What is sensitive skin and how to treat it

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Sensitive skin is a condition in which the skin reacts excessively to internal and external stimuli. It is not a disease and cannot be "cured," but it can be managed very well with a suitable routine and carefully selected products.

Multiple factors contribute to it, and recognizing it is the first step toward treating it properly.

What it means to have sensitive skin

It is a condition characterized by an exaggerated response to stimuli that would not normally cause discomfort. Signs can be permanent or temporary: redness, dryness, itching, irritation, flaking.

There are two distinct situations, which need to be treated differently:

• Constitutionally sensitive skin, linked to genetic factors and more common in women and people with fair skin.
• Sensitized skin: healthy skin showing signs of sensitivity due to external factors — environment, pollution, an unsuitable cosmetic product or treatment — or internal factors such as stress, hormonal fluctuations or weakened defenses.

How to recognize it

• Red, swollen and itchy skin;
• Redness without swelling;
• A tingling or burning sensation;
• Rashes or hives;
• Dry skin that tends to crack;
• Roughness and flaky patches.

If redness is your main symptom, find quick relief in the article on what to apply right away to reddened skin. If the redness is persistent and accompanied by visible capillaries, learn about erythrosis, couperose and rosacea.

The most common causes

Symptoms vary depending on the cause. The conditions most commonly involved include:

• Contact dermatitis, either irritant or allergic, after exposure to a substance that damages the protective barrier.
• Eczema or atopic dermatitis, a chronic condition that flares up periodically.
• Rosacea, a chronic inflammatory condition that causes pronounced reactivity.

Having dry skin can also make you more prone to sensitivity: fewer lipids mean less protection from external irritants.

Other contributing factors include water that is too hot, harsh detergents and disinfectants, excessive exfoliation, too much alcohol and caffeine, hormonal changes such as menopause, medications, UV damage, pollution, harsh weather, lack of sleep, smoking, and going to bed without removing makeup. L's full analysis is in the article on the causes of increased skin sensitivity.

Identifying the exact cause is often difficult, and in some cases skin sensitivity may be a sign of a condition that needs evaluation. If symptoms persist, worsen, or are accompanied by visible lesions, consult a dermatologist: a cosmetic product can improve comfort and tolerance, but it cannot replace a diagnosis.

How to care for sensitive skin

Sensitive skin has weakened defenses. L's goal is not to add active ingredients, but to strengthen the skin barrier and reduce triggers.

Cleansing

Warm, never hot, water and a cleanser rich in soothing agents that respects the skin’s balance. Cleansing Detox Mousse removes makeup and impurities while soothing the skin, thanks to extracts of mallow and calendula, along with galactomannans from Caesalpinia spinosa (INCI: Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum), which retain water in the stratum corneum and, according to the manufacturer’s in vitro tests, help maintain the balance of the resident bacterial flora, or the skin microbiota.

If you prefer oil-based cleansing, the oil-gel is even gentler and requires no rubbing.

Redness treatment

For reactive skin with persistent redness and fragile capillaries, Couper Relief combines thermal water, ceramides and extracts of centella asiatica, turmeric and helichrysum. L'active ingredient that gives the formula its name is Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, a peptide that does more than soothe: it acts on the inflammatory signal that keeps the skin on alert.

Antioxidant protection

Pollution and oxidative stress worsen reactivity. Lycoglow Serum contains lycopene and mullein, with antioxidant and brightening properties.

L'hydration

The ideal cream for sensitive skin is nourishing but non-occlusive. Nutralight Sensitive is formulated specifically for reactive skin, with bisabolol, aloe, niacinamide and a complex of mallow, calendula and marshmallow.

Sun protection

Applies to all skin types, but especially sensitive skin: UV rays weaken the barrier and increase reactivity. Broad-spectrum protection is needed all year round.

The advice that matters more than any product: keep it simple. With sensitive skin, use fewer steps and don't introduce any new active ingredients while your skin is struggling. And stick to the same routine for at least four to six weeks before evaluating it.

Redness on the nose and cheeks

This is the area that most often leads people to look for a solution because it is the most visible. The nose and cheekbones have a more superficial capillary network and react first to cold, temperature changes, alcohol, and very hot or spicy foods.

The first step is not to cover it up, but to reduce how often flare-ups occur: protect your face from the wind, avoid going abruptly from the cold outdoors into a heated room, and don't use hot water on your face. For existing redness, active ingredients that support microcirculation and soothe the skin work well when applied consistently for a few weeks. A spray of thermal water kept in your bag offers immediate relief during a flare-up.

Frequently asked questions

Sensitive skin or an allergy: how can you tell the difference?

Sensitive skin reacts excessively but proportionately to a stimulus, and discomfort appears quickly and goes away just as quickly once the cause is removed. An allergic reaction involves the immune system, may appear hours later, tends to worsen with each new exposure, and often spreads beyond the area of contact. If you experience swelling, blisters, or recurring symptoms with the same product, consult a dermatologist, who can assess whether a patch test is appropriate.

Which face creams should you use during pregnancy for sensitive skin?

During pregnancy, skin often becomes more reactive due to hormones and increased blood flow. The same approach used for sensitive skin in general applies, but simplified: a gentle cleanser, a soothing cream with few ingredients, and daily sun protection. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, bisabolol, panthenol, oats, and plant butters are still well tolerated.

Which cosmetics should you avoid during pregnancy?

Pause retinol and all retinoids, professional peels, and high-concentration exfoliating acids, and choose lightly scented or fragrance-free products, because the tolerance threshold drops during this phase. As a rule, share any product you use regularly with your gynecologist or dermatologist.

Can sensitive skin become normal?

If your skin is sensitized, yes: by removing the cause and rebuilding the barrier, tolerance returns within a few weeks. If sensitivity is constitutional, it remains a skin characteristic, but with a consistent routine, symptoms become occasional rather than daily.

Can you use exfoliants on sensitive skin?

Yes, but carefully: gentle molecules such as PHA or mandelic acid, once a week, never during an active irritation flare-up and never alongside other new actives. Scrubs with granules and mechanical brushes should be avoided: the micro-trauma fuels exactly what you want to reduce.

Why does sensitive skin get worse during seasonal changes?

Because the skin barrier has to readjust to different humidity, temperatures, and wind, and loses efficiency in the meantime. This is when it’s best to simplify your routine and reinforce the lipid component without introducing anything new: find out more in our article on sensitive skin during seasonal changes.

If you need advice

Sensitive skin responds well to a protocol tailored to its specific needs. You can visit your partner pharmacy or speak directly with us.