Sensitive skin is a problematic skin type that can be present in any skin type, as well as redness and roughness, just as all skin types can have aging skin, acne skin, etc.
Characteristics of Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin generally has the following skin characteristics.
1, the skin looks thin, easy to see red blood (dilated capillaries).
2. The skin is prone to redness. General temperature changes, too cold or too hot, the skin is prone to redness and heat.
3, easily stimulated by environmental factors, seasonal changes and facial care products, usually attributed to genetic factors, and may be accompanied by skin sensitivity of the whole body.
(Sensitive skin structure diagram)
Fragile keratinocytes, irregular arrangement, incomplete sebaceous film
(Normal skin structure)
The keratinocytes are full, healthy and well aligned, with an intact sebaceous film and strong moisturizing power.
Etiology of sensitive skin
The causes of sensitive skin are not fully understood and are the result of a combination of factors. It can be divided into endogenous factors such as race, age, gender, genetics, endocrine factors, certain diseases, etc., and exogenous factors such as chemical stimulation, environmental factors, lifestyle, psychological factors, etc.
1. Endogenous factors
(1) Race differs in skin sensitivity due to the number of stratum corneum and intercellular adhesion, amount and volume of melanin, etc. in different races.
(2) Age Young people are more prone to skin sensitivity than older people, probably due to the presence of reduced sensory nerve function and reduced nerve distribution in the skin of older people.
(3) Gender Generally women are more sensitive to skin irritation than men, probably due to the higher pH of women’s skin, which is less buffering to irritation.
(4) Genetically sensitive skin individuals mostly have a family history of sensitive skin.
(5) Endocrine factors The menstrual cycle can affect skin sensitivity.
(6) Disease certain skin diseases can increase skin sensitivity, such as atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, ichthyosis, etc.
2. Exogenous factors
(1) Chemical factors such as cosmetics, soaps, detergents, etc.
(2)Environmental factors such as cold, heat and rapid change of temperature, change of season, air pollution, sunlight, etc.
(3) Lifestyle spicy and stimulating diet, alcohol can aggravate skin reactions.
(4) Psychological factors such as increased stress, emotional maneuvers, etc. often stimulate or exacerbate the skin’s reaction.
The underlying causes of sensitive skin are the following two.
1, on the outside, the skin’s barrier function is too weak to resist external stimuli because the stratum corneum is too thin and the skin is not sufficiently moisturized.
2, inside, the skin’s nerve fibers are too hyperactive due to frequent external stimulation, which makes it easy to produce redness, heat, itching, tingling, rashes and other uncomfortable phenomena.
People who have sensitive skin usually have genetic qualities. In addition, environmental pollution, bad cosmetics, and improper maintenance can lead to sensitive skin.