Why is My Skin So Sensitive All of a Sudden?
Why is my skin so sensitive all of a sudden? Sudden skin sensitivity can leave you stumped. Was it the new cleanser you used last night? Or maybe your new detergent? The truth is, there could be multiple reasons why skin is suddenly so sensitive. Here’s everything you should know and do about sensitive skin.
What is Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin refers to skin that reacts consistently to certain skincare products, ingredients, and even environmental factors, resulting in redness, dryness, and overall irritation. In severe cases, you may even experience burning.
Sensitive skin can also include skin conditions such as rosacea and eczema. When the skin’s natural barrier function is compromised by various triggers, the nerve endings in the top layer of the skin become irritated, leading to sensitive, irritated skin.
Why is My Skin So Sensitive All of a Sudden?
Why is my skin so sensitive to the touch? If you’re dealing with sudden redness and skin irritation, you’re no doubt wondering what’s causing it. Any skin type can experience sudden sensitivity, from dry skin to acne-prone skin, and of course sensitive skin.
A range of factors can cause flareups and discomfort in the skin. It could be anything from your skincare products to your laundry detergent, certain clothing and even weather changes. Once you address the causes of sensitive skin all of a sudden, you can appropriately resolve the issue by cutting out the culprit and easing your symptoms with soothing products.
How to Know if You Have Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin is often identified by its heightened reaction to environmental factors and personal care products, including soaps, cleansers, and detergents. Common signs of sensitive skin include redness, itching, burning, or dryness, particularly after using new products, exposure to extreme weather, or consuming certain foods or beverages.
If you have sensitive skin, you might notice a stinging sensation when applying certain creams or lotions, and your skin may be more prone to conditions like eczema, rosacea, or dermatitis. Additionally, sensitive skin can easily become inflamed or irritated from shaving, using fragranced products, or wearing rough fabrics. Recognizing these symptoms and consulting with a dermatologist can help in managing and treating sensitive skin effectively.
What Causes Sensitive Skin Suddenly?
If your skin suddenly becomes sensitive to the touch, it’s important to figure out why. Here are some of the most common causes of sudden skin sensitivity.
Allergic Reaction to New Products
From a new cleanser or serum to a new laundry detergent or perfume, certain products can trigger sensitive skin. New products can contain allergens or irritants that your skin is not accustomed to. Ingredients such as fragrances, preservatives, dyes, and certain chemicals are common culprits. These substances can provoke an immune response in your skin, leading to redness, itching, and irritation. Synthetic dyes used in cosmetics and skincare products can also be irritating to the skin, and cause sudden sensitivity.
When using new products, always start slowly. Pay attention to how your skin behaves. Is your skin okay with the new soap, lotion, or laundry detergent? If it’s not, swap it out for something your skin’s happy with.
Harsh Soaps and Cleansers
Using harsh soaps and cleansers can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness, itchy skin, and irritation. This disruption of the skin’s natural barrier makes it more susceptible to external irritants, resulting in increased sensitivity. Your skin barrier is what keeps your skin protected. So when this is compromised, skin is susceptible to all kinds of concerns.
All skin types, but especially sensitive skin, benefit from using gentle products in their skincare routine. You don’t need harsh, stripping soaps and cleansers to remove dirt and impurities. Besides irritating your skin, they can actually worsen breakouts—and trigger more of them.
Over-Exfoliation
Exfoliating too frequently can damage the skin’s protective layer, otherwise known as the skin barrier. While exfoliating is important for removing the buildup of dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores, acne, and uneven skin tone, over-exfoliation compromises the barrier by stripping away natural, protective oils. As a result, skin is more exposed and vulnerable to sensitivity.
If your skin is red and itchy all of a sudden, take a break from exfoliation for at least a week to allow your skin to repair and heal. You can enhance the healing process by sticking to gentle cleansers and regularly moisturizing.
The Seasons
Seasonal changes might be why your skin’s so sensitive all of a sudden. Pollen, a major contributor to skin sensitivity, fluctuates throughout the year, often peaking in spring and causing heightened sensitivity in many people. Additionally, varying humidity levels and rapid temperature changes can affect skin’s sensitivity, making adaptation challenging.
Sun Exposure
Excessive sun exposure can damage your skin, leading to sunburn and increased sensitivity. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can break down the skin’s barrier and cause inflammation, making your skin more red, irritated, and itchy. That’s just one of the reasons why it’s so important to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every single day. And remember to re-apply it every two hours when you’re outdoors to maintain that protection.
