Shopping for Sensitive Skin: A Guide for the Acne and Rosacea Conscious

Acne and rosacea patients take note- you must know about proper skin-care and cosmetic usage to successfully manage your sensitive skin. This is the counsel of Dr. Diane Berson, who runs a dermatology practice in New York City.

A critical step in reducing skin sensitivity is understanding the importance of the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the skin and is composed of dead, flat skin cells held together by the protein keratin. This skin barrier prevents molecules from passing into and out of the skin and thereby protects the lower layers of skin while reducing skin sensitivity.

Healthy, uninjured skin is more effective at preventing skin irritations that may result from using cosmetics and skin care products. Individuals with altered nerve endings or more neurotransmitters under their skin are more susceptible to minor skin irritants in cosmetics and skin care products. When the skin is excessively dry or damaged, it cannot adequately protect these nerve endings. Sound moisturizing and a strong immune system help minimize possible skin irritants.

Some of Dr. Berson's recommendations for caring for sensitive skin include:

Selecting mild cleansers. Use mild cleansing agents that have synthetic detergents or lipid-free cleansers. Resist using abrasive cleansers since they can cause microscopic tears in the skin and damage the protective layers of the skin.

Rosacea patients should not use alcohol-based products such as toners or astringents.

Acne patients will benefit from toners that contain salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acid. However, when starting a retinoid treatment, temporarily discontinue using a toner or astringent since the combination may make the retinoid more irritating. Acne patients must also limit or abstain from excessively rough cleansing and washing. Julie Harper, M.D., who directs a clinic to treat acne at the University of Alabama at Birmingham laments, "Teenagers think they have acne because they do not wash enough, but usually they are washing too often with harsh scrubs that make their symptoms worse."

Using moisturizers. Tracy L. Grosick, a key skin care product researcher with Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati says that when the skin's moisture barrier is intact, it helps the skin to combat environmental attacks that are encountered on a daily basis. When acne and rosacea patients are using treatments that dry the skin, moisturizers may improve the skin's barrier function. Dr. Benson recommends using moisturizers with the least amount of ingredients.

Rosacea patients should choose a moisturizer with only glycerin, petrolatum, or aloe vera, which might be anti-inflammatory.

Acne patients should also stick with products containing the least amount of ingredients.

Using noncomedogenic sunscreens. Rosacea patients need to use a physical-blocking products containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide because these ingredients will not irritate red, inflamed skin and will provide optimal protection.

Acne patients with oily skin should use noncomedogenic, non-pore clogging, products. Select an alcohol-based or gel-based sunscreen.

Preservatives. The best preservatives for sensitive skin are those containing parabens like methyl paraben and butyl paraben.

The key to keeping sensitive skin less susceptible to irritation is ensuring the integrity of your stratum corneum, the skin's primary defensive barrier. You can start by using a minimalist moisturizer, and noncomedogenic sunscreen.

Sources:

American Academy of Dermatology (Newswise.com)

Dermatology Times. Patricia Reiman. Alleviating sensitivity: Study finds moisturizers with niacinamide make skin more resilient. March 1, 2004 Dermatology Times. Cheryl Guttman. Sensitive skin valid patient problem. May 1, 2002.

E Skin and Allergy News. Timothy F. Kirn. Lifestyle, Cosmetics Integral to Acne, Rosacea Tx. August 2003.

Naweko San-Joyz writes health and beauty articles from her home in San Diego. She recently published "Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to acne" (ISBN: 0974912204). Naweko is presently working on title called "Skinny Fat Girls, Why we're still not getting this diet thing" (ISBN: 0974912212) for release in May of 2005. To challenge and verify her research, San-Joyz trains for figure competitions.

