Frequent redness, stinging, or reaction to products may indicate sensitivity. A consultation confirms the diagnosis.

Yes, but under professional supervision and in the right concentration to avoid irritation.

You can use makeup labeled non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic for sensitive skin types.

If symptoms persist despite OTC care, a dermatologist can help address the root causes effectively.

For most patients, sensitivity is acquired rather than genetic, meaning the barrier can be rebuilt with the right approach. A structured repair regimen using ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids typically restores normal function within two to three months. Even patients with genetically thinner skin or rosacea-related sensitivity see significant improvement in reactivity when barrier health is prioritised.

Yes, but timing and formulation matter. Applying retinoids or vitamin C to a compromised barrier causes irritation that overshadows any anti-ageing benefit. Our approach at Claire Derma is to repair the barrier first, then introduce gentler alternatives — bakuchiol instead of retinol, ascorbyl glucoside instead of L-ascorbic acid — using short-contact methods. Once your skin tolerates these, we can gradually transition to stronger formulations.

Acquired sensitivity develops when the barrier is weakened by cumulative stressors — a new active ingredient, seasonal dryness, increased stress, or hormonal changes. Once the lipid matrix is depleted, ingredients that were previously tolerated now penetrate deeper and contact nerve endings, causing stinging or redness. The product itself hasn't changed; your skin's defences have.

Sensitive skin produces stinging, burning, and tightness that tend to appear quickly after product application and resolve within hours. Allergic contact dermatitis causes itchy, swollen, sometimes blistering rashes that develop 24 to 72 hours after exposure and persist for days. The distinction matters because allergies require specific allergen identification and permanent avoidance, while sensitivity responds to barrier repair.