Do you ever tell people your skin is sensitive because you tend to turn red or get rashes easily? Your skin could be naturally sensitive, but it could also just be allergy-prone, or sensitized/intolerant. Dr. Lebar is going to reveal what sensitive skin truly is. Keep reading to determine what level of skin sensitivity you have…

Sensitive skin type 1: hereditary sensitive skin

According to Dr. Lebar, “true sensitive skin is a rare condition that is often hereditary.” A person with naturally sensitive skin is born with it and lives with it for his or her whole life. The major telltale signs that you have sensitive skin are: it’s thin, dry, often feels tight, and is very reactive to external elements, like the wind and extreme hot and cold temperatures. Oftentimes people with sensitive skin have very fair complexions that look flushed on a regular basis. Dr. Lebar explains that “the redness is due to disruptions in microcirculation. Due to this, lots of people with sensitive skin are also susceptible to skin conditions, like rosacea.”

Sensitive skin type 2: allergy-prone skin

Allergy-prone skin is skin that reacts each time it comes into contact with a specific allergen. This could be an ingredient in a skincare product, essential oils, or something like a metal (nickel, for example). Whenever the body encounters this “invader”, red patches on the skin, extreme itchiness (sometimes in the form of eczema), breakouts, and inflammation temporarily result.

Sensitive skin type 3: sensitized, intolerant skin

Sensitized or intolerant skin overreacts to external aggressions, causing blotchiness, tingling feelings and, on occasion, itchiness. This type of sensitive skin develops over time. Dr. Lebar cites stress as one of the major culprits, and anyone can develop sensitized skin at some point in their life, no matter what his or her skin type is – oily, combination, normal or dry. When your skin becomes intolerant, it no longer supports a majority of skincare ingredients or products. In Europe 63% of people claim to have sensitive skin, but in reality most of them have sensitized intolerant skin rather than true sensitive skin.

Is your personality making your skin sensitive?

Are you a naturally sensitive person who cries no matter what? Whether you read something sad, or watch a happy video about kittens that get saved, waterworks are guaranteed! Or maybe you’re a perfectionist and workaholic who can be classified as having a Type A personality? While there’s nothing wrong with being empathetic or having a go-getter personality, you could be negatively impacting your skin without realizing it.

“80% of dermatologic conditions have a psychological origin”

As we told you yesterday, sensitive skin is a genetic condition that you’re born with, but anyone can develop sensitized skin over time – no matter what your age or skin type is. However, according to Dr. Lebar, it’s naturally anxious – and caring – people that tend to find themselves with reactive, intolerant skin: “80% of dermatologic conditions have a psychological origin. Emotional people are often susceptible to having sensitive skin, as the epidermis has a close relationship with the brain and the nervous system; all of the skin cells are governed by the brain.” Multiple studies have been conducted over the years to prove this mind-skin connection. In 2001 the first link was discovered by proving that when people are in stressful situations, inflammation can occur, triggering sensitive skin to react.

#Sensitivecanbestrong

Whatever your natural disposition is, there are plenty of ways to make your sensitive skin strong. It’s actually not that hard to treat sensitive skin once you know what to do. Dr. Lebar cites prevention as one of the best methods, and advises finding ways to reduce stress, like doing daily meditation, eating the right foods, and working out. Using the right beauty products is just as important for caring for your skin, but we’ll discuss that later on in the program.

Stress and cortisol are direct enemies of sensitive skin. “An accumulation of cortisol can make your skin barrier more fragile, which can lead to broken capillaries and bruising,” says Dr. Lebar. “It increases circulating levels of androgens in your body. This can cause an overproduction of oil, giving you blackheads, enlarged pores, and adult acne.” However, luckily like meditation, exercise can help reduce stress. This will make your skin less reactive and less susceptible to developing these skin problems!

Over the years lots of research has been conducted to determine just how effective exercise really is for lowering stress levels. In one specific study researchers discovered that it’s capable of decreasing them by more than 40%!