MORE RESOURCES:

CSI USA, Inc. Issues Voluntary National Recall of Topical Acne Cream - Pharmaceutical Processing

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.pharmpro.com/ShowPR~PUBCODE~021~ACCT~0000100~ISSUE~0811~RELTYPE~IN~PRODCODE~0000~PRODLETT~AZ.htmlcid=1271665696ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNEGBd8f0F5vAL3y_yCIrkWxvdd5JgCSI USA, Inc. Issues Voluntary National Recall of Topical bAcne/b Cream/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPharmaceutical Processing,nbsp;NJnbsp;-/font nobr18 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1CSI, USA, Inc. issued a voluntary nationwide consumer product recall of all lots of 1 ounce (28 g) tubes of 10% Benzoyl Peroxide bAcne/b Cream with the b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://www.medpagetoday.com/ProductAlert/OTC/11817cid=1271665696ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNGhgSoaeAwgo3WDl9jsF0q34_OcEAbAcne/b Cream Recalled for Possible Bacterial Contamination/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMedPage Today/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1271665696hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Acne gel being recalled - Capital News 9

In the throes of acne agony - AsiaOne

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2i-0fd=Rurl=http://justwoman.asiaone.com/Just%252BWoman/About%252BMe/Well%252BBeing/Story/A1Story20081117-101236.htmlcid=0ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNG6YXjJPUdREoC9VnIqY8RRY6Ozogimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=nG0SfTy3n78Jimgurl=justwoman.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/justwomen/11Nov08/images/20081117.150724_acne350.jpg width=80 height=40 alt= border=1brfont size=-2AsiaOne/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://justwoman.asiaone.com/Just%252BWoman/About%252BMe/Well%252BBeing/Story/A1Story20081117-101236.htmlcid=0ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNG6YXjJPUdREoC9VnIqY8RRY6OzogIn the throes of bacne/b agony/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAsiaOne,nbsp;Singaporenbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1If you#39;re getting older and still getting bacne/b, this may help. ReVive bAcne/b Reparatif combines anti-bacne/b and anti-aging ingredients. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Health Tip: Conditions That May Affect a Newborn#39;s Skin - U.S. News World Report

FACT or fiction? - Jamaica Observer

Miley Cyrus#39; Acne Outbreaks - Post Chronicle

Various brands of acne creams are recalled - The Money Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.themoneytimes.com/news/20081113/various_brands_of_acne_creams_are_recalled-id-1041342.htmlcid=1269957621ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNFETTQlhOREpcyW1w5vRf3d4rBdngimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=yltbKk-MZkQJimgurl=www.themoneytimes.com/filess/acne_1.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2The Money Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://www.themoneytimes.com/news/20081113/various_brands_of_acne_creams_are_recalled-id-1041342.htmlcid=1269957621ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNFETTQlhOREpcyW1w5vRf3d4rBdngVarious brands of bacne/b creams are recalled/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Money Times,nbsp;Indianbsp;-/font nobrNov 13, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Washington -- The US Food and Drug Administration announced the recall of brands of bacne/b cream because of possible contamination. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Acne gel being recalled - Providence Eyewitness News

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/us_news/us_wpri_acne_gel_recall_20081114cid=1270354139ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNHQ5q2jXg1ZZMQAwLzImnT3todhmAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=xJj_ZhIZ0sIJimgurl=media2.wpri.com//photo/2008/11/14/acne_recall2_20081114160720_320_240.JPG width=80 height=65 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Providence Eyewitness News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-0fd=Rurl=http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/us_news/us_wpri_acne_gel_recall_20081114cid=1270354139ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNHQ5q2jXg1ZZMQAwLzImnT3todhmAbAcne/b gel being recalled/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fProvidence Eyewitness News,nbsp;RInbsp;-/font nobrNov 14, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The bacne/b creams are found under the following names: · Equate: Medicated bAcne/b Gel sold at Wal-Mart stores. · Kroger bAcne/b Gel 10 percent Benzoyl Peroxide b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-1fd=Rurl=http://www.kwtx.com/medicaldirectory/headlines/34453159.htmlcid=1270354139ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNFRbHFGLXIm9VY5yvsxP_4tZB09UQConsumer Alert: bAcne/b Medicine Recall/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrKWTX/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-2fd=Rurl=http://www.wxyz.com/content/news/health/story.aspx%3Fcontent_id%3D3503b757-06c6-4f7f-9ec5-71ba93ac3851cid=1270354139ei=I9kiScnCOaXg6gPelryOCAusg=AFQjCNH7stfBQUSoj-xBQVV4iV-KFINihwbAcne/b Cream Recalled Due to Bacteria/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWXYZ/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1270354139hl=ennobrall 7 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Acne Problems An Treatment - Over 100 Articles on Acne - Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung)

Toddler being sought - KTEN

Acne - Google News

RELATED ARTICLES

Body Acne Questions & Answers
What Causes of Body Acne?Body acne can range from the relatively harmless forms of acne mechanica to the rare, yet debilitating forms of acne fulminans.Body acne can arise from series of acne triggers.

