A World of Sensitivity

May 1, 2009 By: American Spa Staff American Spa

MOST CLIENTS WILL DESCRIBE THEIR SKIN AS sensitive. From your perspective, this presents a potential problem, as clients often link their symptoms with a professional treatment or their skincare products. It also offers an opportunity for growth, as it allows you to educate your clients about appropriate treatment, thus solving the problem and ensuring a return visit for continued care.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK; ISTOCKPHOTO (TOP RIGHT, MIDDLE LEFT)

The Roots of Sensitized Skin

Skin is remarkably resilient. It endures and survives nearly constant environmental assault from pathogens, ultraviolet light, and free radicals. Historically, fair skin—Celtic-Nordic skin of Northern European genetic heritage—has been associated with inherited sensitivity, and pale skin has been linked most easily with a tendency toward flushing, blushing, and allergies. People of Northern European ethnicity also have historically been linked with the greater incidents of rosacea. However, sensitization is acquired, not inherited. In today's professional setting, we see a growing incidence of sensitization among Asian and African-American clients. The reality may simply be that lightly pigmented skin shows the symptoms of sensitization more easily. Because all skin is vulnerable to environmental sensitization, as professionals we must take special measures to utilize all of our senses to identify potential problems. Darker skin will often reveal sensitization to the touch, if not the eye. Deeply pigmented skin that is chemically or environmentally sensitized feels hot and tight, even though its appearance may be unchanged.

Soothing Inflamed Clients

Common Causes and Triggers

Some sensitization truly is self-inflicted by clients who self-diagnose and select products with irritating artificial colors, fragrances, and preservatives. The "do-it-yourself" client can also get carried away with various forms of exfoliation. A seriously compromised lipid barrier is generally the result.

Many of the other common sensitization factors are nearly impossible to avoid. Even the hardiest epidermis becomes vulnerable when assaulted daily with literally millions of potentially irritating chemicals in our global environment. Common pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and ground-level ozones, are familiar culprits. But there are millions more. Common offenders include household cleaning products. Omnipresent paints, preservatives, sealers, laminates, plastics, synthetic fabrics, particle board, adhesives, and many other products present in our homes and workplaces emit a constant vapor of microparticles, and this causes both immediate and long-term reactions ranging from watery eyes and headaches to burning, blotchy skin that develops a sudden aversion to once-favorite skincare products.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCKPHOTO

The likelihood of triggering a sensitization response is potentially amplified by several factors, notably age. With each passing decade, the acid mantle of the skin thins, making it more susceptible to assault by irritants. Stress, medications, certain foods, and changes in hormonal levels also may serve as triggers in some individuals.