Sensitive skin and redness

Sensitive skin and couperose

Sensitivity is a condition, not a diagnosis: the skin reacts more strongly when its barrier is compromised. Couperose is the everyday name for the dilated capillaries on the cheeks and nose. The same sign appears in rosacea, which is a skin disease diagnosed by a dermatologist, so telling the two apart is a doctor's call. More in couperose and rosacea.

The common triggers are few and repeat themselves: hot baths and saunas, sudden changes of temperature, alcohol, spicy food, strong exfoliants and too many actives at once. Removing them often does more than a new product.

Fewer steps, calmer skin

A routine that works on sensitive skin is a short one: gentle cleansing in the evening and only water or micellar water in the morning, a soothing serum, a cream with lipids and sun protection. A new product is introduced on its own, for at least two weeks, and patch tested first.

If the redness is constant, with papules or with burning that does not settle, that is a question for a dermatologist. The products below are chosen for sensitive skin, but they too do not replace treatment for diagnosed rosacea.