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Vi vet alla vad känslig hud är, eller gör vi det? Hudkänslighet har fler nyanser än man kan tro. I dag definierar vi känslig hud med hjälp av vetenskapen och svarar på de vanligaste följdfrågorna. Följ med när vi utforskar alla lager av hudkänslighet!

I det här inlägget:

Vad är känslig hud?

Knowing how hard it is to create a proper definition, an interdisciplinary team worked on a scientifically accurate description that respects what people with känslig hud feel and experience. As a result, they definierade känslig hud 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 hud disease. Hud may look normal or show erythema, and känslig hud may affect any area, especially the face”.

With this in mind, känslig hud is a broad term for hud that tends to show irritation when exposed to external aggressors. More than a medical diagnosis, it describes hud 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 hudläkare can consider frequency, duration, intensity and triggers to help determine whether you have känslig hud or another cause explains the symptoms.

Vad är grundorsaken till känslig hud?

The exact reason why hud sensitivity occurs is not fully known, but a few relevant theories deserve attention. Vissa artiklar tyder på a link between känslig hud and disruption of the epidermal barrier function, which can create the perception of hud discomfort, but this is not the whole story. A paper published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology adds that känslig hud 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 samma studie, illustrates these influences for easier understanding.

root cause of sensitive skin

Vad triggar känslig hud?

Sensitivity may react to triggers such as extreme weather, wind, spicy food, alcohol and friction. Scientists have also found small ethnic differences in how hud reacts to these triggers: enligt en studie, “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.

Hur vet jag om jag har känslig hud?

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

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

Är känslig hud alltid torr?

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

Hur ovanlig är känslig hud?

Percentages vary, but känslig hud is not rare. Vissa artiklar tyder på that the population with känslig hud is close to 40%, while vissa artiklar tyder på that as many as 68.4% of people self-report känslig hud. Either way, it is a common hud concern that can affect any gender, age, hud type or hud tone.

Vad kan känslig hud faktiskt vara?

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

Vad är skillnaden mellan känslig och sensibiliserad hud?

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

Vad ska man använda för känslig hud?

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

We love caring for känslig hud, and we have suggestions that may help. Read our posts with lovely hudcare rutiner och tips för känslig hud.