Sensitive skin is defined as skin that can be prone to becoming itchy, red, bumpy or rough after using creams or soaps. These are basically allergic reactions.
Sensitive skin can be happy, you just have to treat it gently and listen to it. Many people have sensitive skin, luckily we live in a day and time that provides solutions for people with this problem.
Sensitivity is usually caused by the scents and preservatives in products. They can also be caused by other ingredients. Some ingredients are more likely to cause allergens than others. Your dermatologist can help you determine the specific ingredient to look for and give you a list of products to avoid. Sometimes it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause using the information you provide and so you may have to see a specialized dermatologist who can perform skin patch testing on you to determine which skin products cause you allergies.
What is skin patching?
Skin patch testing is a procedure where patches of allergens are applied to your skin. Your dermatologist reads them 3 days and 7 days after they are applied to determine what you are allergic to.
A great easy test to try at home is to apply your favorite product to the inside of your arm once daily for 5 days. If the product is a soap you can apply the soap then rinse it off. Watch for any reactions including redness, itching, rough skin or bumps.