We have some news for you! There’s a chance your dry, flaky skin isn’t a sign you have sensitive skin but sensitized skin. It may be shocking to hear but bear with us because the truth will set you free (and give you that covetable glow at last!). Oftentimes, the terms sensitive skin and sensitized skin are used interchangeably and cause much confusion. These two words are vastly different, and today we’re going to break down what each really means so you can understand how to improve your skin once-and-for-all.
Okay, so what’s sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin, or in the words of our drama mamas, extremely sensitive skin, is a “skin type”. This means that throughout your life you perpetually deal with skin irritations; think, dry sensitive skin, environmentally reactive skin, and red sensitive skin. Your skin gets irritated and fluctuates with outside environmental factors.
For example, during the summertime, you may have heat sensitive skin that results in redness and itching.
It’s not atypical for those with a sensitive skin type to have non-skin-related sensitivities like allergies or blushing. This is simply because hypersensitive skin is the result of genetics, not products (more on this below.) You may notice that your skin’s appearance is directly impacted by hormones or stress.
In sum, sensitive skin is a permanent type of skin.
What does sensitized skin mean, then?
Glad you asked. Unlike sensitive skin, sensitized skin is not a skin type, but a condition. It is simply a temporary state that your skin may find itself in from time to time. The reason that sensitive skin is often confused with sensitized skin is that each results in blotchy, dry and irritated complexions.
The key differences though? One (sensitive skin) is linked to genetics with many factors playing a role in its appearance, and the other (sensitized skin) is a condition that springs up due to overusing products or dealing with an allergy.
In sum, sensitized skin is not something you’re born with, rather a condition that happens due to internal or external factors.
How can you handle sensitive skin?
What help would this blog be if we just told you the differences and walked away, right? That’s why we’re going to take it one step further and teach you how to handle sensitive skin. Whether it be sensitive skin on your face or body, we have you covered.
To keep atop sensitive irritated skin, you need to do the following:
Drink a lot of water and stay hydrated so your skin can function properly.
Avoid harsh skin care cleansers (opt for nourishing cleansing balms like our 02 Cleansing Balm, for instance).
Always wear sunscreen and limit time in the sun.
Be cautious of anything that irritates your skin
You see, just because sensitive skin is a genetic condition doesn’t mean you can’t get it under control. You’ve got this!
What to do for sensitized skin?
Now that we covered sensitive skin, let’s review how you can better handle sensitized skin and let your real skin type shine through!
To help alleviate any sensitivities in your skin, here are a few pointers to follow:
A crazy elaborate skincare routine isn’t always ideal, especially if you’re dealing with sensitized skin. Our skin is pretty self-reliant, and our routines should only protect/feed it. Aim for a simple ritual, like our 10 Degrees Cooler-approved one!
Be sure not to over-exfoliate which will instantly irritate the skin causing blotchiness and redness.
Check-in with your doctor if your sensitized skin happens after you eat certain foods, or occurs at certain times of the year. You may be dealing with a skin allergy.
Knowledge is power when it comes to your skin and so often things are easily solvable as long as the education is within reach. We hope this post helped clear the air on a common misconception and will help you uncover whether you have sensitive or sensitized skin once and for all!