5 Products You Should Never Use If You Have Skin Issues!

If you have sensitive skin, you know how quickly it can become angry, with symptoms like redness, dryness, and itchiness that can be difficult to soothe. And while it may seem like avoiding irritation is impossible, top dermatologists tell us that steering clear of certain types of products that notoriously inflame sensitive types can help your skin calm and happy—and you smiling.

Face scrubs

Also known as physical exfoliants, scrubs are too harsh for sensitive skin—no matter how gentle the beads purport to be. This also includes dry brushes and loofahs in addition to any exfoliant formulas with scrubby bits like sea salt and sugar. Instead, use gentle chemical exfoliants like lactic acid and fruits acids that help speed up cell turnover without the use of physical rubbing against skin.

Chemical sunscreen

While physical (mineral) sunscreen reflects sun rays to block harmful UV radiation from skin, chemical sunscreens work by actually absorbing the UV rays to prevent skin absorption. Stick to the two physical sunscreen ingredients only—zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Some sunscreens are a mix of both physical and chemical ingredients, to be sure to look at those ingredient labels closely.

 Sulfate shampoos

Americans are culturally known to be addicted to a good sudsing and "squeaky" cleanliness, but sulfates take it too far for sensitive skin types, says Chiu M.D., founder of The Derm Institute in Redondo Beach, CA. Sulfates are made of sulfur-containing mineral salts, and are strong detergent ingredients that are often used to create a lot of foaming action in products like shampoo. The most commonly used types you'll see on ingredient labels are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Sulfates can cause chronic dryness and itchiness everywhere from the scalp to the face and body by stripping moisture as it rinses off, so Chiu recommends sensitive skin types always go for shampoos and conditioners labeled "sulfate-free".

Fragranced body lotions

"When the word 'fragrance' appears as an ingredient on the label, this hides many, many more ingredients that can cause irritation since companies aren't obliged to disclose their fragrance ingredients," explains Chiu. Opt for products labeled "fragrance-free"—or if you're craving a scent; choose formulations that add it through natural ingredients like essential oils. It's always safest to first patch test a new product for 24 hours for any potential adverse affects before applying it to your skin liberally.

Skin toner with alcohol

Whether you're cleansing or moisturizing, alcohol in products does the one thing sensitive skin needs the least: It sucks moisture right out of your skin. This can lead to bothersome itchiness, irritation, and discomfort, explains Chiu. On the other hand, fatty alcohols that aren't irritating, and could be okay, include cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, and stearyl alcohol. The safest bet for truly sensitive skin is to always go alcohol-free, says Chiu.