Sticking to a regular workout schedule is what will benefit your sensitive skin the most. Working out often will make your body release feel-good endorphins (this is what really helps reduce stress!), and helps you sleep better so that you can feel calmer on a day-to-day basis. The better you feel mentally, the less reactive your skin will be. Physically, exercise helps your skin cells regenerate and strengthen the skin barrier – exactly what sensitive skin needs to be strong!

However, Dr. Lebar reminds us to always follow the golden rule of exercise: “Make sure to do a variety of physical activities, often, that are adapted to your own physical capacities.”

When you’re stressed, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode, releasing the hormone cortisol. When you shift into this mode too often, inflammation occurs and your skin barrier weakens, making your skin more likely to become sensitized. Stress can also cause flare-ups, aggravating pre-existing skin conditions like rosacea and eczema. One of the best ways to calm your reactive skin (and prevent it) is to meditate. Meditation relaxes your nervous system, which in turn reduces stress levels, making your sensitive skin less reactive.

Mind over matter

According to research conducted by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, doing mindful meditation for 25 minutes, 3 days in a row, can alleviate stress. However, we recommend practicing meditation for 2 to 3 weeks for at least 10 minutes a day before noticing the first real effects, and to continue doing it on a regular basis after that. Dr. Lebar notes that meditation “helps strengthen your immune system, creates more stem cells in the bloodstream and reduces blood pressure. People who meditate also have 30-40% less stress those who don’t, and they’re often more caring, and less susceptible to anger and depression.”

Meditation tips from a pro

Dr. Lebar gives her tips on how to meditate: “You can start meditating right now, at this very moment. All you have to do is close your eyes, slow down your breathing and concentrate on the feeling of the air going into and out of your nostrils. You’ll notice that it’s hard to stay concentrated on this feeling, because different thoughts and ideas will start to enter your mind. When this happens, try to concentrate on your breath again. One of the best ways to meditate is to do it with another person; they can help guide you through it.”

How to protect your sensitive skin during exercise

While exercise definitely helps sensitive skin, it’s still important to take precautions and protect your skin, no matter where you work out. Biting cold winds and intense heat are obvious sensitive skin enemies, but indoor heating and air conditioning can be just as threatening. But don’t let that stop you from working out – just follow our tips and you can exercise anywhere you please!

How your environment influences your skin

“Dehydration can occur both indoors and outdoors, increasing the risk for infections and premature aging,” says Dr. Lebar. “However, it’s important to note that if you exercise outside in the winter, people with rosacea, sensitive skin, or reactive skin need to be extra careful. The sun causes you to sweat more – making you dehydrated at a faster rate – and the frigid temperatures can cause capillary fragility.” She also points out that pollution and drastic temperature changes (going from extreme cold to extreme hot and vice versa) can be a sensitive skin trigger, making your face feel overly warm and giving you an uncomfortable tingling sensation.

The essential steps to take to keep your sensitive skin safe

In order to shield your skin from any potential danger (i.e. windburn if you run outside, chlorine if you go for regular swims in the pool, indoor heating at your local gym…) Dr. Lebar advises applying face cream formulated for sensitive skin both before and after a workout, plus sunscreen if you’re outside – even in the winter. It’s also important to steer clear of diuretic drinks like tea and coffee, to stay well hydrated, and always refuel after a workout: “It’s imperative to compensate for any water and antioxidants lost during a workout. Otherwise the deficiencies will accumulate, causing fatigue, stress and an unstable immune system.” Nothing good for your sensitive skin! The best ways to recharge your body are to drink sparkling water (it has vitamins and minerals) and to load up on fruits, vegetables and essential fatty acids like avocado, nuts, olive oil, and fish oil. A study has shown that fish oil in particular could be beneficial for reducing oxidative stress after exercise.

What sensitive skin, allergy-prone skin and reactive skin have in common is how important it is to use the right skincare products. Unlike normal skin types, people with sensitive skin (or sensitized skin) need to be extra careful about what they put on their faces and bodies to avoid flare-ups, reactions or breakouts.

