February 7, 2022
Sensitive skin is a concern many struggle with daily, so I wanted to round up some of our favorite products, treatments, and general tips in hopes to keep your skin healthy and glowing! First, I’ll break down what to look for and how to identify if you do in fact have sensitive skin. Let’s jump in.
By: Alison, LE
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First thing’s first, let’s start off by figuring out what exactly sensitive skin is. Patients come into our practice saying they struggle with sensitive skin for many reasons, but here are some of the most common concerns I hear:
If you have said or thought any of the above about your skin, I have good news—you might not actually have sensitive skin. You might, however, just be using products that don’t agree with your skin type, sensitive or not.
There are specific skin concerns that you should look out for, beyond general irritation, that would categorize your skin as sensitive.
When talking about sensitive skin, here are the common skin conditions one should look out for, some of which can be inherited:
Important Note: a dermatologist should be the only person to diagnose sensitive skin. They are going to be able to help you determine if you do in fact suffer from sensitive skin or if there are other underlying issues causing unwanted symptoms on the surface of your skin.
They can more accurately identify and assess things like pustules, bumps, dry skin that doesn’t properly protect nerve endings, and other skin conditions that may be due to harsh environments.
Cystic breakouts tend to respond less effectively than whiteheads to topical treatments. In certain cases, dermatologists may administer an in-office cortisone injection or prescribe oral medications (including spironolactone and isotretinoin, also known as Accutane) to treat the blemish from the inside out.
Cystic acne is a more inflamed, nodular type of acne that tends to also leave scars. Depending on the severity of your breakout—this is something we can help with! We’ll work with you to come up with an effective treatment plan that works for both your skin type and your budget.
We break down some of our favorite products below, but first—let’s look at some general tips you can abide by to help keep your skin healthy, glowing, and less irritated.
Here is a list of skincare products that we’d normally suggest for someone struggling with sensitive skin (all of which we carry in-office or can be purchased through our website and shipped directly to your home):
It can take some trial-and-error to find which products work best for you, so be sure to give your skin a couple weeks to adjust before deciding a product doesn’t work. If and only when the condition gets worse beyond those few weeks is when a dermatologist should be called.
You can purchase all of these products directly from us in our practice. You can also click here to grab them online and have them shipped directly to your door! Just make sure to select us as your provider.
Here are a few of the in-office treatments I would recommend—all of which we offer right here in our practice and would be gentle, while still highly effective.
HydraFacial: The signature 4-step HydraFacial® non-invasive facial that will cleanse, exfoliate, extract, & then hydrate the skin with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, & peptides for maximum glow. No irritation or downtime! Click here to learn more and see pricing.
Sensitive Skin Facial: A soothing facial designed for those with sensitive skin. It begins with steam, a double cleanse, and extractions. A Raspberry Peach Enzyme Peel will be applied to the skin to calmly exfoliate, while providing anti-inflammatory benefits. This is followed by a Seaweed Mask that provides suppleness, nourishes the skin, & promotes cell regeneration.
Red Light Therapy: can help to promote collagen production, further enhance any treatment glow, and even calm some post-treatment redness.
BBL (Broad Band Light Therapy): an innovative technology that uses pulsed light energy to target pigmentation in the skin and reverses the signs of aging and sun damage. Click here to learn more.
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If you need a little guidance or not sure where to start—we’d love to help! Schedule a complimentary consultation with us. We’ll sit down, assess your unique skin type, and work together to craft a skincare plan that works you and your budget. Give us a call or fill out the appointment request form!