Do you have sensitive skin?

[Guide]

" “True sensitive skin is a genetic predisposition and can be thought of as a built-in case,” she says. It’s found in individuals with very fair skin, usually of Northern European ancestry. This kind of skin is more delicate in make-up, with lower amounts of pigment and blood vessels that are closer to the surface of the skin, making it prone to redness, she explains.

Sensitive skin has a less effective protective outer layer on the skin’s surface—which is known as the epidermis—so irritants like allergens and microbes can more easily penetrate skin and reach more deeply, causing reactionary inflammation. Skin itches, scales, blisters, flushes, and breaks out under conditions that wouldn’t bother regular skin types........

......Meanwhile, sensitized skin occurs due to environmental effects and is “a growing phenomenon,” says Hammerman. It happens due to a number of factors, including over-exfoliation, cosmetic treatments like chemical peels and laser devices, exposure to stress, chemicals, smoking, alcohol, and pollution.

Fortunately, sensitized skin is a lot easier to calm than clinically sensitive skin." [bold added]

If You Think You Have Sensitive Skin, You Probably Don't - Here’s how to tell if you really have it. BY GRACE GOLD, Women's Health, December 16, 2015

[Guide]

"Whether you have acne, rosacea, or allergy-prone skin, you may think there's not much you can use on your touchy complexion. But the truth is, you could be seriously limiting your skin care by swearing off certain products. Here's the truth behind some of the most common sensitive skin myths...."

3 Sensitive Skin Myths—Busted!, Women's Health