There are times when your skin just isn’t happy. It might be red, itchy, dry, or just plain irritated. No one likes when they’re having problems with their skin, but knowing what to do about it isn’t always easy. Maybe you’ve already tried a few things and it hasn’t really helped, or perhaps has even made things worse. There’s often no quick cure for irritated skin, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. You most likely have options to help you soothe your skin, whether it’s in the skincare products you use or your lifestyle choices.
If your skin is feeling irritated and you’re looking for the right solution, here are some of the steps you could take to soothe your skin.
Give Your Skin a Break
Skin can sometimes become irritated because it has had too much exposure to various products. Whether you’ve been using a lot of skincare products or wearing makeup every day, you could find your skin starts to protect after a while. If you suspect that this is what’s happening, giving your skin a break can help. This could mean no longer using any products apart from a gentle cleanser and moisturiser. After a while, you could find that your skin starts to get healthier and you can slowly begin to use other products again.
Change Your Skincare Products
Your skin could be irritated because of a specific product or products that you’re using. If your skin improves when you stop using something but becomes irritated again when you start using it, it could be time to reassess your skincare routine. Finding the right products can be tricky, but brands like Medik8 can offer you plenty of different products to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a moisturiser, eye cream, or vitamin C serum, there are lots of products to try out. Look for skincare products that are suitable for sensitive skin if you’re having trouble finding the right choices to prevent irritation.
Find Other External Causes
Irritated skin can be caused by other external factors too. If it’s not skincare products causing problems, it could be something else. Sometimes the cause can surprise you or not be immediately obvious. It could be something as simple as a scratchy label in your clothes, or it could be something like laundry detergent, a new plant, or anything else that could cause a skin reaction. Try to think about anything that might have changed that could be causing the problem. But remember that it could also be a new reaction to something that’s not new to you or your home.
Look at Your Diet
As well as external environmental factors, you could find that irritated skin is caused by something in your diet. For example, some people find that if they limit the amount of dairy in their diet, it can help to improve the health of their skin. Some foods may be irritating to your skin, while others might help to make your skin healthier. There are lots of foods that are good for your skin and could even help to reduce inflammation. Some anti-inflammatory foods include tomatoes, leafy greens, olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish such as salmon.
Deal with Stress
Stress can have a negative effect on your skin too. Many people find that they experience breakouts, rashes, or flare-ups of skin conditions when they feel stressed. So taking some time to relax and deal with stress properly could really help when your skin is irritated. There are different ways to deal with stress and find ways to relax. What’s most important is to find methods that work for you, whether it’s having a day to yourself, meditating regularly, or working out ways to approach stressful situations in a healthier way.
See a Doctor
Irritated skin can often be treated at home, but sometimes you might need to see a medical professional. If the irritation isn’t going away or it’s causing you pain and discomfort, speaking to a doctor could help you find the right solution. You can find a dermatologist who will be able to look at the irritated area and provide a diagnosis and/or a suggestion for how to treat it. They can help with identifying a possible underlying cause or give advice on how to treat the symptoms that you’re experiencing.
It’s pretty irritating when your skin is red, itchy, or dry. But with the right help and lifestyle changes, your skin can start looking and feeling much better.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
