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eWellness magazine
Know your skin sensitivity
2015-08-03
How sensitive is your skin
There are many different skin types out there from dry to oily to a combination of both, no to
mention the most common skin type – sensitive
skin.
Today, we are going to focus on sensitive skin and
give you a few helpful tips.
What is sensitive skin?
Know your skin sensitivity|Wellness
magazine
According to webmed.com “While there is no
dermatological definition for sensitive skin, the term
is used to describe the skin condition of people
who easily break out in rashes and get blotchy, itchy or stinging skin in response to products or the
weather.”
Say goodbye to dry, itchy, irritated skin
1. Drink plenty of water. Water will hydrate your skin from the inside out and is essentials in keeping
sensitive skin calm and nourished.
2. Pass on hot showers. Hot water can leave your skin super dry.
3. Protect your skin with sunscreen. Sunscreen is important for every skin type, however sensitive your skin
may be it is especially delicate when it comes to heat and sun. Apply sunscreen on a daily basis.
4. Use a homemade masks to sooth your skin: once a week, prepare and use a natural yogurt mask.
Ingredients: 1-cup natural, creamy, thick and cold yogurt (just out of the fridge) mix with ½ cup (any type of
basic oatmeal works here). Apply to the skin for 10-15 minutes. Wash off mask with a washcloth steamed
in the microwave.
5. Make time to find new beauty products. Investing in a new natural skincare or makeup product can bring
quickly result.
Know your Chemical Irritants
To avoid many of the common chemical irritants found in ordinary skin care products, below find a list of
ingredients that are recognized as common irritants. Read the product label if you need, or want, to avoid
them.
Chemical Irritants
DYES
Dyes are used to tint skin products to disguise the undesirable color of an ingredient, they are added to
more closely match skin colors, or to tint the product for consumer appeal. Examples of possible irritating
dyes are:
D&C Yellow #11
FD&C Blue #1
FD&C Yellow #5 (also known as tartrazine)
FRAGRANCE
Fragrance adds to consumer appeal and may be used to cover up undesirable odors for some ingredients.
Examples of fragrances are:
Benzaldehyde
Cologne
Herbal Extracts
Masking Fragrance
Perfume
Plant, flower, fruit, nut oils
FORMALDEHYDE RELEASERS
Formaldehyde releasers preserve a product against bacterial, mold and fungus contamination.
Unfortunately, formaldehyde also causes irritation and allergic problems for some people. Examples of
formaldehyde releasers:
Bronopol
Diazolidinyl Urea
DMDM Hydantoin
Imidazolidinyl Urea
MDM Hydantoin
Quaternium 15
SURFACTANTS
Surfactants serve several functions but are best known for their cleaning or detergent use; in addition they
are used for improved foaming action in many personal care products. Unfortunately, some surfactants are
known skin sensitizers and or skin irritants.
Examples of these surfactants include:
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
PARABENS
Parabens are preservatives that guard against mold, fungus, or bacteria growth. Examples of parabens
are:
Benzylparaben
Butylparaben
Ethylparaben
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
LANOLIN & DERIVATIVES
Lanolin and derivatives contribute properties to skin products that help moisturize. Lanolin is not a pure
product but a complex combination of many substances, which are difficult to separate and may carry over
to derivatives. Examples of lanolin’s are:
Lanolin (hydrous and anhydrous)
Hydrogenated Lanolin
Lanolin Alcohol
Wool Fat
Wool Wax
Alcohols (Wool Alcohol)
IRRITATING PRESERVATIVES
Irritating preservatives are also used to prevent microbial growth, unfortunately by their own nature, for
many people, they also tend to cause irritation to the skin. Examples of irritating preservatives are:
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone
Know your skin sensitivity
Only you know what types of products irritate your skin and scalp. Think about the types of products you
typically use and try substituting these products for cosmetics made without chemical irritants. A few
examples below:
Scalp irritation
Free & Clear™ Shampoo is non-medicated, mild and gentle, and leaves hair clean and manageable. It is
also free of cocamidopropyl betaine and sulfates. Free & Clear™ Conditioner helps prevent tangles and
hair damage, rinses easily without build-up leaving hair feeling clean and healthy. Additional hair products
include two hair sprays and a hair gel, all formulated specifically for sensitive skin.
Skin irritation
Vanicream™ Skin Cream, Vanicream™ Lite Lotion and Vaniply™ Ointment soothe and moisturize dry,
chapped skin and are non-greasy, easy to spread and non-comedogenic. Each has been awarded the
National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. Vanicream™ Sunscreen SPF 30 and SPF 50+ are
broad spectrum, water resistant (80 minutes) and non-comedogenic. They are formulated with zinc oxide
and titanium dioxide and provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Vanicream™ Skin Cream and
Vanicream™ Sunscreen SPF 50+ have been awarded the Skin Trust Society’s Dermatologist Approved
Seal. Vanicream™ Suncreens are also listed on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) list of best
sunscreens.
The PSI skin cleansers are soap-free, and non-comedogenic. Gentle sensitive skin formulas for everyday
use include Free & Clear™ Liquid Cleanser, Vanicream™ Facial Cleanser, and Vanicream™ Cleansing
Bar.
About company
Pharmaceutical Specialties, Inc. (PSI) has been serving dermatology for over 40 years providing skin care
products for people with sensitive skin and/or those who want to avoid common chemical irritants. Initially,
(PSI) founders, both pharmacists, worked closely with dermatologists in a local hospital. There were few
products commercially available that did not contain chemicals. It was suggested by several dermatologists
that the two of them start a company to make products they could recommend to their patients. While the
two pharmacists continued to work full time at the local hospital, PSI was established in a small rented
building with a small part time staff. In the late 1990’s, both retired from the hospital to expand PSI and the
product lines, moving several times to larger facilities. PSI now thrives in a large, modern facility employing
80 people.
Keeping with the original concept of producing products for those with sensitive skin, they use the highest
quality ingredients and select ingredients that are safe and effective for our consumers. They continuously
test and monitor them for quality. Even though most of their products are considered cosmetics by the
FDA, they manufacture to drug quality standards and meet and exceed the FDA’s current Good
Manufacturing Practice regulations. (PSI) is regularly inspected by the FDA and licensed by the Minnesota
State Board of Pharmacy as a pharmaceutical manufacturer. (PSI) employees are an important part of
company success and they are proud to have been recognized as a ‘Top Work Place’ in Minnesota five
years in a row.
Pharmaceutical Specialties, Inc. entire line of skin and hair care products has been specially formulated for
people who need, or want, to avoid common chemical irritants found in ordinary products. They are all free
of dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens and formaldehyde. All of Pharmaceutical
Specialties, Inc. products have been tested to be gluten-free. (PSI) is true to their labeling. They do not use
misleading words or claims such as ‘hypoallergenic’ on (PSI) label and then use a known allergen in their
formula. When Pharmaceutical Specialties, Inc. says ‘fragrance-free, they mean free of fragrance’.
Photo: Courtesy of PSI ; Dusky & stockimages at freedigitalphotos.net Source: www.psico.com