Understanding the Causes Behind Common Skin Problems
Understanding the Causes Behind Common Skin Problems
The Science Behind Sensitive Skin
People with sensitive skin tend to react more strongly to certain stimuli than those with other skin types. This heightened reactivity may occur due to a weakened or damaged skin barrier, which fails to protect the nerve endings on the skin surface. Common symptoms associated with sensitive skin include burning, itching, and redness, particularly in response to environmental factors or skincare products.
Various factors can trigger sensitive skin, and the triggers can vary significantly from person to person. The common triggers that may cause sensitive skin to react are
- Environmental Factors
- Skincare Products
- Allergens
- Dietary Factors
- Hormonal Changes: fluctuations in hormones,
- Emotional And Physical Stress
Strengthening the skin barrier is a crucial strategy for reducing skin sensitivity. When this barrier is compromised, skin becomes more vulnerable to irritants, leading to increased sensitivity, irritation, and dryness.
What Triggers Dry Skin Condition?
Dry skin can be caused by a variety of internal and external factors. Here are some common triggers for dry skin:
- Climate and Weather
- Hot Showers and Baths
- Harsh Soaps and Cleansers
- Heating and Air Conditioning
- Aging
- Medications
- Genetics
- Diet
Managing these triggers often involves lifestyle and skincare changes, such as using gentle, hydrating skincare products, moderating bathing habits, using humidifiers to add moisture to the air, and ensuring a diet rich in healthy fats and hydrating fluids. These measures can help to maintain and restore skin hydration and prevent dryness.
Skin Barrier & Eczema
The skin barrier plays a critical role in maintaining overall skin health, and its functionality is particularly important in the context of eczema, a common skin condition also known as atopic dermatitis.
Effective management of eczema involves repairing and strengthening the skin barrier, reducing inflammation and managing symptoms.
Improving the skin barrier is a crucial aspect of managing and reducing the symptoms of eczema, it helps to
- Enhance Skin Hydration
- Reduce Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)
- Minimise Exposure to Irritants and Allergens
- Decrease Inflammation
- Prevent Infections
In people with eczema, the barrier function is compromised due to genetic, immune, and environmental factors. As eczema often involves a compromised skin barrier, strengthening and restoring the barrier can help prevent flare-ups and decrease the severity of the condition.
Minimising Skin Side Effects During Cancer Treatment
Many cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplant, may cause side effects that lead to skin issues, such as a rash, dry or itchy skin, colour changes or extreme sensitivity to light. Some skin problems resolve themselves after the patient finishes treatment.
A medical study showed that radiotherapy causes skin barrier dysfunction in all patients and skin changes caused by radiation dermatitis are associated with an increase in Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL). The study results suggest that preservation of the epidermal permeability barrier function by topical treatment may ameliorate radiation dermatitis
