Sensitive skin can be both a skin type and a skin condition, depending on the cause and consistency of symptoms.
✅ Sensitive Skin as a Skin Type
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What it means: Your skin is naturally more reactive and delicate.
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How you’ll know:
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You frequently experience stinging, burning, itching, or redness—even from gentle products or weather changes.
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This sensitivity is consistent over time.
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Examples:
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Reacting to fragrances, certain fabrics, or temperature shifts.
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Often overlaps with fair, thin, or dry skin.
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⚠️ Sensitive Skin as a Condition
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What it means: Your skin is temporarily sensitized due to an underlying issue.
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How you’ll know:
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It comes and goes, often triggered by skincare products, sun exposure, or lifestyle factors.
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It may be linked to skin barrier damage, over-exfoliation, or conditions like eczema, rosacea, or contact dermatitis.
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Examples:
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Burning after using a new active ingredient like retinol.
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Flare-ups due to stress or allergens.
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🧴 How to Tell the Difference
| Sensitive Skin Type | Sensitive Skin Condition |
|---|---|
| Ongoing, lifelong trait | Temporary, triggered reaction |
| Needs constant care | Often resolves with treatment or removal of irritant |
| Mild products always needed | May tolerate actives when skin heals |