Sensitive Skin

Different signs and symptoms:

• Tingling, tightening, cutaneous discomfort without visible signs.
• Easily reacts to products
• Overreaction to external factors: shaving, stress, aesthetic procedures,...
• Diffuse redness, drying, recurrent irritation of the skin

What are the statistics?

• 56% of Canadian women suffer from sensitive skin
• 24% report having had a reaction to cosmetics products
• 46.4% of women with sensitive skin also have dry skin
• 46.3% of women with sensitive skin have consulted a dermatologist

1. Skin altered temporarily due to aesthetic or dermatological procedures
• Mechanical procedures: shaving, waxing, medications (accutane, retin-a type creams)
• Environment: heat, cold, wind, pollution,...
• Aesthetic procedures: laser, chemical peels, dermabrasion
• Dermatological solution:

- Avoid irritants, occlusive ointments
2. Allergic skin or atopic skin
• Contact dermatitis: Sudden appearance of erythema and edema (redness and swelling), accompanied by itchiness.
• Atopic Ezema- a very common cause
• Dermatological solution:

- Prevent dryness/moisturise
- Topical corticosteroids
- Topiocal immunomodulators
- Antihistamines
- Avoidance of the allergen
3. Rosacea skin
• Diffuse redness, small visible blood vessels, skin dryness
• Dermatological solution:

- Medical therapy
- Laser for redness
- Changes in the patient's lifestyle

Diffuse Redness:

• These women define themselves as being skin sensitive, and more precisely as having fine, fragile and reactive skins.
• Overreacting to everything (emotions, temperatures changes, food...), they distinguish themselves by feeling uncomfortable socially and physically.

Almost 50 % of women aged 18-64 experience redness

At the dermatologist's office:

• Prone to redness            35.8 %
• Acne-prone                   39.9 %
• Couperose                     23.3 %
• Rosacea                         13.3 %

• Prone to redness            34.3 %
• Acne-prone                    44.2 %
• Couperose                     16.2 %
• Rosacea                           8.4 %

The Redness Evolves:

At the Dermatologist's: Rosacea

• Redness appears very quickly, lasts a few minutes than disappears.
• It is embarassing sometimes because it reveals feelings you would rather hide...
• Starts as early as the teenage years.


Dermatological Advice:


• Avoid hot liquids or food, cafeine, spices
• Avoid intense physical exercise.
• Avoid extreme temperatures (hot and cold) like saunas, jacuzzis
• Always use sun protection.
• Use rinse-free cleansers and perfume-free cosmetics.
• Recommend the use of green-tinted concealers.
• Avoid stressful situations

• The redness becomes permanent
• Patients continue to experience flushing or blushing
• Small veins become visible
Dermatological Treatment and Advice:


• Medical Therapy: Laser treatments, electro-coagulation
• Camouflage: make-up
• Sun protection

Dermatological Treatment:


• Cyclines
• Metronidazole

Dermatological Treatment


• Dermabrasion
• Surgery

The origin of redness : A Vicious Circle

1. Repeated stress
2. Inflammatory reaction
3. Aggravation of vessel fragility

The risk

Recommendations for a Higher Quality of Life:

• Diminish alcohol intake, spicy foods and caffeine



• Avoid excessive variations in temperature
• Use appropriate cleansers, moisturisers and cosmetics
• Wear a concealer (in a green shade) to mask redness
• Control and manage stress as much as possible



• Always wear UVA/UVB protection.