Inflamed skin is something we’ve all experienced at least once if not more. Skin sensitivity or discomfort can occur for a number of reasons. The most common causes include disruption of the skin barrier, which could be from stress, too much sun exposure, over-burdening your skin with too many products, or a bad reaction to a certain ingredient.
The best thing to do in such a situation is to cut back on your skincare regimen and just stick to the basics. However, it must be noted that one must always consult a dermatologist if the condition continues to persist for more than a few days. In the meantime, respite can be achieved with a few hero products that serve the purpose of calming and soothing inflamed skin.
The curated list of skin saviours mentioned below has long been used by individuals with underlying skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea as well. From mists to balms, these products will help restore balance and heal the inflamed skin barrier.
The Routine
The key goal here is to avoid further discomfort and soothe the inflamed skin, providing immediate relief from the redness and burning sensation. We first need to work towards restoring some amount of skin harmony and balance. Treating or detecting the underlying cause comes after this and is a rather personalized journey. We must follow the ‘less is more’ philosophy for the time being and just stick to a four-prong approach i.e. Cleanse-Moisture-Treat-Protect.
We insist you stay away from heavy-duty foaming cleansers and stick to a basic, mild face wash with a minimal ingredient list. Regularly spritz your face with a healing mist and seal the affected areas with a relieving balm. This must be accompanied by the regular application of a simple yet hydrating moisturizer. And finally, don’t forget to apply sunblock, preferably a mineral-based one as we need to be extremely precocious. Our top recommendations are as follows:
Cleansers
Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Facial Cleanser
Aveeno’s oat-based cleanser is ideal for irritated, dry and sensitive skin. This hypoallergenic milky gel cream is suitable for daily use as it contains nourishing oats and calming feverfew. The product leaves the skin looking healthy and hydrated whilst lifting away dirt and impurities to reveal soft and smooth skin.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
The Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser is perfect for sensitized skin as it has been formulated with La Roche-Posay’s prebiotic thermal spring water. It gently cleanses the skin to remove dirt, makeup, and other impurities while retaining essential moisture in order to maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier and PH.
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Vanicream’s gentle cleanser comes with the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association. This award-winning formulation leaves the skin feeling clean and soft whilst feeling like an embrace of a soft, fluffy blanket. The soap-free cleanser is a godsend for delicate and sensitive skin folks as it doesn’t contain harsh surfactants, botanical extracts, and essential oils.
Rovectin Skin Essentials Conditioning Cleanser
The Rovectin cleanser is a glycerin-based product that retains moisture and doesn’t strip the skin of the protective barrier. It also contains Hyaluronic Acid and Centella Asiatica Extract to soothe and replenish the skin whilst making it look plump and healthy. The Skin Conditioning Cleanser is free from parabens, artificial colourants, fragrances, mineral oil, and other common skin irritants.
Mists
Niod Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (SDSM2)
Niod’s Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (SDSM2) is a dermal treatment that acts against oxidative stress, water loss and the look of inflammation. This holy grail product is known to instantly calm down the irritation and its upgraded formula comes with a generous spritzer which comes in extremely handy in frequent applications.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra 8 Face Moisturiser Mist
Toleriane Ultra Mist brings comfort to sensitive skin and gives on-the-go hydration which lasts up to 24 hours. It contains a minimalist formula of only 8 ingredients that provide high tolerance against external irritants. As a result, this anti-discomfort product is ideal for use after shaving, during flying, in an air-conditioned environment and during high-temperature peaks.
Avene Thermal Spring Water
Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray is essential in all soothing skincare routines as it provides natural relief for sensitive skin. This cult classic is preserved in its pure state from the spring and is infused with calcium, magnesium, and silicates which have been proven to nourish and heal the skin.
Tower 28 SOS Spray
Tower 28’s SOS Spray works as a knight in shining armour for angry, stressed-out skin. This soothing, purifying, and repairing daily rescue spray is safe for all skin types and has also received the seal of approval from the National Eczema Association. The star ingredient of this concoction happens to be hypochlorous acid, which helps fight against harmful bacteria and inflammation.
