Do you experience signs of skin sensitivity without an obvious cause? Let’s get to the bottom of it.

Do you sometimes feel like your sensitive skin reacts to the slightest provocation, or even for no reason at all? It’s frustrating, but the truth is that episodes of sensitivity always have a cause. Finding the main reason, however, can be challenging; that’s why we sat down with our in-house skin therapist Jess Anderson to get answers about the most common triggers. Keep reading to uncover what might be causing your skin’s occasional sensitivity—even when it seems like there’s no reason—and what you can do to stop it.

When your skin turns red and feels irritated, DOES it always have a reason?

Jess: Yes! Though it’s not always immediately obvious. Sensitive skin reactions can be caused by a wide range of factors including genetics, physiology, lifestyle, and environment. So it’s important to pay attention whenever your skin “panics”! Take a moment to think about what might have triggered the temporary sensitivity. This may help you understand why your skin reacts and what you can do to prevent it next time.

The theory sounds great, but practically speaking… where do we start? What should we watch out for?

Jess: It can be a bit tricky, so let’s dive in. The first thing to consider is genetics. Sensitive skin can be hereditary, meaning the top layer of skin is prone to letting irritants and allergens through, causing a reaction. People with highly sensitive skin also tend to blush more easily, have higher risks of asthma and allergies, and generally have more delicate skin—but with the right care, it can be well managed!

What about sensitive skin that isn’t genetic?

Jess: Weakening of the skin and increased sensitivity can be caused by many factors. This can lead to sensitization and irritation, meaning the skin might react to anything—from environmental influences to cosmetic ingredients, over-exfoliation, smoking, or even the weather. Anyone can experience irritated skin sometimes, including those with genetically sensitive skin.

That’s quite a lot of potential causes! Can you tell us more about physiology? It sounds like it might be linked to genetics.

Jess: When we talk about the physiology of sensitive skin, we mainly focus on stress and hormonal fluctuations. Stress triggers a chemical reaction in the body that makes the skin more reactive. For example, stress increases production of the hormone cortisol, which signals glands to produce more oil. Normal hormonal fluctuations can cause more than just monthly inflammation—they can also contribute to sudden irritation in sensitive skin. So if your skin reacts during stressful periods—or roughly the same time each month—hormones are a likely culprit.

IF YOU CAN’T FIGURE OUT WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR SKIN TO REACT, IT OFTEN COMES DOWN TO SOMETHING YOU CAN CONTROL.

You also mentioned lifestyle as another possible factor. Can you elaborate?

Jess: Now it gets really interesting! If you can’t identify what’s causing your skin to react, it’s often something you have some control over. The most common lifestyle triggers are smoking, dehydration, and alcohol. Reactions can also be caused by cosmetic ingredients like alcohol, artificial fragrances, or lanolin, irritation from over-exfoliation, or even certain foods! But given the many possible causes, it’s hard to pinpoint yours exactly. The most practical approach is to track your skin’s reactions over about a month and then look for patterns.

You also mentioned the environment as a cause of irritation. Can you tell us more about that?

Jess: Yes! It’s a much bigger factor than many realize. Polluted air, airborne allergens, changes in humidity, and extreme heat or cold can all trigger skin sensitivity. Most of us can’t control the environment we’re in all day long—so what can we do? The first step is awareness: whenever you’re about to go outside into an environment that might cause irritation, try to be mindful of it. 

Once we know what’s causing our skin irritation, how can we use that information?

Jess: We all know the old saying, “Prevention is the best defense,” and that definitely applies here! It’s worth avoiding triggers whenever possible. But even when that’s not an option, you can protect and maintain healthy skin. Look for products that hydrate, soothe symptoms like redness and irritation, and help strengthen your skin’s protective barrier—and when you use them before irritation occurs, you help keep your skin healthy.