The Skin Nerd: Is your skin red and itchy?

Skin sensitisation is different to having sensitive skin – the latter you’re born with! says The Skin Nerd

Skin sensitisation occurs when your skin barrier becomes weakened or compromised by a trigger

Say you’ve always considered your skin to be “normal”, but you suddenly have dehydrated skin with visible redness and itchy sensations. We’d bet our bottom dollar that’s because your skin has become sensitised. Sensitive skin is genetic while sensitised skin can pass as rapidly as it appears. So, no need to panic – your skin hasn’t pledged allegiance to lifelong sensitivity.

Similar to sensitive skin, sensitisation occurs when your skin barrier becomes weakened or compromised by a trigger. By that I mean, the stratum corneum (aka the outermost layer of skin) has become permeable which allows harmful aggressors to enter and precious moisture to escape. The irritants that pass through cause an inflammatory response in the skin, as moisture loss causes dehydration.