cebudu Budu has a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and a Master in Biochemistry. She is the Founder of Active Herbal Cosmetics and Skin Therapeutics (http://www.telbari.com). Her line of skin care products created only of Certified Organic herbs and genuine oils represents her continue dedication to satisfy the customer needs for healthy and radiant skin. View all articles | Contact author

More and more people exhibit increased skin sensitivity, particularly on the face, with adverse reactions to cosmetics and toiletries.
Sensitive skin shows visible signs of irritation such as erythema, scaling, stinging, itching, burning and tightness, following the use of cosmetics and personal care. It has been also observed a higher incidence of atopic eczema for people with sensitive skin.

 A survey showed that 50% of women and 40% of men regarded themselves as having sensitive skin.

 Sensitive skin responds very quickly with skin discomfort to the environmental factors such as sun, pollutants, cold weather and chemical ingredients in toiletries.

 The most sensitive skin layer to environmental changes, skin care and cosmetics, is the outer most layer called stratum corneum also known as the skin barrier.

 In scientific studies, the hypersensitivity to stimuli of sensitive skin was correlated with an increased permeability of the skin barrier. This impairment in the skin barriers function is due to an imbalance of intracellular lipids in this layer. Low content of nerve growth factor has been observed as well on the skin barrier in case of sensitive skin. Lack of this factor can easily trigger skin inflammation. Therefore, inappropriate quality of the skin barrier may be associated with sensitive skin.

 Proper care of the skin barrier is vital in maintaining of a long term healthy skin. It is important to take care of your skin barrier at a younger age. The sooner you start taking care of your skin the better your skin will age. The skin barrier is the key to a healthy skin and can be associated with an attractive appearance when proper care is maintained.

 Proper care for the skin barrier should include cleansing, moisturizing and protection of the layer. Proper lipid content and a proper hydration of the skin barrier can be achieved by using moisturizers rich in essential lipids .

 In conclusion: sensitive skin can be overcome when a proper care of the skin barrier is maintained at a younger age, as a preventive therapy.