This is one of my favorite subjects when it comes to skin because I personally “deal” with sensitive skin myself. After tons of research in trying to find the perfect answer that will make my skin feel “normal” and the experience I have after from working with clients from all walks of life and backgrounds, I realize that there are many factors that can influence one’s skin and make it more sensitive at times.

Sensitive skin is increasingly common. We are constantly bombarded by environmental stimuli, stress, sun exposure, poor diet and other unhealthy elements that contribute to this condition.  Even though sensitive skin is a condition, it is also genetically predisposed.  It is usually characterized by redness and is easily irritated by products and exposure to heat or sun.

Why does your skin get red and sensitive and what can you do to help prevent that?

Environmental:

Having been raised in Buenos Aires, where the winters are not as harsh as in the East Coast in New York City, I realized the big impact cold weather can have on sensitive skin. This one is a no brainer I know, but I can assure you that so many of my clients, including myself, that moved from different parts of the country where the weather is different or even outside of the country, come to NYC and find themselves having reactions that they’ve never experienced before.  Harsh cold winds or really hot temperatures and sun exposure for example, have a big negative effect on sensitive skin because it aggravates redness, rosacea, eczema and can even cause dry, red, itchy random patches on the skin on the face and all over the body.

Rapid change of temperatures also contribute to sensitivity, like being in air conditioning at your office in the summer time and then coming outside with 95 degree weather…your skin pays for it.

Paula’s Professional Prescription:

Make sure to be mindful of places where you can experience rapid changes in temperatures and avoid doing this as much as possible. Wear sunscreen or a hat if you are going to be spending time outside and drink lots of cold water in the summer time to regulate your body’s temperature and warm decaffeinated green tea like chamomile and jasmine in the winter time to help soothe your skin from the inside out.

Physical:

I know you’ve heard the saying “You are what you eat”.  This applies very much so to sensitive skin, since food has a huge impact on our bodies and on our minds. Not many people talk about this and my clients were surprised at first when I mentioned it, but alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, saunas, long hot showers, they all cause sensitivity and redness on the skin. What happens is that these substances make the capillaries, which are thin-walled blood vessels that connect the smaller arteries to the veins all over our body, to over-stimulate resulting in the pumping of too much blood at a very high rate which ends up causing redness on the skin and even breaking of the capillaries.

Also sometimes we use very harsh products on our skin which end up aggravating and irritating the skin causing internal inflammation and redness. Sensitive skin requires to be treated very gently with non-irritating products. Ingredients like chamomile, aloe vera, lavender, licorice root, feverfew, oatmeal, calendula and cucumber extract are excellent to reduce inflammation, redness and irritation.

Paula’s Professional Prescription:

Reducing the consumption of the substances and habits I mentioned before and/or avoiding them altogether if possible is the best advice I can give you if you suffer from sensitive skin, I know it is not what you wanted to hear. Introducing cooling foods like cucumbers and watermelon in the summer time to cool off your body and eating soups and stews in the winter time can be extremely beneficial as well. Often times we underestimate the power of foods and the impact they have in our bodies.

Many people are not clear about exfoliation and sensitive skin….and let me tell you sensitive skin needs to be treated with gentleness and love. Choose gentle, superfine exfoliants such as rice bran, oatmeal and fruit enzymes, for example. Sensitive skin does not need much exfoliation; about 1 or 2 times per week, depending on the season. Typically, increase the amount of exfoliation in the summer and decrease the process in the winter months.

Emotional:

Stress and an imbalanced emotional state can bring about sensitivity on your skin…really? Yes, this is one that you probably didn’t see coming, but I have to say that it plays a key role. Those who experience sensitive skin know that when we are upset, angry, in short not happy about something or someone, we can’t hide it, right? And our face turns red without us having any control over it.

Stress and negative emotions have a big impact on our face and our lives. We want to learn to deal with emotions in the most loving and positive way possible and even though these days it can be hard to be stress free, finding things that give you pleasure and joy can counter act the effects that stress can have in our minds and hearts.

Paula’s Professional Prescription:

As we know, exercise plays a big role in relieving stress and negative emotions.  I also invite you to journal, write down your anger and frustration on a piece of paper or notebook when you are going through a tough situation or even when you are upset at someone. I’ve tried this with many of my clients and myself, it works!

Do things that make you happy, bring more pleasure into your life and make your heart sing. Never postpone yourself and you will be pleasantly surprised at the amazing results your skin will reflect back to you.