Sensitive skin is a great cause of pain, frustration, and even ambiguity. Some of the symptoms developed by patients with this skin type upon the use of some cosmetic or personal care products include redness, dryness, burning, and itching. With that in consideration, some of the common substances that are popular, as well as used in skin care formulas, are not only familiar, but care should also be taken to prevent the possibility of irritation.
Fragrances
Fragrances are one of the most common ones which are bound to aggravate the skin. Anything and everything can contain it, following the chemical cleansers, lotions, cosmetics, as well as the skin and some synthetic fragrances, some natural ones too can disrupt the smooth complexion of the skin. These are some ingredients which are usually added to any product to enhance it, but to delicate skin, they are not cheaply acquired. Everyone cannot be allergic to fragrances instantly, but they are observed due to repetitive exposure to it. This is a delayed response that will enhance the pinpointing of the fragrance as the cause. Fragrances cause redness, itchiness and inflammation, an aspect that causes irritability to the skin in the long-term.
Alcohol-Based Compounds
Skincare alcohol can serve to give a lightness in the product, or to make a product more easily absorbed, but in sensitive skin, alcohol can play a major role in that irritation. Ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, SD alcohol and dry and denatured alcohol can also lead to loss of natural oils in the skin, making it too dry and an ineffective barrier. Whereas alcohol-based ingredients are capable of desirably short-term mattifying effects, especially in the products which are purposefully designed to target the oily or problematic skin type, these elements can end up benefiting a long-term pernicious effect on sensitive skin types. A proper use of those ingredients will result in flakiness, increased redness, and irritation due to the excessive use of similar ingredients.
Sulfates
Sulphates are a type of cleansing agent found in face washes, shampoos and body soaps, that result in lather and are used to clean dirt and excess oil. The most common surfactants in such products are sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES). Although they are very effective cleansers, they are very hard on the skin and can be very dry and irritable, especially when one has sensitive skin. After using the sulphates, skin loses its natural oils to create a protective barrier and instead is left exposed to the irritants present in the environment.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are widely marketed as beneficial and pure, yet they can present an issue when used on delicate skin. Some of the ingredients contain some therapeutic properties too, and they are highly concentrated and volatile; these oil products include tea tree oil, peppermint oil and lavender oil. They are harsh in terms of chemical makeup and thus can cause skin irritation, flushes or even allergies, especially when used in a concentrated form or when it is not diluted adequately. Even people who were not sensitive before can also have problems with repeated use. These oils can infiltrate deep into the skin and can cause a burning feeling and eventually discomfort.
Synthetic Dyes
Cosmetic products and skin care products usually have artificial colorants to make them attractive. The face is what becomes particularly unreliable in the consumption of these additives since the skin around the eye and the mouth is more sensitive and very thin as opposed to the skin on the other body parts. Patients can easily get acne treatment for teens that can offer comparable benefits with fewer side effects. Dye-free, clear skincare is more of a local delicacy for people who prefer not to overload their skin as far as unnecessary irritants are concerned and want to be more effective and gentler, so gentle care is as effective as possible.
Conclusion
Skin is sensitive and needs proper care, and the process of selecting the right products involves preventing uncomfortable reactions and discomfort. Although skincare trend tends to favor how effective the ingredients will be, owing to their functionality, not all ingredients can fit one skin type. Some of the ingredients that can exacerbate such sensitivity are perfumes, alcoholic materials, sulphates, essential oils, artificial dyes, parabens, formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, high-concentration exfoliating acids, and retinoids, among others. All of them can interfere with natural skin protection, bring inflammation, and harm the skin forever unless thoughtfully picked.
