Last Updated on August 14th, 2020
By Dr. Jaggi Rao, MD, FRCPC, Double board-certified dermatologist
When it comes to curing acne, sensitive skin requires sensitive treatment. 💡 Acne remedies that work well on resistant skin can make acne on sensitive skin worse, especially ingredients that are added to make a formula seem organic, herbal, and natural.
Article Table of Contents
Sensitive skin is a type of skin that is highly reactive to stress. When we undergo mental or physical stress, the pituitary gland in the brain releases a hormonal messenger known as corticotrophin stimulating hormone to activate the adrenal glands. When the skin undergoes stress, it also releases corticotrophin stimulating hormone to sebum glands.
Sensitive skin responds to stress by making oily sebum. Corticotrophin stimulating hormone also instructs mast cells in the skin to release histamine. This is the same chemical that causes allergies. In sensitive skin, it’s possible to have an allergic reaction without coming in contact with an allergy-inducing substance. Sensitive skin is “allergic” to stress. And it responds to stress by becoming red, itchy, irritated, and oily.
How can you know whether you have sensitive skin? Here are some reliable indicators:
If three or more of these characteristics apply to you, chances are that you have sensitive skin. And it’s also possible that you have rosacea.
Rosacea is a condition of skin inflammation that begins in blood vessels, not in pores. People who have rosacea tend to have weak capillaries, especially in the skin of the face over the cheeks, on the nose, and around the eyes. When these tiny blood vessels expand to cool the blood, they begin to leak. This makes the skin red in tiny dots around the leak. If this happens too many times (usually over a period of years) the skin can develop lumpy scar tissue around repeated leaks, giving the skin, especially the skin of the nose, a bumpy, lumpy kind of disfigurement known as rhinophyma.
Trying to get oil out of your pores won’t do you any good if you have rosacea. But trying to get oil out of your pores won’t do you any good if you have common acne on sensitive skin, either.
All you will accomplish by using harsh chemicals or detergent treatments of either rosacea or common acne on sensitive skin is stimulating even more redness and even more sebum production. It’s possible to have both common acne and rosacea—which is the likely result of treating rosacea with the methods used to treat acne on resistant skin. Sensitive skin requires sensitive handling.
Many people who have sensitive skin have a problem with acne, but they are more likely to be concerned about spots left behind once acne heals. If you have sensitive skin, your skin overreacts to inflammation. The melanin pigment that darkens the skin also protects it against free radicals and inflammation. If you have sensitive skin, chances are you will have brown spots in your skin left over from its fight against inflammation long after the acne inflammation goes away. 👧🏽👦🏿 The darker your skin, the more prominent the spots.
Minimizing inflammation minimizes discoloration of the skin. Here is what you need to to prevent lasting reminders of acne flares long after they have healed:
And what about day-to-day skin care if you have active acne on the skin?
A good product for keeping the skin clean is Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Redness Soothing Facial Cleanser. 👍🏻👍🏽👍🏿 If (and only if) you don’t experience any kind of redness, irritation, or peeling of the skin after using the product, you may use up to 10% benzoyl peroxide gels as a spot treatment for pimples, but you should not use more than 2.5% benzoyl peroxide over your entire face. You should also not use tea tree oil over your entire face, although a dot of 10% tea tree oil cream (it has to be about 10% to do you any good, just smelling like tea tree oil is not enough) will often take the red out of pimples while it kills acne bacteria.
Whatever you do, don’t place hot steamy washcloths or ice cubes on a pimple. Heat and cold damage blood vessels and can make redness worse—and permanent.
You can cover up pimples with concealer you apply with a feather brush to the skin. Place a tiny bit of yellow concealer, less than the size of a pea, on the back of your recently washed hand. Add a tiny amount of:
and work them together. Apply the mixture of concealer and pimple treatment to the pimple with the brush, and then use your clean fingers to smooth out the edges of concealer on the skin around your pimple. Be sure to remove the concealer at night to help pores stay open.
Can you tell me how effective salicylic acid is on sensitive skin. I've been advised to use it in the am ( in a moisturizer ) and a benzo peroxide product at night.
I have tried several different types of OTC products for acne, even those that say 'for sensitive skin.' Nothing works. I'm a woman, who's had 2 kids, I'm almost 30, and I still break out like a 15 year old boy. I have narrowed down to a few shampoo/conditioner/body wash products that don't really cause it to get worse, but if doesn't help it to get better at all. Like fit instance, I can use some Pantene products and Caress body washes, but not all of products of those brands. Most of the and products, even the Neutrogena oil free acne wash doesn't work, they seem to make it worse. Scents, perfumes and dyes don't bother my skin though, I can use just about any laundry detergent, perfume, etc... My face gets it worst, and if I'm not careful about washing and conditioning my hair first before I wash my body, my back and shoulders and sometimes even my thighs break out as well. Please help!