Treating Adult Onset Acne With Anti-aging Moisturizers
The development of anti-aging alpha hydroxy acid moisturizers is promising a new approach for adult onset female acne. To date thousands of women nationwide have successfully used the anti-aging acne treatment from Niora�, Alpha Clear�.

Stop, That Little White Bump May Not Be A Zit After All
White bumps bugging you? Just because you have little white bumps on your face does not necessarily mean that you have acne. Milia, are little balls of protein beneath the skin that do not have a pore, or hole in the skin through which to escape.

Ways To Avoid Acne
In many cases acne can be avoided. There are lots of ways to avoid acne.

Acne Skin Care Tips that Work
How should people go about acne skin care? This article enumerates some basic guidelines to go by. For example, you should clean your skin gently, avoid frequent handling of the skin, avoid sun tanning, and lastly, women should choose their cosmetics carefully and men must shave carefully for good acne skin care.

How to Choose an Over The Counter Acne Medication
There are literally hundreds of various treatments available to reduce acne. There is everything from all natural herbal remedies, to powerful chemical pharmaceuticals such as Accutane.

Treating Adult Acne With Anti-aging Moisturizers
Softening the skin and relieving wrinkles with anti-aging moisturizers is becoming a welcome and effective method of treating acne. To date there is a large and growing number of people, especially adult women, who have benefited from new techniques that not only reduce acne but also improve aging skin.

Is Milk Giving You the Zits?
A study published in the February 2005 edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology re-ignites the acne diet controversy. The study's director, Clement A.

Acne Treatment
Imagine the day when you have to cancel an important appointment or much awaited social gathering or party, simply because you have developed a lot of pimples, blackheads, etc on your face!!It is because of this fear that people in USA alone spend over $ 1.4billion every year over acne treatment.

All Natural Acne Treatments
At some point in your life you will probably suffer from acne. Almost everyone does.

Don't Blame Bacteria for Causing Acne
All life forms strategize to survive and procreate. Weeds, worms, birds, fungi and bacteria all work to sustain their own lives on this planet.

What Treatment Is Available For Severe Acne
Severe acne can be detrimental to the thin layers of skin on your forehead and face. It can also cause extreme irritation, resulting in open wounds, puss-filled pores, and unsightly scarring.

Healing Skin Cream
There are so many skin creams on the market it's enough to make your head spin. There are creams for under the eyes, creams for anti-aging, for anti-wrinkle, foot cream, body lotions, alpha-hydroxy creams and on and on.

Keep Your Skin Clean and Acne Free by Brushing
The skin is the largest of the elimination channels. Through the skin toxins are eliminated which are brought to the skin surface from the blood.

Acne Treatment
It is presumed that around seventy percent of all teenagers and young adults suffer from some forms of acne. However, men and women in their mid ages can also suffer from acne.

Natural Alternatives to Treat Acne
Acne can be caused in teenagers just from the hormonal aspect of being a teen and genetics (that stinks!)Many products on the market just don't work. That's because my son tried some of them.

Colon Cleaning May Help Acne Sufferers
Many doctors and alternative medicine practitioners believe that one essential component of achieving overall bodily health is having a colon that is clean and free of the toxins that can build up over time. Many of these same doctors and alternative medicine practitioners believe that one of the benefits of colon cleansing is the improvement of acne conditions.

Acne Program - Step 7 Fruits You Should Eat
Eating fruits that are red or orange in color will help improve you skin health and help to prevent acne. Here are the fruits you should be eating.

Natural Acne Treatments - Helpful Remedies in Your Kitchen
These days we are exposed to so many harsh chemicals, and many people are beginning to wonder if the products that contain these substances are in fact as good for us as the advertising claims. Various skin conditions, such as acne, are increasingly recognized as symptoms of an imbalance in the way we live, leading many people to begin their search for a natural acne treatment that includes healthy eating and regular exercise.

Lasers - A Modern Cosmetic Treatment For Acne Blemishes
The best way to protect your skin from acne-related scarring is to take preventative measures early on. But it is often true that people who suffer from acne are unable to prevent future scarring sufficiently.