Dryness and sensitivity
Tightness, flakes, stinging, and reactive feelings are often a sign to simplify, not to add more actives. This page is educational and cosmetic. True allergy, eczema, or other conditions need a clinician.
Cosmetic factors to consider
- Over-cleansing or hot water
- Too many exfoliants or retinoids at once
- Low humidity and indoor heating
- Fragrance in leave-on products
Routine principles
- Switch to a cream or milky cleanser if gels feel stripping.
- Moisturise on slightly damp skin.
- Pause extra actives until comfort returns.
- Introduce any new product one at a time.
Ingredients commonly used
Ceramides · Glycerin · Squalane · Fragrance-free moisturisers
Approach with care
- Physical scrubs
- High-strength acids
- Essential-oil-heavy formulas if you react to fragrance
When to speak with a clinician
Seek medical advice for cracked, weeping, infected, rapidly spreading, or severely itchy skin, or if over-the-counter care is not enough.
Related treatments
Should sensitive skin skip sunscreen?
No. Look for formulas labelled for sensitive skin and introduce them as you would any other leave-on product.
GPU.Skin provides cosmetic skincare information and personalisation. It does not provide medical advice or a diagnosis. Speak with a pharmacist, GP, dermatologist, or another qualified clinician for persistent, severe, painful, rapidly changing, infected, bleeding, or otherwise concerning symptoms.