skin too harshly and our polluted environmentWhat we do to the skin -Gentle exfoliation is great for the skin, but needs to be performed with a little caution as abrasive aggressive scrubbing will create micro scratches ( that the eye doesn’t see ) that damages the protective layer of the skin, thus allowing allergens to enter.This skin becomes inflamed and produces uneven skin tone and redness.Are you over exfoliating?As a guide, you should be exfoliating as follows -Sensitive skin - Once a week and if you feel your scrub is very aggressive mix with your cleanser to create a ‘buffer’.Normal skin - Once every 5-6 days.Very dry skin - Once every 3-4 daysCleansing your skin and removing your cleanser with a clean ( daily ) face cloth is a very gentle form of exfoliation - resist the temptation to rub hard!Removal of oil - Over cleansingTrying to get the skin squeaky clean, in a mission to remove excess oil, the lipid barrier often gets damaged and the skin’s natural balance disrupted.Alcohol is often used to achieve this sensation, causing over drying and further leading to more sensitivity in the skin.Overexposure to excess sunSun worshippers or people who work outdoors are prone to overexposure.This type of redness occurs when exposure has been over a long period of time ( years), first the sunburn and then follows the permanent damage of broken capillaries. This occurs when the fine blood vessels burst, these are like little threads on the skin's surface, eventually creating permanent patches of redness.Environmental aggressorsPollutants found in diesel exhaust, heavy metals emissions and cigarette smoke are all things in our everyday environment - that over time weaken skin’s natural defence impairing that important barrier.AllergensThe use of coloured dyes and artificial fragrance containing harsh solvents (this is very different to the use of pure essential oils which themselves have important valuable qualities) are superfluous to what the skin needs and just act as irritation within the skin.Prevention is better than cureThese are some of the ingredients we use here at Ferlows to help combat this condition and prevent it from ever happening.Extracts of Lavender, Calendula and Chamomile all help to reduce inflammation, reducing redness and calming the skin this encourages a natural even skin tone.We have lots of products that contain Rosehip seed oil, a naturally occurring regenerating and rejuvenating oil.We also use lots of Neem extract and oil, which has amazing healing and anti-inflammatory properties.Aloe provides natural hydration, aids in cell repair and vital healing. We use Witch hazel for the replacement of alcohol as a natural astringent which also contributes to healing and repair of the skin.
