SKIN SENSITIVITY
Skin sensitivity is often poorly defined and means different things to different people. For some people it shows up as stinging or burning, for others it appears as redness, flushing, itching, or skin that suddenly “reacts” to products that were previously well tolerated.
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Sensitive skin is recognised in dermatology research as a common but subjective skin state, often characterised by burning, stinging or discomfort in the absence of visible disease, as described by Misery et al. in their 2009 epidemiological study published in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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Sensitive skin is not a diagnosis. It describes how skin behaves when it has less capacity to cope with everyday exposures. When that capacity is reduced, the skin reacts more easily to products, weather, treatments, or stress. Understanding what has lowered the skin’s ability to cope is far more useful than trying to avoid every possible trigger.
What Skin Sensitivity Looks Like
Skin sensitivity can present in different ways, and it does not always look dramatic.
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Features may include:
• Stinging or burning with skincare application
• Redness or flushing that appears easily and settles slowly
• Tightness or discomfort even when the skin looks normal
• Itching, tingling, or a sensation of heat without visible rash
• Skin that becomes reactive after procedures, sun exposure, or environmental changes
Some people experience ongoing sensitivity. Others notice it appears in cycles, often during periods of stress, illness, travel, or seasonal change.
Why Skin Becomes Sensitive
Sensitive skin rarely has a single cause. It usually reflects a combination of factors that have reduced the skin’s ability to tolerate stimulation.
Contributors may include:
• Overuse of active ingredients, particularly exfoliants or retinoids
• Frequent product changes that prevent the skin from settling
• Environmental exposure such as wind, cold, heat, or low humidity
• Sun exposure without adequate protection
• Stress, illness, or fatigue, which can alter inflammatory responses
• Aggressive treatments performed too frequently or without adequate recovery time
In many cases, sensitivity develops gradually. The skin may cope for a period, then begin reacting once its tolerance has been exceeded.
Sensitive Skin Is Not Weak Skin
A common misconception is that sensitive skin is inherently fragile. In reality, many people with sensitivity have skin that has simply been pushed beyond what it can comfortably tolerate.
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When the skin is repeatedly stimulated without enough recovery time, its responses become exaggerated. Redness lingers. Stinging becomes more noticeable. Products that once felt fine suddenly feel uncomfortable.
This does not mean the skin cannot improve. It means the approach needs to change.
Why Sensitivity Often Persists
People with sensitive skin are often advised to do more rather than less. New products are added. Actives are layered. Treatments are escalated.
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This frequently worsens the problem.
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Over-treatment can:
• Increase baseline inflammation
• Prolong redness and discomfort
• Make skin less predictable rather than more resilient
• Reduce tolerance to otherwise beneficial ingredients
Sensitive skin usually responds best when unnecessary stimulation is removed and the skin is given time to stabilise.
Managing Sensitive Skin Effectively
Managing sensitivity is about restoring tolerance, not eliminating every sensation.
A supportive approach often includes:
• Simplifying the routine rather than adding more steps with a focus to more natural products if needed
• Using fewer active ingredients, introduced slowly if needed
• Allowing adequate recovery time between treatments
• Protecting the skin from environmental stressors, particularly sun exposure
• Avoiding unnecessary friction, scrubbing, or heat
Progress is often subtle at first. Reduced stinging, calmer redness, and improved comfort usually appear before visible changes in texture or tone.
How We Can Help at ALLOR
At ALLOR, sensitivity is approached with care and restraint. The aim is not to push through reactions, but to understand why the skin is reacting and reduce unnecessary stress on it.
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Support may include:
• Reviewing current skincare and identifying contributors to irritation
• Adjusting routines to improve comfort and predictability
• Guidance on which ingredients to pause, reduce, or reintroduce gradually
• In-clinic treatments only when the skin is stable enough to tolerate them
If sensitivity suggests an underlying medical skin condition or falls outside what can be safely managed in clinic, appropriate referral is always supported.
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Our focus remains on skin that feels comfortable, behaves predictably, and can tolerate treatment over time, rather than chasing rapid change at the expense of long-term skin health.
