We have noticed that many people are visiting us at DIV with complaints of increased skin sensitivity.
Want to hear a shocking truth?
You might actually be the cause, simply by overusing certain ingredients and products
DIV Dermatologist Dr Katherine Armour recently chatted with Mamamia’s Erin Docherty to break it down -
First up, sensitive skin - Is it possible for your skincare routine to make your skin more sensitive?
100%! Symptoms and causes of sensitive skin obviously differ between individuals (underlying issues like eczema and such can trigger sensitive skin), skin experts are now noticing a lot of 'man-made' sensitivity going on.
The main culprits? Physical exfoliation, foaming cleansers and toners.
"We have become obsessed with exfoliation as if it is something that we need to do to avoid all the perceived evils that could befall our skin (dullness, dryness, congestion)," says Dr Armour.
this might be big news to a lot of people
"I believe physical exfoliants are completely unnecessary. They temporarily smooth the skin by removing the dead upper layer which will slough away on its own. In doing so, physical exfoliants, particularly if used too often, will disrupt the skin barrier, leading to irritation and sensitivity."
"In terms of harsh skincare, foaming cleansers and toners are the main culprits. When used over-zealously they too upset the epidermal barrier, stripping precious lipids and leading to 'man-made' skin sensitivity."
So what’s the best option moving forward?
"The main way to ensure a glowing complexion is by supporting your skin's precious barrier with nourishing moisturisers, B3 and B5 topically, and by targeting brown spots and pigmentation with appropriate cosmeceutical ingredients," she said.
Armour said chemical exfoliants (AHA’s and BHA’s) are appropriate in those without sensitive skin to smooth and decongest, but these kinds of ingredients are to be used with care (one to two products a day, maximum).
This article was adapted from an article originally published by Mamamia - https://www.mamamia.com.au/man-made-sensitivity-causes-behind-sensitive-skin/