Spring is here, and for most people, it is a good time to go to the greenery, and everything is reviving and vibrant. However, the spring temperature is hot and cold, and the ultraviolet rays are gradually strengthening as the temperature rises, plus the pollen, willow flakes and floating dust that dance with the wind, making some people’s skin uncomfortable and unable to adjust to the redness, rash, dryness, peeling, and some itching. This is because this part of people’s skin belongs to what we often call sensitive skin.
A. What is sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is mainly a part of dry skin and combination skin types, with race, age, gender, individual genetics, environment, site and so on. In these people, the skin barrier function decreases, the stratum corneum becomes thinner, the lipid bilayer is damaged, resulting in a larger gap between keratin-forming cells, and the epidermal integrity is damaged, which leads to an excessive response to various physical, chemical and microbial stimuli and immune reactions in the external environment, thus damaging our skin and causing the corresponding symptoms. Decreased skin barrier function also leads to reduced protection of nerve endings, making them more susceptible to stimulus signals and enhanced nerve conduction, resulting in increased sensitivity. The basal epidermal water content of sensitive skin is lower than that of normal skin, and the difference is significant. The transcutaneous water loss rate depends on the integrity of the skin barrier function, and when the skin barrier function is impaired, the transcutaneous water loss rate value increases. Sensitive skin has obvious vasodilatation and higher reaction to external stimuli than normal. When the immune response is enhanced, a small amount of antigen will cause a strong allergic reaction in the skin.
Second, what is skin allergy
Sensitive skin and skin allergy are two different concepts: sensitive skin has been introduced in more detail earlier, while skin allergy is a pathological process of redness, swelling, heat and itching due to an immune reaction after the skin has been exposed to various allergens. Skin allergy is not necessarily sensitive skin, that is to say, normal people in contact with allergens can also appear skin allergy symptoms, but sensitive skin is more prone to allergies.
Third, the symptoms of sensitive skin are likely to appear.
1, in the changing seasons, temperature, humidity, wind, sunlight, various radiation and other physical factors, the skin is prone to redness, itching, tingling and burning, and even rashes.
2.The use of ordinary skin care products (including ordinary cleansers, moisturizers, lotions, makeup, sunscreens, etc. on the market) can lead to flushing, burning, itching or stinging and even flaking of the skin. The skin often feels red and tingly after washing the face. Due to sensitive skin immune sensitive, the first use of cosmetics should be adapted to the test; if there is no reaction, before use.
3, in the medium-intensity exercise, mood swings, facial skin blood vessels will expand, congestion, redness.
4.Consuming spicy food, alcohol and overheated diet can cause skin blood vessels to dilate, congestion and redness.
5. Once sensitive skin has an allergic reaction, it will also have a negative impact on our quality of life, including our work, study, sleep, spirit, social life, etc.
Fourth, people with sensitive skin may have the following backgrounds.
1. Have been diagnosed with allergic skin or have a history of allergies: medication allergy, food allergy, skin care allergy, metal jewelry allergy, etc.
2, have a history of skin damage: such as exposure to the sun, contact dermatitis, a history of long-term facial use of hormonal creams, etc.
3, suffering from certain skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, ichthyosis, etc.
4. Family history of allergy, whose immediate family members, such as parents have a history of allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis, etc.
Five, how to prevent allergic symptoms of sensitive skin
1. Pay attention to skin cleaning. Spring is windy and sandy, these dusts mix with the sebum secretion, which stimulates the skin and makes it easy for allergy symptoms to appear, so you should always keep your skin clean, and use a mild cleanser to help sterilize and clean the skin.
2, do not arbitrarily change the brand of cosmetics, because the skin needs to adapt to the new climate, is in a period of weak ability to resist, adapt to the external environment, arbitrarily change the brand, it is easy to allergic reactions.
3, pay attention to the skin moisturizing sunscreen, enhance the skin’s resistance, repair the barrier function of the skin, you can use fresh, hydrophilic medical skin care products.
4, pay attention to the impact of wind and sand on the skin, especially when going out with sarongs, masks and other cover-ups to avoid wind blowing.
5, in the diet, eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, less stimulating, easy to cause allergic reactions to food such as seafood, beef and mutton.
6, you can always have medical skin care products around, or simply use medical skin care products to prevent, and by the way, improve the allergic body.
7.Sensitive skin should not be exfoliated or chemically peeled because the skin barrier function is incomplete and damaged.
Sixth, how to deal with the symptoms of skin allergies that have appeared
It is important to establish that allergy is not only a skin problem, but also a systemic inflammatory reaction that can affect the skin, breathing, gastrointestinal tract, etc.
2. Avoid contact with all suspected allergens as much as possible. Allergen testing can be performed, such as the patch test, in which your doctor will apply 20 to 30 aluminum chambers on your back skin with desensitizing tape. After 2 days, remove the tape and check, and after another day, observe which of the aluminum chambers is red or has a bunch of small blisters underneath, so you can check the table to see which substance you are allergic to. You can also look for possible allergens by prick test and blood test.
3.Regulate your diet, get enough sleep, emotional harmony, etc.
4. Restore the skin barrier and use medical skin care products with cleansing, hydrating, moisturizing and sun protection effects. After the inflammation is controlled, pay attention to sun protection, apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going out, outdoor, choose SPF > 30, PA+++, indoor SPF > 20, PA++, 3-4 times a day, 2mg per square centimeter.
5. Anti-inflammatory treatment, topical tacrolimus ointment, butyl flufenamic acid ointment, etc. can be used. Systemic medication:compound glycopyrrolate, hydroxychloroquine, aspirin, rehmannia polysaccharide, etc.
6.To reduce vascular and nerve hyperreactivity, you can take Dextran orally, the first generation of antihistamines, and also do cold spray, IPL treatment.
7, if considered may be related to infection, can also be anti-microbial treatment, oral minocycline, etc.. However, these latter treatment measures must be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.
In conclusion, as long as the protection and repair of the skin barrier function is strengthened, some skin diseases that sensitive skin is prone to can definitely be effectively prevented. We can get through this spring with high and low temperatures, cold and hot, and pollen flying.