Este artigo foi traduzido automaticamente do inglês e pode conter imprecisões.

Todos nós sabemos o que é pele sensível, mas será mesmo? A sensibilidade da pele tem mais nuances do que parece. Hoje vamos defini-la com a ajuda da ciência e responder às principais dúvidas sobre o tema. Venha explorar todas as camadas da sensibilidade da pele!

Neste post:

O que é pele sensível?

Knowing how hard it is to create a proper definition, an interdisciplinary team worked on a scientifically accurate description that respects what people with pele sensível feel and experience. As a result, they definiram pele sensível as “a syndrome of unpleasant sensations such as stinging, burning, pain, itching and tingling, triggered by stimuli that normally should not cause them. These sensations cannot be explained by lesions from a pele disease. Pele may look normal or show erythema, and pele sensível may affect any area, especially the face”.

With this in mind, pele sensível is a broad term for pele that tends to show irritation when exposed to external aggressors. More than a medical diagnosis, it describes pele prone to redness, itching, tightness and stinging, on the face and/or body.

These symptoms can also appear after a specific internal or external event. A dermatologista can consider frequency, duration, intensity and triggers to help determine whether you have pele sensível or another cause explains the symptoms.

Qual é a causa principal da pele sensível?

The exact reason why pele sensitivity occurs is not fully known, but a few relevant theories deserve attention. Alguns artigos sugerem a link between pele sensível and disruption of the epidermal barrier function, which can create the perception of pele discomfort, but this is not the whole story. A paper published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology adds that pele sensível may also result from cutaneous factors such as atopic predisposition and the sensory nervous system, endogenous factors such as hormonal changes, or lifestyle and environmental factors. These may cause and maintain sensitivity. The image below, from the mesmo estudo, illustrates these influences for easier understanding.

root cause of sensitive skin

O que desencadeia a pele sensível?

Sensitivity may react to triggers such as extreme weather, wind, spicy food, alcohol and friction. Scientists have also found small ethnic differences in how pele reacts to these triggers: de acordo com um estudo, “Afro-Americans reacted less to environmental and alcoholic triggers; Hispanics reacted less to alcohol; Asians reacted more to wind, spices, and alcohol; and Euro-American reacted more to wind.” Whatever your origins, understand what triggers your sensitivity so you can avoid unwanted symptoms.

Como saber se tenho pele sensível?

If you have pele sensível, your pele will usually let you know. Signs may include redness, dryness or tightness, easy sunburn, or reactivity to cosméticos, very hot or cold weather, wind, or everyday life.

The tricky part is knowing whether this is pele sensível or a medical pele condition that needs more care. The safest option is to consult a profissional de saúde. With a clear understanding of your pele’s needs, you can choose better care and avoid products or habits that aggravate it.

A pele sensível é sempre seca?

Sensitivity can affect every pele tone and type, and you can certainly have sensitive oily pele. Still, people with pele sensível, even oily pele, often describe it as dry. A compromised barrier may increase transepidermal water loss, so dehydration can feel like dryness.

Quão rara é a pele sensível?

Percentages vary, but pele sensível is not rare. Alguns artigos sugerem that the population with pele sensível is close to 40%, while outros encontraram that as many as 68.4% of people self-report pele sensível. Either way, it is a common pele concern that can affect any gender, age, pele type or pele tone.

O que a pele sensível pode ser de verdade?

Pele sensível is a lay term rather than a medical diagnosis. It is generally used for pele with reduced tolerance to cosméticos and personal care products. In pesquisas at least 40% of people report pele sensível. But that is not the whole story. People who self-diagnose pele sensível may have a cutaneous manifestation of pele disorders that benefit from specific care, such as eczema, contact dermatitis, rosacea, photodermatoses or other pele conditions. Our advice remains the same: consult a profissional de saúde.

Qual é a diferença entre pele sensível e pele sensibilizada?

Pele sensível is more like a trait, while sensitized pele is more like a state. Pele sensível is not necessarily forever, but it tends to stay with you. Sensitized pele, on the other hand, can be a temporary period of extra sensitivity caused by a specific external aggression, such as a cosmetic your pele did not tolerate, hence a importância de um patch test, a sunburn, or a cosmetic procedure. If your pele is usually fine but feels sensitive after a specific event, it is probably sensitized pele. If sensitivity signs such as redness, tightness or itching appear often even without a clear aggression, you are probably dealing with pele sensível.

O que usar para pele sensível?

With pele sensível, the question is often what not to do. Be cautious with products that are not specifically formulated for pele sensível. When possible, choose formulas made for pele sensível rather than formulas that claim to suit all pele types incluindo pele sensível. Pay attention to how your sensitivity changes, as stable periods and very reactive periods are both normal, and adjust your routine to your pele’s needs. A safe choice is minimal pelecare focused on hydration, completed with a sunscreen that suits your pele type.

We love caring for pele sensível, and we have suggestions that may help. Read our posts with lovely pelecare rotinas e dicas para pele sensível.