Everyone gets irritated and itchy skin once in a while; however, it is not a disease that your doctor can diagnose. Instead, irritated skin is usually a symptom of another condition. You might not know that you have sensitive skin until you react to a cosmetic product like makeup, moisturizer, and soap.
Conditions that result in sensitive skin are usually mild and can be controlled using a few simple changes to your skincare habit. Remember that sensitive skin can be worsened by over washing, stress, sunburns, wind, or using anti-aging ingredients, so be careful. The following are some of the proven ways to deal with irritated and sensitive skin.
Reduce stress
Stress is a common condition, and everyone gets stressed once in a while. And while people think that being stressed is only a mental issue, that is not true. Stress can impact the entire body, including the skin, hair, and nails too.
Stressful situations trigger a chemical response in your body, which makes the skin more sensitive and reactive. Hormones produced by your body during stressful situations, such as cortisol, tell your skin to generate more oil and remember that oily skin is more susceptible to acne.
And while you cannot avoid stress altogether, create time to take care of your skin, get enough sleep, and, more importantly, limit or lower your stress. And if you can, talk to someone or seek help from a friend or a professional therapist.
Use the right skincare products
If you have ever had sensitive skin, then you know how scary it can be, and blindly trying on some new skincare product that a friend recommended can make your skin even more sensitive. It is, therefore, advisable to go for products that contain ingredients that can nourish and maintain your skin barrier, elements that draw and lock in moisture to replenish your lipid bilayer. For instance, you can consider using Beautiful by Storm skincare products that are gentle for sensitive skin.
Use moisturizers and lotions to reduce the dryness without harming the skin. Also, it is essential to note that some ingredients might work better depending on the type of sensitivity you have. Therefore, to know if a product will be safe for your skin, try applying it on a small area of the skin before doing so to the rest of the affected part.
Oatmeal baths
Irritation can make your sensitive skin not only annoying but also painful. People have been using oat to treat dry, irritated, itchy, and sensitive skin for ages. This is because oats work pretty well for all types of skins, and it is gentle for the most sensitive skin types. It doesn’t matter whether you choose to use products that contain oats or go for the ones in your kitchen; oats have numerous benefits for the skin.
Oats have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can significantly improve sensitive skin. Besides, some components in oats tend to offer some protection from the harmful UV rays. In addition, oats can really soothe the frustrating irritation that results from dry and sensitive skin. You can consider soaking yourself in an oat bath or use a lotion or cream that has oats to treat your irritated skin.
Use a humidifier
A humidifier allows you to control the environment, which is also an excellent way to maintain your skin. Your skin is the largest organ, and extreme heat can be very drying, so it is essential to keep your skin hydrated. Besides, the best way to maintain perfect indoor humidity is by using a humidifier.
Use medications
Depending on why you have sensitive skin and the accompanying symptoms, your doctor might prescribe some medications to help. These medications might include analgesic creams that help reduce the itchiness that comes with irritated skin by numbing the area. It can also be an antihistamine to help reduce irritation if it results from an allergic reaction.
Additionally, your doctor might prescribe steroid creams like hydrocortisone to help relieve the itchiness and inflammation. Besides, you can use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above to help protect your sensitive skin from the sun.
Moisturize
Moisturizers can play a significant role when it comes to soothing your irritated and sensitive skin. While skin irritation can be a result of many things, you can treat it. For instance, to treat a skin irritation caused by chlorine after swimming, you can rinse off with clean water and soap after getting out of the pool. Then follow that up with a moisturizer that has glycerin. This will help your skin lock in moisture and avoid further irritation.
On the other hand, you can use coconut oil to keep your skin moist and protected. Consult with your doctor if you decide to add coconut oil to your diet for moisturizing skin.
Vitamin D supplements
Did you know that skin rashes can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency? Vitamin D deficiency is quite normal; however, most individuals don’t know about it. The most common symptom of vitamin D deficiency is skin rashes; therefore, taking vitamin D supplements can help treat this issue. These supplements are also helpful when it comes to treating Eczema. Other sources of vitamin D are cereals, cow milk, soy milk, mushrooms, salmon, and egg yolks.
Use hydrating hand sanitizers
If you are like most people, you use hand sanitizers to substitute for cleaning your hands when you don’t have access to water and soap. Sanitizers are used to stop the spread of disease-causing germs. However, lengthened use of hand sanitizers can damage your skin and make it more sensitive. Besides, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can irritate your skin; so, consider using the hydrating versions to protect your skin.
Final thoughts
Irritated or sensitive skin can be a result of many things. Therefore, you can protect your skin and treat irritation by choosing the right face wash, taking vitamin D supplements, soaking in a warm oatmeal bath, using the right skincare products, and, more importantly, reduce stress.
When these remedies fail to alleviate or treat your irritation, ensure that your visit a dermatologist. They can test your skin and check for any potential allergies. This will then make it easy for the doctor to recommend medication.
