How to choose the right shower gel for sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin you’ll know that it can be uncomfortable and, at times, even a little painful. Thankfully, there are ways to minimise sensitivity through your skincare regime and using products like a shower gel for sensitive skin. Carry on reading our guide to sensitive skin to discover all about this condition and what you can do to help it.
What is sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin is more common than what you might think and, luckily, a lot of the time it isn’t too serious. Sensitive skin generally means that your skin is more prone to inflammation, which can turn into irritation, rashes and redness. This can be caused by a number of different factors, but treating it with products for sensitive skin can go a long way to help bring you some comfort. If you’re not sure if you have sensitive skin, take our short Skin Type Finder test to find out.
What causes sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin can be caused by a few different factors. Some are medical skin conditions and others are more natural, which makes it easier to look after. Here are some sensitive skin causes.
- Skin type: Some people just naturally have a sensitive skin type. There aren’t any medical conditions that cause this, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get relief from sensitive skincare products, like a body wash for sensitive skin.
- Contact dermatitis: This condition is a type of eczema caused by an allergy or an irritant, most commonly from products like soaps and detergents. Choosing hypoallergenic products for sensitive skin can go a long way to helping this condition.
- The weather: being out for long periods of time in the sun, wind, heat or cold can also cause sensitive skin. Making sure you’re covered up when you’re outside can help with this.
- Other medical conditions: There are a few other medical conditions that can cause sensitive skin, like rosacea and photodermatoses. If you’re sensitive skin symptoms are severe or don’t go away after using home treatments, you should chat to your GP.
Why your current shower gel might cause sensitive skin and irritation
If you’re prone to sensitive skin, your body wash, soap or shower gel may be causing it to become worse. That’s because, quite often, there are chemicals and other ingredients in these products that can irritate your skin. Choosing a specific shower gel for sensitive skin can help minimise symptoms. At Sanex, we use fewer, carefully selected ingredients that are kind to skin. We also have a non-allergen mission where we update all our fragrances regularly to avoid, where possible, using fragrance allergens, which could potentially cause skin irritation.
What helps sensitive skin?
Depending on the cause of your sensitive skin, you might want to try different things to help minimise and relieve the symptoms. A few things you can try are:
- Using a body wash for sensitive skin: A shower gel for sensitive skin that’s hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested, can help to minimise skin irritation.
- Moisturise: Keeping your skin moisturised with a hypoallergenic moisturiser can help to minimise dryness, which can also cause sensitive skin.
- Avoid harsh detergents: When you’re cleaning your home, you should try to use gloves that can protect your skin from harsh chemicals found in a lot of detergents.
- Try fragrance free: Sensitive skincare products that don’t have fragrances in them might help sensitive skin if they’re causing irritation.
- Keep a journal: Writing down the products you use each day can help you to identify any that are causing or making your sensitive skin worse.
What shower gel should you use for sensitive skin?
Choosing the right shower gel for sensitive skin can help minimise irritation and discomfort. We’re created a range of hypoallergenic body washes that can help.
Sanex Zero% Shower Gel for Sensitive Skin
This hypoallergenic body wash for sensitive skin has been expertly formulated with carefully selected ingredients that are kind to sensitive skin and can help to reduce the risk if irritation. It’s been dermatologically tested and contains 0% sulphates, 0% colourants, 0% soap and 0% fragrance.
Sanex Expert Skin Health+ Micellar Hypoallergenic Shower Gel
This is a great product with a soap and sulphate free formula that minimises the risk of skin irritation, while being kind to skin. The formula contains a prebiotic and postbiotic complex that targets the bad bacteria on your skin, while nourishing the good to help keep it healthy. It’s also been dermatologically tested and respects your skin’s natural pH.
