Soothe Sensitive Skin

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Are you plagued with allergic skin reactions and flare-ups? Help you skin ease up on these symptoms with these solutions.

Even if your skin reacts to irritants such as harsh detergents, alcohol and acids in skin care products, it does not necessarily mean that you have sensitive skin. Hypersensitive skin is generally thinner and more easily traumatized. Environmental elements such as temperature changes, pollution and the sun’s UV rays, and other factors like medication and stress often cause similar symptoms, including redness, breakouts, blotchiness and a rash-like appearance.

Possible causes

If you blush, itch, or react to certain allergens or get sunburned easily, your gene may be to blame. In fact, parents who suffer from similar symptoms often pass it on to their children. In this is the case, try to avoid using products that contain ingredients you know nothing about. Other triggers of hypersensitivity: Stress and food. Stress can trigger certain hormones and chemicals in your brain which cause rashes to pop up, while some foods can cause severe allergic reactions in some people.

Simple solutions

Keep you skin’s sensitive reactions under control with these steps.

• Use products that contain as few preservatives, fragrances and chemicals as possible.
• Avoid (or least be very careful with) acidic and other potentially irritating skin products, such as alpha hydroxyl products and retinoids. When in doubt, do a patch test by applying the product to a small area on your forearm for 24 hours before using it on your face.
• Keep your skin care regimen simple. Clean your skin once or twice a day with an alcohol-and soap-free cleanser. After cleansing, apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer. A light, water-based lotion that does not contain mineral oil, lanolin, or other greasy ingredients is ideal. Do it while you skin is still damp to help seal in the moisture.
• Apply sun protection just before you leave the house. Sunscreens with titanium dioxide and zink oxide work well for sensitive skin by reflecting the photons in light rays up and out of the skin so there is no absorption of energy.
• Avoid make-up if you need to. By going natural you will allow your skin to breath and keep it free from harmful chemicals. However, if you do wear make-up, always choose products that are designed for sensitive skin. Look for products that are non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and fragrance free.

Expert Strategy

Consult a dermatologist if you suspect that you have hypersensitive skin. This will allow her to rule out skin conditions with similar symptoms such as rosacea or eczema, which may require specialized treatment. If you suffer from allergies, experience dryness, itching, and flakiness all-year round, or notice a redness that does not respond to changes in your skincare routine, it’s best to check with a dermatologist to have it diagnosed.

(Shape)

Sunscreen Labelling

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On June 14, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced “significant” changes to sunscreen labelling to help consumers make better choices about sunscreen products.

According to a report, terms such as “sunblock”, “waterproof”, and “sweatproof” can no longer be used to describe a sunscreen product. Now manufacturers can only use the phrase “water-resistant” while specifying how long the product works and when it should be reapplied, after 40 to 80 minutes in the water. If the sunscreen is not water-resistant, it should carry a warning not to use it in the water.

Also, the FDA states that only the sunscreens that protect against UVA and UVB rays and have SPF no less than 15 can be considered effective at reducing the risk of skin cancer, sunburns, and wrinkles. If a product does not meet these requirements, it should carry a warning.

Sunscreens with SPF 50 and higher will be banned, because there is no evidence that they offer greater protection against UV radiation. The labels will go into effect next year.

The new regulations, which the FDA has been considering since 1978 are catching up to European and Australian standards. In both Australia and the EU, protection from sunburn can not be claimed unless the product helps prevent both ultraviolet UVB and UVA radiation. Already in the EU, sunscreen labels can only go up to SPF 50, while Australia’s limit is 30.

In the US, there are 17 approved sunscreen agents, Europe has 28, and Japan has more than 40, according to New York University’s Darrells S. Rigel, former president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

(AFP)