Moisturizers
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Face Moisturizer
The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Face Moisturizer feels refreshing on the skin and has a fast-absorbing texture that restores the natural skin barrier. It comes in air-tight packaging in order to prevent contamination and is enriched with shea butter and antioxidant-rich thermal spring water. The product provides long-lasting comfort as it helps reduce signs of skin sensitivity.
Avene Tolerance Control Skin Recovery Cream
Avene’s Tolerance Control Skin Recovery Cream is perfect for hypersensitive, reactive, intolerant and allergic skin as it hydrates and restores skin’s barrier in 48 hours while soothing and calming skin hyperactivity. This unique formula is known to calm skin in 30 seconds by targeting discomfort, including tingling, burning sensations and tightness.
Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer
Aveeno’s Oat Moisturiser soothes and hydrates sensitive, irritated facial skin with nourishing prebiotic oats and calming feverfew, that provide moisture for 24 hours. This lightweight, non-greasy, hypoallergenic formula is free of fragrance, paraben, alcohol, dye and phthalates. It instantly soothes and replenishes dry skin’s moisture barrier whilst reducing facial redness and irritation.
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
Vanicream’s Moisturizing Skin Cream is a non-greasy, non-comedogenic, fast-absorbing formula for anyone with sensitive skin or with atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis and ichthyosis. The cream restores the skin’s moisture level and controls skin inflammation. It works wonderfully to relieve red, irritated, cracking or itchy skin and can be used as a face and body moisturiser.
Cetraben Cream
Cetraben Cream is recommended by doctors for eczema-prone skin as it helps repair the skin barrier by locking in moisture and protecting against irritants and water loss. This soothing and moisturising daily cream delivers instant hydration from the first use and is perfect for dry, itchy and inflamed skin. It comes in air-tight packaging and travel-friendly sizes as well.
Balms
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Therapeutic Multi-Purpose Cream
Cicaplast Baume B5 is a multi-purpose soothing balm that helps to hydrate and soothe cracked, chapped and chafed skin. Its hydrating and therapeutic formula forms a non-greasy film on the stratum cornea to visibly reduce the appearance of dry, irritated skin as it’s enriched with shea butter, glycerine, panthenol (a form of vitamin B5), madecassoside, and mineral-rich thermal spring water.
Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Avene’s unique, advanced Cicalfate+ Restorative Cream is recommended by dermatologists to use after post-treatment procedures as it helps speed the skin recovery process by reducing inflammation. The balm has anti-bacterial and healing properties and can be used on cuts, scrapes, scratches, burns, cracked skin, stitches and diaper rashes as well.
Bioderma Cicabio Arnica
The Cicabio Arnica+ balm from Bioderma has been specially formulated to quickly reduce the feeling of discomfort and tightness sensations. It contains arnica extract, apigenin and zinc that help regulate skin reactivity. The product has a creamy texture which is perfect for quick and easy application and is non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.
Featured image @pexels
Frequently Asked Questions about caring for Inflamed Skin
-
How does the skin barrier get damaged?A: The skin barrier, the skin’s protective outer layer, can be compromised by several factors. Harsh skincare products and over-exfoliation strip the skin of its natural oils, while environmental factors like extreme weather and UV exposure can further weaken it. Additionally, over-washing with strong soaps or having underlying skin conditions like eczema can reduce its effectiveness. To maintain a healthy barrier, it’s vital to use gentle products, protect against environmental stressors and avoid excessive cleansing or scrubbing.
-
How to soothe inflamed skin?A: Soothing inflamed skin involves gentle care and targeted remedies. Opt for fragrance-free, hydrating skincare products and cold compresses to reduce redness and irritation. Over-the-counter creams with ingredients like hydrocortisone can address minor inflammation. Additionally, taking short, lukewarm showers and avoiding harsh scrubs or exfoliants can further minimize irritation. Drinking plenty of water and using a humidifier can also assist in maintaining skin hydration and reducing inflammation. Always consult a dermatologist for persistent or severe skin issues.