Hot Showers
While hot showers can be relaxing, they also strip the skin of its natural moisture. Prolonged exposure to hot water disrupts the skin’s lipid barrier, leading to dryness, irritation, and increased sensitivity. The high temperature of the water removes essential oils that keep the skin hydrated and protected, making it more vulnerable to environmental aggressors. Additionally, hot showers can exacerbate existing skin conditions like eczema or rosacea, further increasing sensitivity.
To reduce the impact, try to take shorter showers with lukewarm water and use gentle, hydrating cleansers. After showering, pat your skin dry and apply a moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp to lock in moisture.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foods can cause skin sensitivity indirectly. For those with rosacea, spicy foods can trigger flare-ups, leading to redness and sensitivity. Allergic reactions to spices might result in hives and itching. Spicy foods can also release histamines, causing allergy-like symptoms, including skin sensitivity. Visit a healthcare provider or dermatologist if you think you might have an allergy that needs addressing.
How to Soothe Sensitive Skin
Now that you know why is my skin so sensitive all of a sudden let’s look at what you can do to ease the redness, dryness, and itchiness.
First and foremost, you want to focus on rebuilding your skin barrier. When your skin barrier is working its best, you’re less likely to experience skin sensitivity. The way to do that is with a hydrating, nutrient-rich, antioxidant-packed moisturizer. Look for a face cream or serum infused with emollients and humectants like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, ceramides, and vitamin E which soothe, hydrate, and condition the skin. Then apply that twice a day, every day.
We love the Truly Glazed Donut Skin Set for drenching skin in moisture. It comes with a face serum and cream enriched with coconut oil, grapeseed oil, shea butter, and vitamin E to intensely hydrate and heal your skin. Plus, it’s fragrance-free so it won’t trigger flareups.
While your skin is healing, it’s imperative that you take a break from exfoliating and ditch any products that could be causing your sensitivities. Focus on using calming, hydrating skincare products that nourish and nurture your skin.
Looking for the Best Sensitive Skin Routine?
We’ve found the best skincare routine for sensitive skin. It’s Truly’s Glass Skin Set. You get: a cleansing balm + serum designed to gently melt away impurities, refine pores, and make your skin gleam. Formulated with jojoba oil, niacinamide, and probiotics, this duo balances the skin, curbs excess oil, and instantly cools inflammation while restoring a strong and healthy skin barrier.
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Key Ingredients: Jojoba Oil, Niacinamide, Probiotics, Shea Butter | Targets: Large Pores, Pimples, Dryness, Dullness, Irritation | Scent: Fragrance-Free | Vegan: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
What People Say: “I love this collection! It gives you hydration and a natural glow/glass like look.” — Kris G.
Best Moisturizers to Bolster Barrier Function
Since a compromised skin barrier can lead to skin that feels sensitive all of a sudden, you want to focus on hydration—and plenty of it—to repair and protect your skin barrier. Got sensitive skin on body? Here are some moisturizers to slather on to soothe sensitive skin and support skin barrier function.
Truly’s Coco Cloud After Shave Moisturizer
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Enriched with cooling coconut milk and skin softening mango butter, this body moisturizer instantly calms red, irritated skin while leaving you smelling like a tropical island dream.
Truly’s Unicorn Fruit Whipped Body Butter
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Give your skin a taste of luxury with this candy-scented luscious swirl of hydration. It’s formulated with a base of shea butter along with an anti-inflammatory, pH-balancing blend of rose water, matcha, and vitamin E to quickly ease sensitive skin.
Truly’s Glazed Donut After Shave Glow Cream
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A luxe, lightweight moisturizer that melts into skin for instant razor burn, bump, and redness relief. Made with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, it deeply nourishes, hydrates, and protects, leaving skin gorgeously smooth and glowing with a sweet vanilla glaze scent.
Conclusion: Why is My Skin So Sensitive All of a Sudden?
Sudden skin sensitivity can be caused by a number of factors, including allergies and reactions to personal care products, weather, foods, and hot showers. To keep skin calm and prevent future sensitivity, follow a gentle daily skincare routine and be vigilant about moisturizing. And always pay close attention to how your skin reacts when you introduce new products. Browse our bestselling bundles to find your signature routine.