I know I'm not an expert but I would ask your dermatolgist if BP gel 5% benzoyl perxiode is for you or you should try lower percentage of something else.
you might wanna your body's acidity levels and switch to natural alkalizing foods that clear acid and toxins from your body, as well as using natural mild products like natural oils and butters....clear away synthetic and processed things from your diet and the products you use
@izzie: I feel you, I'm 21 and I still break out like crazy. I tried neautrogena oil free wash as well and it made my skin worse. I went to a dermatologist recently and they told me to use the least amount of products possible to cleanse my face and to use GENTLE cleanser on it. Neutrogena makes a face wash called ultra gentle daily cleanser and it's the foaming formula. It works REALLY well so far. In the AM, I use that and Olay Complete for sensitive skin moisturizer with SPF 15 and that's it. For night, I wash again with the same cleanser, a prescription topical antibiotic (which I haven't picked up yet actually), and neutrogena on the spot vanishing cream. It's only been a day and my skin looks much better, even without the prescription. Try it!
This doesn't really help me to be honest. I have sensitive skin prone to vicious hormonal cysts but only occasionally. The only way to prevent this as I can not tolerate (due to health problems any hormonal drug therapy & Drs don't prescribe antibiotics long term for my type acne) is some type of topical Ie retinoids, BP, salicylic acid, or azalea can acid - all potentially irritating evn at low concentration. If I don't use these i get the odd deep cyst which scar badly so I'm lost as to what we are supposed to do with sensitive skin and anything worse than "spots".
I am in same situation kay, i used BP & retionoids 2.5 but getting worse and cannot have antibiotic and other medications for long term have you ever tried chemical peeling ??
I have SUPER sensitive skin and I sometimes end up with "Burns" on my face from too-strong acne treatments. My skin is pretty oily, too. My dermatologist recommended the Citrus Clear products - OMG I love them! They literally work overnight and it doesn't burn, sting or leave marks on my face like some in the past have.
I have always had really really sensitive skin and have found that I can use Clinique super gentel face wash every other day on it (I think its clinique 2?). If I use it every day it dries my skin out though. That's the closest I've gotten. The neutrogena oil free acne wash definitely is too harsh and makes my skin worse. If I feel that my skin is too dry after I wash it I use clinique moisture surge and sometimes a little aloe vera (definitely make sure your skin responds well to aloe vera before putting it on your face). Tea tree oil does seem to help with some spot treatment, but I have to use the gentlest stuff I can find. I have a friend who swears by menuka honey, but I haven't tried it yet.
tiz is very good solution 4 me. my skin is problematic tats way i cannot use any makeup items or eat seafood items
I have sensitive with acne skin. I knew this since my doctor suggested to use very mild treatment. Well, I recently noticed that I DO have high sensitivity toward stress. Everytime I stress out, I will break out. They are deep acnes with white head, itchy, disturbing and a lot. I really hate this since my skin never absen of their existance. I use physiogel cleanser to clean my face and acne feldin for couple hours a day. I have a little progress yet I still want clear skin. I want to impress my fiance's family and coleagues.
I need help in finding out what I can use for my skin. I bought clenique and my face got an allergic reaction to it. I got a lot of little pimple type on my face. I stopped using it because it just made my face not feel good. Yesterday I bought 'Bioré' I thought I was going to work really good because it actually made my face feel clean. And I have never felt my fave so clean and nice. But I'm braking out again... I don't know if a have sensitive skin or not. I just need advice on what I should do.
I've been using Duac prescribed by my GP to combat acne; and it works! I am unfortunately though left with red scarring - not too bad, but not too good either. I have oily, Mediterranean type skin and I think this contributes a lot to my acne. I ensure to keep fit and only drink water every day. However I occasionally smoke which makes the acne appear again. Does anyone else experience this? And does anyone have a solution for eridicating acne scarring/red skin? Thank you - G
Am battling with acne sometimes my face get clear and sometimes I react to the product I use my face turns red or it start peeling, M tired I don't know what do do again, please help me
Hey my dermatologist recommended me to use these products: acne soap,anti biotic astringent and a refining solution. All of these stings and makes my face appear very red especially when its hot. She told me to use those products twice a day and she told me that i cant be exposed to sunlight because it will make my face more redish. But the products is doing its job, my pimples is slowly getting removed but my only problem is the redness.
I have had acne before but my skin is so sensitive that sometimes i get red bumps all over my face. My dermatologist says they dont have anything in them but I dont know the best way to get rid of them. Please let me know if you have any suggestions!
Same here :(. I had bad acne before and somehow got rid of it for about 2 years and now everythings back. Im not sure what triggered it this time. Everything I use from the store burns my face like crazy. Ive been using ghe Johnsons & Johnsons head to toe wash. Baby stuff is the only thing that doesnt kill my skin and makes my face less red.
Thanks for this article ❤️
I just started using castel soap kirks,ad eusurn for moisturizer the shea butter at night.I have sensitive skin it burns and I have red bumps. Can any one recommend a body and and face cleaner that works.Including moisturizer that works.I really need help.Doctor said to use dove but wasn't cleaning good and drying.She recommend eucurin not sure yet about that one.Oh I like coconut oil except it dry s my skin out on my face .
I used to get very bad acne and have super sensitive skin. I used Neutrogena and it didn’t work. I’ve used avenno and that also didn’t work. Also clean and clear. I then found proactive + which is 3 steps. When I apply it My face turns bright red and burns. Although it keeps my acne away well. I wake up very puffy and dry. During the afternoon my fave usually gets very oily and bright red and hot. Do I continue to use Proactive since it is working for my acne? Or should I consider something else?
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