Sensitive Skin Care

Note: many thanks to Tiffany for drawing my attention to this issue. I've used my own words here and consulted other sources, but she should be credited for educating me about the possibly harmful effects of certain chemicals. Please visit my lens on green skin care for more advice and tips on going green.

Why should you choose all-natural skin care products? Certain artificial ingredients are not only bad for your skin, but also potentially unsafe for your body. These include sodium lauryl sulfate, synthetic fragrances, and parabens.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is what creates the lather in foaming cleansers. It is an irritant that can cause rashes and inflammation. That's the last thing you want if you have sensitive skin. I always thought lather was necessary for proper cleansing, but it's not true! You can get your skin clean with products that do not produce any lather.

Parabens are preservatives that act like estrogen, a naturally occurring hormone. Estrogenic activity in the body is associated with some forms of breast cancer. Any product that contains parabens will have one or more of the following in their list of ingredients: methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, or benzylparaben (source: United States FDA, 2006.) In spite of widespread concern about a possible link between parabens and breast cancer, the FDA's position is that products containing these preservatives are safe.

If you want to avoid exposure to parabens, make sure you check the list of ingredients on all skin care products. Some products labeled "natural," "all-natural" and/or "organic" may still contain parabens.

In this picture my skin is pretty good, but it hasn't always been that way.

I have very fair, delicate skin that tends to break out in hives, itchy red patches, and painful red cysts. These breakouts happen mostly on my face, neck and upper chest. When my skin is at its worst, there are times when I am too self-conscious about my appearance to be able to go out and have fun.

I'm not sure what causes the hives and itching, as I have no known allergies or other autoimmune problems. The cysts may be some form of acne, but they are not spread over large areas like in severe cystic acne.

There's a lot I don't know about what is causing my symptoms, but I have identified some of my triggers and found several things that help.

I used to try to cover the inflamed areas with concealer, but it always stung when I applied it. I'd grit my teeth and try to ignore the pain, thinking it was worth it in order to prevent anyone from seeing what my skin really looked like. When I washed off the makeup at the end of the day, I would see that it had made the irritation and swelling a lot worse. I'd look in the mirror and think: I'm hideous. This will never go away. What I need is a permanent face transplant.

I still have those thoughts sometimes, but I've learned to adopt a new attitude towards my skin: compassion.

I've stopped trying so hard to eradicate the flaws that I felt were ruining my life. Instead, I focus on treating my skin gently and encouraging it to heal.

How I look in the mirror doesn't matter all that much. What's really important is how my skin feels.

All that staring in the mirror and stressing out over my appearance could not have been helpful, especially since stress is such a common trigger for skin problems.

Hormonal factors have been important in my case as well. Since I started on the birth control pill Ortho Tri-Cyclen (generic name: Tri-SprintTec), my skin is less inflamed and the cysts are much less frequent. I continue to struggle with hives and itching, but they are easier to manage now that the degree of inflammation is so much less.

For more about me and my skin, visit my blog: Sensitive Skin Relief.

If your skin problems are not severe, this page may provide you with some useful information and help you find the right skin care products to promote healing. I am well-informed about sensitive skin, rosacea, adult acne, and general skin care.

However: If you have severe swelling, pain, or open sores, see a doctor before you attempt to use any topical skin care treatment products. I am not a medical professional, and therefore I am not qualified to provide medical advice to anyone with a serious skin condition.