Which skincare products to toss and which to favor

Dr. Lebar says to steer clear from essential oils, perfume, alcohol, anti-acne products (they can contain harsh ingredients), harsh exfoliating products, and self-foaming cleansers. Instead, choose hypoallergenic products and ones that say they are for sensitive skin, like Biotherm’s Life Plankton Sensitive Emulsion™. “Hard water can cause tingling or burning sensations and can make your skin look red or feel hot,” says Dr. Lebar. However not all is lost if you still prefer to use tap water and a gentle non-foaming cleanser – just follow-up with toner (just like you would after a workout) in order to remove residue and rebalance your skin’s pH.

Stick to a few skincare essentials

When you have sensitive skin you should try to avoid changing your skincare products too often. Once you find ones that work for you and don’t cause any problems, it’s best to continue to use them on a regular basis. Only incorporate new products very slowly and do a patch test first.

Dr. Lebar advises that before beginning any new skincare routine for sensitive skin, it’s important to rebalance your body first, through proper nutrition. In order to restore balance through food and get stronger sensitive skin, for 15 days you should:

-Stay well-hydrated by drinking 2 to 3 liters of water a day (plain water, lemon water and herbal teas are fine).

-Favor antioxidant-rich foods, like carrots, spinach, fresh parsley, and lemons (try to buy organic if you can to avoid pesticides) to fight free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.

-Favor foods rich in essential fatty acids like almonds, avocados and hemp seeds to reduce inflammation in the body (Dr. Lebar recommends having 3 tablespoons of olive oil or rapeseed oil per day to get your dose of omega-3 and omega-6).

-Favor foods high in zinc (nuts, hard cheeses) and selenium (selenium, seafood, mushrooms and eggs) to help reduce skin redness.

-Restore your intestinal flora and nourish your skin by eating more fermented foods, like yogurt and Kefir.

Why you should choose alkaline foods over acidic foods

In order for your sensitive skin to be healthy and to prevent triggering any reactions, it needs to maintain a slightly alkaline pH level. Our environment tends to create acidity and inflammation in our body, through things like stress, pollution, inactivity and over exercising (yes, working out too much is possible!). By limiting your intake of acidic foods and adding more alkaline foods into your diet, your pH levels can remain balanced.

Acidic foods to avoid are: Berries, tomatoes, white flour, meat, condiments, like mustard and vinegar, affeinated beverages, like coffee and tea. Alkaline foods to favor are: Pears, sweet potatoes, almonds, sunflower seeds, avocados, spinach.

What do you usually do before a workout? Change into your sports bra and athleisure wear and stretch for a few minutes? Do you ever stop to think about what you can do for your skin?

On day 8 of our sensitive skin program, we told you about how the environment you work out in can affect your skin. You learned how to make your skin stronger by doing things like staying hydrated and applying sunscreen if you exercise outside. However, there are more things that you can be doing beauty-wise before exercising that will protect your skin even further.

Go to the gym make-up free

Dr. Lebar suggests that you should always remove makeup before the gym, or simply not apply it all: “During a workout your pores open up and vasodilation occurs, allowing the pigments from your makeup to pass through your skin and enter your bloodstream faster.” Before you freak out, it’s okay if you forget this step once in a while! However it’s wiser to get dolled up after your workout, rather than before, as it makes more sense to apply makeup after breaking a sweat anyway!

Use skincare products to create a barrier between your skin and the elements

No matter what type of workout you do and where you do it, consider applying Life Plankton Sensitive Emulsion™ first. It will protect you from pollution and the cold, and it works great in combination with other creams, like Aquasource Cocoon. The latter would be particularly great before a dip in the pool, as it will create a barrier of protection between you and the chlorine in the water.

Stay away from exfoliating products

Just like we told you how exfoliating should be avoided after a workout, Dr. Lebar advises that you should skip it before exercising as well. “Exfoliating before a workout can create fragile capillaries, affecting microcirculation.” When you have sensitive skin, it’s important to be careful about exfoliating in general, and avoid harsh exfoliating products and peels.