The cause of many cases of skin sensitivity might surprise you

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 -

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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).

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This article was adapted from an article originally published by Mamamia - https://www.mamamia.com.au/man-made-sensitivity-causes-behind-sensitive-skin/

Mask VS Skin

Despite making it through the 2020 portion of the COVID-19 pandemic relatively unscathed, our lives in Australia have still been impacted ongoing.

With the most recent (albeit small) hotel quarantine leak of the UK strain of the virus, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has once again implemented the rule for the wearing of masks in indoor settings.

After some respite from mask-wearing, many people may find they are once again prone to what many have dubbed 'maskne' or other inflammatory skin conditions.

The good news is, there are several things you can do to prevent your face covering from causing damage to your skin, and there are steps you can take to try and lessen the severity of your skin condition.

Firstly, it is important to consider what your mask is made of and if it is of good quality. The best protection against any virus arguably comes from wearing KN95, N95 or P2 masks, however in most cases, these are only necessary for front-line and healthcare workers. For the general public, a standard surgical mask or tightly-woven cotton mask will suffice. Your mask should feel soft and reasonably breathable on the skin. To test the effectiveness of your mask, check if you can see light through the mask when held up to the eye - if you can, the mask will most likely not prove effective.

Surgical masks should be discarded after every use, and fabric masks should be washed after every use. When washing a mask, use an unscented laundry detergent that does not contain dyes or fragrances as those can irritate your skin and nasal passages. Washing and drying the masks in high heat will also help kill germs.

In regards to skincare while having to wear a mask, it is important to maintain consistency. A gentle cleanser is best, as it removes natural debris in addition to being antiviral which creates an added barrier of safety.

Avoid any harsher cleansers or exfoliants for the time being (such as strong AHA/BHA's or retinols), as they may further disrupt the skin barrier. A hyaluronic based skin serum will be your best option for moisturizing and additional ingredients such as niacinamide and vitamin C will prove useful.

As always, your dermatologist or healthcare practitioner will be your best friend in a situation such as this, as any condition is relative and everyone’s experience will be different.