Sensitive skin is a condition in which the skin is less tolerant and less resistant, and produces a significant discomfort reaction to various external stimuli. Skin allergy refers to the redness, swelling, heat and itching that occur after the skin of an allergic person comes into contact with an allergen. In short, skin sensitivity is a state, while skin allergy is a disease.
Clinically, sensitive skin is thinner, more fragile, with more pronounced capillary dilation, easily reddened and unevenly flushed, with a burning sensation, pins and needles or a small red rash appearing from time to time, and in some cases, flaking. Skin allergies, on the other hand, are characterized by pronounced redness and swelling, with red spots, papules and even blisters, often with intense itching.
The causes of sensitive skin are both congenital and acquired. The former is mainly related to genetics and skin type; the latter is mainly related to environmental factors, internal diseases, mental factors, improper maintenance, cosmetic abuse and other factors that cause reduced skin tolerance. In contrast, skin allergy is a type IV allergic reaction and is related to food, drugs, cosmetics, pollen, physical and chemical factors (metals, paints, chemicals, etc.), animal fur, etc.
Care of sensitive skin
1, pay attention to the protection of the skin: first of all, we must do a good job of cleaning the skin, dirt irritants and allergens hiding places; do not use any cleanser when cleaning the skin (can be used for babies soap), only wash your face with warm water. Sensitive skin is poorly tolerated, should try to avoid steaming, massage, exfoliation and other skin care.
The best way to protect your skin from the sun is to use physical sunscreen and choose products with a low sun protection factor, as high sun protection factor products inevitably have high chemical sunscreen ingredients, which can easily stimulate the skin. Out in the sun is best to wear sunscreen products (caps, umbrellas, mirrors, etc.).
2, avoid stimulation, careful selection of cosmetics: sensitive skin people are more prone to skin allergies, so stay away from known allergens and avoid contact with substances that may cause allergies.
In the spring when pollen is flying, try to reduce the number of outings to avoid pollen allergies; in the choice of cosmetics, must be careful, try to choose a softer nature, the composition of a single and designed for sensitive skin products; with the customary cosmetics is best not to just replace, before using new cosmetics, should first do a skin test, the method is to apply the new cosmetics behind the ear or the inner forearm where the skin is more delicate, or a small piece of the actual application site, 3. Or a small piece of the actual application site, 3 to 5 days later to observe its reaction, if there is an abnormal reaction, you must avoid using the cosmetics.
Makeup can increase the burden on the skin, try not to wear makeup or not to wear heavy makeup; when you must wear makeup, try to reduce the time of applying makeup and remove it gently and thoroughly. If any skin discomfort occurs, discontinue the use of cosmetics immediately, and if necessary, go to a regular hospital for medical consultation.
3, regular life, diet regulation: life should be regular, to maintain adequate sleep, happy mood, healthy eating habits, bowel habits. Exercise can improve blood circulation, enhance skin resistance, promote and maintain the best condition of the skin. In terms of diet, eat more fruits and vegetables, especially foods rich in vitamin A, such as carrots and cabbage. Avoid alcohol, heavier seasonings, spicy foods, coffee, strong tea and other diets that are more stimulating to the skin.
4, the correct and timely medical treatment, do not rush to seek medical advice: sensitive skin patients are very eager to seek medical treatment, but there are often many problems in the medical treatment: some patients fail to go to the regular hospital, but choose unqualified beauty store; some to the hospital after the correct medication in accordance with medical advice, the sensitive condition has been improved will not be followed up, and the long-term application of the acute phase of the drug; worse, just according to the In some cases, they buy drugs from pharmacies based on friends’ advice or experience, or use some “partial prescriptions” or “secret recipes”.
These often lead to more and more sensitive and fragile skin, and even suffer from “hormone dependent dermatitis” due to improper treatment. Therefore, when sensitive skin problems arise, you should seek medical advice and use the correct medication under the guidance of a professional physician, rather than seeking medical advice in an emergency. In addition, there are differences in the use of medication during the acute and remission periods, and once the condition is in remission, you should promptly follow up and adjust the treatment plan.
Response to skin allergy
Once skin allergy occurs, first stop contact with the allergen, wash off the allergic substance on the skin with water, and stop using any cosmetics on the allergic area. Pay attention to daily care and cleanse the area well, you can use clean cold water to apply wet compresses topically. Mild allergies may subside sooner after removing the allergen, but if the allergy is more serious or if the allergen is not clear and cannot be removed, you should go to the hospital promptly and take anti-allergy treatment and symptomatic treatment according to the physician’s instruction.
To further determine the skin allergy condition, skin patch test can be done to find out the possible allergens and avoid contact. Some skin care measures can also be taken under the guidance of a physician to strengthen the skin’s resistance and eliminate the hidden danger of skin allergy. In addition, attention should be paid to daily life and dietary regimen, patients allergic to light should pay attention to less consumption of cilantro, celery, mud snail, capers, rape, spinach, lettuce, kale, buckwheat, and figs; avoid sun exposure.
Prevention and treatment of hormone dependent dermatitis
Some people who have skin abnormalities on the face are accustomed to using “Dermatoprene”, “Pikang Wang” and other creams containing strong hormones for external application, and over time, there will often be “itching, burning pain, redness (capillary dilation), medication The vicious cycle of “itching, burning and redness (capillary dilatation), which can subside quickly with medication and recur when the medication is stopped” and the skin becomes more and more fragile is called “hormone dependent dermatitis”.
This is called “hormone-dependent dermatitis”. The symptoms are generally erythema, inflammatory edema, red papules and pustules in the area a few days after stopping the use of hormones, in addition to different degrees of epidermal atrophy, pigmentation or hypopigmentation, capillary dilation, etc. The above symptoms are aggravated after heat or contact with slightly irritating substances. If cosmetics containing hormonal ingredients are used for a long time, the above symptoms of hormone dependent dermatitis will also appear as if they are addictive.
To prevent the occurrence of hormone-dependent dermatitis, hormone-based topical medications should be used with caution. If you suffer from a skin disease, you should go to the hospital in a timely manner and use the correct medication under the guidance of a doctor, but do not use topical medication at will, especially if you do not understand the composition and nature of the medication. For cosmetics provided by beauty parlors, the ingredients and effects should be clearly defined, and special caution is needed for cosmetics with unknown labels and short-term quick results but rebound from discontinuation.
Once you suffer from hormone dependent dermatitis, you should immediately stop using the drugs or cosmetics used, go to a regular hospital and seek treatment according to the treatment plan provided by the physician. The treatment of hormone dependent dermatitis often requires a long-term process, therefore, patients should have enough patience and confidence to actively cooperate with the treatment in order to overcome the “dependence” as soon as possible.
It should be noted that improper application of hormonal drugs can lead to the occurrence of hormone dependent dermatitis. In fact, hormonal drugs are widely used in dermatology and are a powerful weapon in the treatment of many skin diseases. As long as they are used correctly under the guidance of dermatologists, they are “angels”, not “demons”. It is also undesirable for individuals to talk about hormonal drugs in a “tigerish” manner.