Surveys show “sensitive skin” afflicts about 50–60 percent of women. Surprisingly, though, exactly what that term means is fuzzy.
Since there are no objective tests to determine if your skin is sensitive, it’s a self-diagnosed condition, explains Dr. Jensen Yeung, medical director of the dermatology department at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto and a consulting dermatologist for Aveeno. “There’s no widely accepted definition of ‘sensitive skin,’ even among dermatologists,” he says. “It generally means the individual develops symptoms to stimuli such as skin-care products that are normally well tolerated.”
Anyone can experience skin sensitivity—though no one knows exactly what causes it to develop—and it can often become a chronic issue. Thankfully, stocking your beauty cabinet with the right products can make your intolerant skin happy again.