Sensitive skin can be uncomfortable, break out, flare up, or cause cosmetic problems like rosacea, acne, or scars. For persons with sensitive skin, extra care should be taken to choose the proper skin care regimen or professional skin care treatment. Dermatologists and surgeons on RealSelf have offered advice on sensitive skin regarding which treatments should be used and which should be avoided. Some treatments may even cause a temporary increase in skin sensitivity, so read on to learn more if such problems are a concern for you.
Sensitive skin treatments
If you have sensitive skin, and you're seeking a treatment to improve your complexion, you may want to look at a light chemical peel. These can decrease freckling and improve texture to a minor degree. Deeper chemical peels for sensitive skin are usually not recommended because they are not as well tolerated and redness tends to persist for a prolonged period of time.
After laser resurfacing, a few patients might notice that their skin is more sensitive to towel rubbing, sunshine exposure, application of creams, and to extreme changes in temperature. This usually improves with time. If one has sensitive skin, meaning that breakouts occur with certain creams, then it is possible that an acne flare could develop in the healing phase after any resurfacing, although much less with Fraxel than the older more involved carbon dioxide laser.
Microdermabrasion is a gentle technique for improving surface texture and tone. That said, if one has particularly sensitive skin (e.g. if you have rosacea or lots of acne), then microdermabrasion is not advised. A dermatologist should be able to determine if your skin type and skin problem would benefit from microdermabrasion.
Sensitive skin products
The La Roche-Posay line addresses skin by type: sensitive, redness-prone, acne-prone, anti-aging and dry-to-severely dry.
Lindi Skin was created for people who suffer from sensitive, burned, dehydrated skin.
Glytone day lotions for sensitive skin 1 and 2 use glycolic acid in different strengths.
Related Links
- Chemical peels for sensitive skin?
- Can Fraxel increase skin sensitivity?
- Is microdermabrasion safe for sensitive skin?
Bryan K Chen MD, John P Di Saia MD, Ronald Shelton MD, Benjamin Barankin, MD