Laser and Skin Care Center of Gainesville, Florida >> Sensitive Skin

SENSITIVE SKIN

In industrialized countries, a large number of people encounter problems of skin discomfort and claim to have sensitive skin. These signs range from sensations of tightness, stinging, itching or burning to erythemas (localized or widespread redness), irritation or dryness.

Aggravating factors:
The mechanisms governing sensitive skin are still not completely clear. It is thought that the skin's threshold of tolerance is lowered and that the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the epidermis, becomes abnormally permeable.

Sensitive skin has trouble defending itself from external assaults that are usually well tolerated, e.g. exposure to harsh weather conditions, unsuitable cosmetics, pollution, hormonal changes, sudden changes in diet, depilatory or peeling procedures and acne treatments.

Each new assault further weakens the barrier function of the skin.