How to Deal with Very Sensitive Skin

I've had sensitive skin all my life and it only gets worse as I get older. I've had terrible allergic reactions to bath products, my skin is constantly red, and I find that as I get older the sensitivity is also accompanied by dry skin, especially in the winter.

But lately, it's gotten better. I seem to have hit on a regimen that works for me. I do have Rosacea, but I find that what works for my Rosacea skin also works for other types of general sensitivity. So, I thought I'd share my tips for how to deal with it.

The very best piece of advice I can give you is to choose your skin care regimen with care. There are some lovely natural soaps for sensitive skin that you can try but what works for one person may not work for another. Aside from that, there are a few things that seem to always work.

Buy Natural Products

This is very important. Most people who have sensitive skin seem to be sensitive to chemicals. Some of the worse allergic reactions I've ever had involved synthetic fragrances. For example, even though I am fond of vanilla it needs to be natural. I break out in hives if it is a synthetic vanilla.

Keep in mind that just because it is listed as "natural" doesn't mean that it will be perfect. You could have a sensitive reaction to anything. It's just that natural ingredients are less likely to be irritating than synthetic ones.

Do a Patch Test

Whenever you buy a new product to try on your skin, always do a patch test. Put a small amount of product on the inside of your wrist and wait. If you break out in hives in that spot, it is safe to assume that this will happen throughout the body. If you don't get hives, it is a good indicator that you can use it throughout your body. If you do get a reaction, you'll need to try something else.

Lately, I have been using the Aveeno brand skin care. It's gentle on sensitive skin and contains soothing ingredients such as oatmeal. My skin is usually terrible this time of year (in late fall) but because i have been using Aveeno, my skin is about the same. In fact, it looks like it is healing.

Here are some other ingredients besides oatmeal that can help sensitive skin:

• Aloe vera
• Lavender essential oil
• Almond oil
• Rose essential oil
• Chamomile
• Soy
• Cucumber