Store shelves are full of cosmetics, cleansers, and lotions labelled “for sensitive skin.” However, no one knows if he/she should use these products. Also, how it will help their sensitive skin.

There’s no official definition for sensitive skin. However, most doctors define it as skin that’s irritated by things that don’t bother other people. It’s quite simple, if the skin burns, itches, or gets red and inflamed after applying makeup or skin-care products, and these are the signs that a person may have sensitive skin. The harder part is finding out the cause.For some people, the symptoms are signs of an allergy or a form of skin disease like eczema. These conditions can flare-up when the skin is exposed to certain ingredients or environments.

A doctor may help to sort out if the person has one of these issues or if a skin care product is a causing it.

Skin can be sensitive to different ingredients, so there are no skin-care rules that every one may follow. However, some products may cause more problems than others, and some general guidelines may help make a person with sensitive skin live more comfortable.

Scented lotions, soaps and liquid cleansers often have ingredients that may irritate sensitive skin. It may be hard to point out and keep track of the ones that cause your problems because companies are not bound to label every chemical that goes into a scented product. There are also some scented products available in the market with all-natural ingredients, like essential oils or plant-based botanicals. However, having something natural doesn’t mean the skin will not react to it. Fragrances are not needed in a lotion or a soap, so it’s best to find a product without it.

Many products that are labelled “unscented” may also have added chemicals to mask the smell of active ingredients with strong odours. Instead, search for products labelled “fragrance-free,” it means that they have no scents added, not even masking the ingredients.

Like soaps and lotions, that goes for all the products that might touch the skin, like shampoo, household cleaners, deodorant, and laundry detergents as well.

Preservatives like parabens are added to cosmetics to prevent microbial growth and make them last longer may irritate people with sensitive skin. If someone had a severe reaction to an ingredient like propylparaben or butylparaben, it is recommended to try a paraben-free product. Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone are also common causes of skin irritation and allergy.

People with easily irritated skin are recommended to avoid alcohol-based facial toners and astringents, which are used to remove oils and dirt. Because, there is an overlap between sensitive skin and dry skin, and alcohol-based products may be bad for both types of skin. As long as a person is washing face twice daily with a liquid cleanser, toners may be omitted as a necessary part of a skin-care routine. A dermatologist may suggest a gentler alternative to it as well.

It is also suggested to make slow changes to help the sensitive skin. Don’t change the entire skin-care routine at once. The reason is if a person may have a severe reaction, they may not be able to figure out which product caused it. There may be a specific ingredient to blame or a mix of products that may fail to work well together.

Hence, it is recommended to introduce one new product at a time, and wait a few weeks to see the results. If a dermatologist prescribes something new, tell them about the products already in use on a daily basis.

People with sensitive skin can wear makeup, despite having bad reactions in the past. The key is to find the right product that suits the skin.

Look for the cosmetics that are oil-free, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free and paraben-free. A non-comedogenic product is designed not to clog pores, which may lead to acne and cause flare-ups of sensitive skin.

It is highly recommended to wash the face at the end of the day, sleeping in makeup may cause irritation, allergy, and breakouts.Sun-blocks may serve as an active shield against UV rays. There are two main types of sunscreens available in the market: chemical and physical.

The first type includes chemicals like oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octocrylene, to absorb the sun’s rays and break them down.

The second type includes mineral compounds, like zinc or titanium that placed on top of the skin and deflect the sun’s rays.

Sensitive skin may have an allergy to chemical blockers. Moreover, ultraviolet rays may even combine with sunscreen chemicals – a problem called photo-allergy and trigger a rash when a person goes in the sun. Dermatologists recommend that people with sensitive skin choose physical sunscreens with the active ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.It is suggested not to ignore new breakouts or reactions. So, if a person notices a sudden change, a dermatologist may help to figure out if it is a treatable condition or a sensitivity to something in a skin-care routine.

The body has to be exposed to something for a while before an allergy develops so that it is possible if a person may be using a product for a long time and suddenly have a terrible reaction to it. This is because manufacturers usually change the ingredients in a product without informing the consumers.