what is sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is a lay term used to describe skin with reduced tolerance to the application of cosmetics and personal care products. It is not a medical diagnosis, but a clue that something isn't right with the skin. Sensitive skin can present in a wide variety of ways, with subjective symptoms such as stinging, itching, burning, and visible skin changes such as redness, dryness, scaling, peeling, bumps, and hives. There are a number of recognized medical causes of sensitive skin, including irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, rosacea, physical urticaria, and dry skin, among others. The diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of sensitive skin are still under discussion, but studies on its epidemiology have been performed, showing a high prevalence and impact on quality of life