Why so sensitive?

 Sensitive skin is more and more of a complaint for both therapists and consumers.  It begs the question what is best for home care and treatments?  What can we do to keep clients happy, reduce redness, and still see results?  I have pondered this my entire career as I have sensitive skin myself, diagnosed by a dermatologist with rosacea some years back.  

The concept that all clients need aggressive treatments is a rut that some therapists slip into.  It's important to remember not everyone responds to treatments the same way.  Sure if you bring the client in and irritate the skin there will be results.  Usually in the form of inflammation and swelling.  It is short lived and often the client is dry tight and uncomfortable during the process.  Some clients get to the point where they think this is the only way they should feel after a treatment.  

So the big question is how do you get results without causing the client that dry uncomfortable feeling and causing downtime and inflammation?   I use a combination of treatments to keep skin responsive but happy.  I have a "go to" group of treatments that I mix and match to create a custom treatment for clients on a monthly basis.  I would say I am definitely a microdermabrasion gal.  It amazes me as to how many therapists use microdermabrasion with poor technique.  You should brace the skin, work in that small matchbox size area, keep the suction low enough that you don't have a "popping" sound when you lift the wand.  Also, work in strokes, not pecks.  The pull and pop on the skin will compromise spider capillaries causing more harm than good.  

I also use a combination of acids and enzymes in conjunction with microdermabrasion to get the desired effect.  As a general rule, you should use an AHA or a AHA /Enzyme blend prior to microdermabrasion.  Logically it lifts and loosens dull lifeless skin and makes it easy to remove with a light pass of microdermabrasion.  Danielle Wachowski is the owner at Enlightened Skincare and I recommend you check out her educational video on micropeeling for more information on this topic. 

LED is a big must have for me.  It is a great solution for almost any client.  Apply a growth factor or translucent mineral mask (greater conduction of energy) or a lifting mask (of course it must be translucent) and choose the LED cycle that applies.  

I believe that home care is the number one thing clients can do to combat sensitivity at home.  I found an amazing line during my oncology training and got to know Kris Campbell the owner and formulator at Hale and Hush.  I consider her an expert in sensitive skin and I am proud to be working with her.  Hale and Hush provides a tight selection of products to repair the barrier of the skin.  There are also several back bar products that produce amazing results.  Hale and Hush has a section of articles that will also help you understand more about sensitive skin.  In addition to being a leader in education they are also now winners of an estheticians choice award!  

Sensitive skin can be a challenge.   Education on the topic will help you make great treatment decisions and win the hearts of sensitive clients!  If you want to talk treatments or products I'd love to connect.