7 Things You Should Never Do If You Have Sensitive Skin

If you’re someone with sensitive skin, you know how frustrating it is to experience frequent breakouts and constant irritation. No matter what face wash you use or how often you change your pillowcase, there always seems to be something that affects your complexion.

Although it does take some effort, you can help keep your skin as clean and clear as possible if you take care to avoid certain habits that can wreak havoc on your skin.

Although your everyday beauty routine might seem harmless, you may want to consider avoiding these seven things you should never do if you have sensitive skin.

1. Don’t Leave Your Makeup On Overnight

No matter how tired you are, be sure to always remove your makeup at night. “Sleeping in makeup can cause clogged pores, breakouts, irritation and rough skin texture, but most importantly this leads to premature signs of aging and bacterial buildup,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joel Schlessinger.

“The makeup, oil and environmental pollutants that gather on skin all day seep into pores, causing breakouts and speeding up the aging process.”

makeup photo

2. Avoid Eating A Lot Of Sugar

“A poor diet, specifically one that is high in sugar, can affect your skin from the inside out,” says Schlessinger. Sugar molecules attach to collagen and elastin proteins in the skin, which can lead to inflammation and the break down of collagen and elastin.

sugar photo

3. Never Pop Your Whiteheads

If you have sensitive skin, popping your whiteheads can lead to infections and scarring. “Whiteheads keep acne bacteria contained to one area while the blemish heals,” says Schlessinger. “When a whitehead is squeezed, it releases the contents of the blemish, often a mixture of acne bacteria, oil, and skin cells. These bacteria can then spread to other pores, leading to more breakouts.”

touching face photo
Photo by Orin Zebest

4. Try Not To Over-Exfoliate

“Scrubbing away at your skin can cause aging,” says Dr. Ben Johnson, MD, founder of Osmosis Pur Medical Skincar “By over exfoliating, you’re actually removing the only protective barrier that your skin has.” Experts recommend sticking to exfoliating only once or twice a week, especially if you have sensitive skin.

exfoliate photo
Photo by Zenspa1

5. Don’t Forget Sunscreen

“Anytime your skin is overexposed to the sun, it has to work overtime to try to protect itself which can cause it to weaken, and therefore, create sun spots, aging skin, and wrinkles,” says Schlessinger.

Look for sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection, and avoid chemicals such as para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and benzephenones like dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone, which can more easily irritate sensitive skin.

sunscreen photo
Photo by JeepersMedia

6. Don’t Wear Products With Strong Fragrances

A study from the University of West Georgia found that 30 percent of people experience irritation from scented products, which makes it especially important to avoid skincare products that contain fragrance.

Many common ingredients found in scented products are allergens, so look for a fragrance-free label when shopping for skincare, despite how good other kinds may smell.

skincare photo

7. Wear A Heavy Layer Of Foundation

Wearing heavy foundation can clog up your pores and doesn’t allow your skin to breathe, which can lead to breakouts. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to stick to a lighter foundation or a tinted moisturizer, which still provides coverage without all the excess oil.

foundation photo

Photo by Jonathan Kos-Read

Beauty, Fashion & Style, Health

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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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