What Does Sensitive Skin Look Like?

« It is tight, itchy, hot and red. Many of us describe our skin as « sensitive. Need we remind you? Our skin is our protective cover. A real barrier on the front line with our environment, it is a « victim » of all kinds of aggressions. But while our skin’s sensitivity is a matter for each of us, it is sometimes caused by pathologies… and can therefore be associated with the appearance of pimples. Redness, pimples and other small (or large) imperfections are all « worries » that we could do without, but that ruin our lives. Let’s take a closer look at skin sensitivity to help you cope.

Characteristics of Sensitive Skin

Although there is no precise definition, sensitive skin is generally described as being less tolerant to various stimuli, i.e. reacting to factors to which it would not normally react (1). It is also referred to as « reactive » skin. Tingling, tightness, dryness, redness and irritation are characteristic symptoms (2). A number of poorly understood mechanisms may underlie this hypersensitivity:

A weakening of the barrier function of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin), resulting in water loss and easier penetration of irritants;

Over-activation of Local Inflammatory Mechanisms;

Dysfunction of cutaneous nerve endings (3).

In general, sensitivity affects the skin of the face in particular, which is logical since it is the most exposed part of the body.

Factors that Weaken the Skin

On a daily basis, our skin can be subjected to harsh ordeals that weaken its barrier function:

External factors: such as temperature changes (hot/cold), pollution, the sun, our cosmetic products (use, composition).

Intrinsic factors: our age, sex, skin color, genetics, hormonal fluctuations…

And our lifestyle: our diet, alcohol consumption, sports, stress…

In France, as in many other European countries, the percentage of people who claim to have sensitive skin is as high as 50% (no mean feat!) (4). But this sensitivity can be more or less severe and, once again, we’re not all the same!

Sensitive and Problem Skin

Although sensitive skin is not a pathology, it can be caused by pathologies that increase the skin’s reactivity. This is especially true for acne and rosacea, two very common problems. Acne mainly affects teenagers due to hormonal fluctuations during this period. It is caused by overproduction of sebum, blockage of hair follicles and local bacterial proliferation (5). These problems are exacerbated by any prescribed treatment that alters the barrier function of the epidermis, making the skin much more sensitive (6). Rosacea, on the other hand, is characterized by redness and visible blood vessels, and can sometimes be accompanied by pimples (reminiscent of acne!). Our skin’s life is definitely not one of rest.

The Right Gestures for Skin in Distress

Anyone with sensitive skin knows that you don’t put anything on your face! And we leave nothing to chance: we choose products designed for sensitive skin (gentle, with specific active ingredients, fragrance-free) and avoid stripping the skin with each cleansing cycle. In addition to good cosmetic practices, Nutra offers nutricosmetic solutions for sensitive skin. These formulas typically include vitamins, oils (hemp, evening primrose, borage, omega-3), hyaluronic acid and trace elements such as the famous zinc that dermatologists know so well. And with good reason! Its ability to limit the development of the bacteria responsible for acne (Cutibacterium acnes) and improve wound healing (7,8) has led to its inclusion in acne treatments. But can we go a step further?

Références

(1) Inamadar AC, Palit A. Sensitive skin: an overview. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2013 Jan-Feb;79(1):9-16. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.104664. PMID: 23254724.
(2) Legeas C, Misery L, Fluhr JW, Roudot AC, Ficheux AS, Brenaut E. Proposal for Cut-off Scores for Sensitive Skin on Sensitive Scale-10 in a Group of Adult Women. Acta Derm Venereol. 2021 Jan 13;101(1):adv00373. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3741. PMID: 33426565.
(3) Pinto P, Rosado C, Parreirão C, Rodrigues LM. Is there any barrier impairment in sensitive skin?: a quantitative analysis of sensitive skin by mathematical modeling of transepidermal water loss desorption curves. Skin Res Technol. 2011 May;17(2):181-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2010.00478.x. Epub 2011 Jan 20. PMID: 21251084.
(4) Farage MA. The Prevalence of Sensitive Skin. Front Med (Lausanne). 2019 May 17;6:98. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00098. PMID: 31157225; PMCID: PMC6533878.
(5) Oge’ LK, Broussard A, Marshall MD. Acne Vulgaris: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Oct 15;100(8):475-484. PMID: 31613567.
(6) Zip C. The Role of Skin Care in Optimizing Treatment of Acne and Rosacea. Skin Therapy Lett. 2017 May;22(3):5-7. PMID: 28492949.
(7) Kogan S, Sood A, Garnick MS. Zinc and Wound Healing: A Review of Zinc Physiology and Clinical Applications. Wounds. 2017 Apr;29(4):102-106. PMID: 28448263.

(8) Ogawa Y, Kinoshita M, Shimada S, Kawamura T. Zinc and Skin Disorders. Nutrients. 2018 Feb 11;10(2):199. doi: 10.3390/nu10020199. PMID: 29439479; PMCID: PMC5852775.