Have Younger Skin

Skin Care For Fussy Skin

You won’t find sensitive skin in a medical textbook. But if you have it, you know it! Sensitive skin can sting, itch and burn for seemingly no reason or break out in an irksome and all too noticeable rash. It can be provoked by environmental conditions like heat or cold or riled by ingredients in makeup and skin care products. And it can be irritated by or allergic to whatever’s causing these visible or invisible reactions.

As you can see, sensitive skin can be hard to pin down. But there’s lots you can do to help keep temperamental skin calm and clear.

For years, most dermatologists didn’t take sensitive skin too seriously. But that’s changing. Sensitive skin is common and is finally receiving serious attention.

There’s no hard and fast definition of sensitive skin. That’s why you’re the best judge of whether you have it. “Anytime I put something on my skin, I break out!”, is an often heard complaint of people with sensitive skin.

According to some dermatologists, sensitive skin has certain characteristics: It’s easily irritated by environmental factors like dust and eczema and reacts to certain cosmetic ingredients with irritation or allergy. Sensitive skin is likely to be even more sensitive if it’s affected by another skin condition like seborrheic dermatitis or rosacea.

Winter cold, summer heat, dry air and dust can all provoke sensitive skin. So try to calm your hide by adjusting your environment.

Come in from the cold. Your skin feels more sensitive during the winter because it gets dry and dehydrated. If cold weather aggravates your skin, follow a routine for dry skin. You might also use a humidifier to help keep the air-and your skin-moist.

Beat the heat. Your own perspiration can irritate your skin, so try to keep your environment cool. But don’t park yourself too close to a fan or air conditioner. High-airflow environment can have a terribly drying effect on skin.

Also, consider skipping foundation in hot weather. Face makeup can block your pores, prevent your perspiration from evaporating and possibly trigger a breakout.

Keep your guard up. House dust, molds, grasses, mildew and pet dander can make sensitive skin go haywire. So keep an eye out for potential trigger factors.

Soften your water. Use a water softener if you live in a hard water area. Removing excess minerals from the water may improve its rinsability, washing away cleaner residue that-if left on your face-can rile sensitive skin.

Softer water can also help in the laundry room. Using towels that contain detergent residue can irritate your skin.

Natural Skin Care For Eczema

Ever had an itchy, scaly, rash on your finger that faded when you stopped wearing a new ring? Or caught poison ivy when you stumbled onto a previously uncharted patch of underbrush while walking your dog?
Eczema, or dermatitis, as it’s also called, covers an entire range of red, itchy, scaly skin irritations. Some types of eczema are temporary, like poison ivy. Other types, like atopic dermatitis (AD), are more persistent.
But whether your eczema’s caused by a run-in with a poison plant or a chronic skin condition like AD, you can ease the itch and-in many cases-clear your skin with quick, easy remedies. Even better, you can minimize AD flare-ups by taking simple preventive measures and speed healing with by-prescription only relief.
All the eczema’s tend to overlap. If you have one type of dermatitis, your skin is going to be more sensitive to others.
The three most common types of eczema are AD, contact dermatitis and nummular dermatitis. While they share the same surname, it’s virtually the only thing these skin conditions have in common.
Your skin seems to get riled every time you pop a peanut into your mouth or dunk your Oreo into a glass of milk. Is it your imagination? No. Food allergies play a significant role in eczema flare-ups. What’s more, just touching-let alone eating-the food can do a number on your skin.
Most dermatologists agree that the six worst eczema triggering foods-also called the big six-are:
Eggs
Milk
Peanuts
Wheat
Soy
Seafood
You should call your doctor if you experience an allergic reaction after eating any of these foods.
It just has to be treated symptomatically. People over 60 with nummular dermatitis, however, often have a history of dry scaly skin, especially in winter.
Because prescription drugs used to treat eczema can cause serious side effects, they’re often the remedy of last resort. Prednisone can cause brittle bones and cataracts. Cyclosporine, used to treat psoriasis as well as AD, can led to kidney problems and eczema usually flares up when you go off the drug.
Researchers are working to find new drugs that treat eczema without the damaging side effects. Gamma interferon, a natural body product that reduces the body’s inflammatory responses, may lessen AD’s severity and provide the best hope for the future.