Suffering from sensitive skin? How to cope

The term ‘sensitive skin' covers a multitude of conditions, from dryness to product intolerance to fully blown skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and rosacea. Statistics show that 50% of the UK population suffer from sensitive skin, a figure that is matched by studies on populations throughout Europe. And if you have sensitive skin, finding the right products and a good skincare routine can be a problem.

How to cope: Basic guidelines

Joëlle Nonni at the Avène Dermatological Hydrotherapy Centre for sensitive skin in the south of France, which treats patients for skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis, offers the following advice:

1. Make sure the water you bathe and shower in is not too hot - the ideal temperature (for everybody, not just sensitive skin suffers) is 34 degrees Celsius. This feels quite cool on the skin, so be warned - most of us wash in water that's too hot!

2. Don't stand under running water as you shower. Wet your body, turn off the water, apply skincare products, then turn water back on to rinse off. This will also save you money as you are not washing away products as quickly - particularly important if you are using expensive products, what's the point of rinsing them down the drain!

3. Use soap-free products. Soap has a drying effect on the skin, use products that have been specially formulated for your skin condition or for sensitive skin in general.

4. Remember that the menopause is likely to aggravate dry skin conditions, so pay particular attention to your skincare routine at this time of your life.

5. Don't use cotton pads to cleanse your skin - they will only irritate your skin further.

6. Make a cold water compress to give your skin a super-hydrating boost; Joëlle recommends spraying your face lightly with Avène Thermal Spring Water before covering your face with a tissue, slit open over the mouth and nose so you can breathe easily. Spray the tissue again with the water, and relax for five to ten minutes, face covered.

7. Take particular care in the sun. Sun is not harmful to all skin conditions, provided you use the right sun protection, but if you have a serious skin problem you will need to avoid strong sunlight - check with your GP if you are in any doubt. Remember that suncream won't necessarily offer enough moisture for your skin, so it can be a good idea to use a serum under the cream to reduce the drying effect.

Using the correct suncare products

Joëlle recommends that everybody, whether suffering from sensitive skin or not, use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 20 - ‘anything less than that is really quite pointless,' she says.

For information on choosing the sun care that's right for you, click here

Dry skin and dehydrated skin - what's the difference?

If your skin is dry it is missing oil; if skin is dehydrated it is missing water. Too often dehydrated skin is mistaken for dry skin with adverse results. If your skin is dehydrated and you try to solve the problem by using an extra-rich moisturiser, you may just be adding more oil to skin that is sufficiently oily already (dehydrated skin is only missing water, not oil). This can result in an outbreak of spots. The correct solution for dehydrated skin is to keep it hydrated. Try the cold water compress routine above.

Problem skin - more information

How to deal with adult acne and spot-prone skin

Coping with skin pigmentation - expert advice

Rosacea - treatments to try

Pigmentation - treatments to try

Finding professional help

If you suffer from any of the severe skin conditions mentioned above, you should seek medical help or consider visiting a specialist clinic. The Avène Dermatological Hydrotherapy Centre in the South of France treats over 4,000 patients each year for skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis, using natural thermal spring water. This water, flowing from the Black Mountains, is clinically proven to reduce the sensitivity of skin cells by reducing skin reactivity, and the clinical trials have been widely published in international medical and scientific journals.

The spring has a long history of healing in the area; in 1871 Avène thermal spring water was exported to Chicago to treat victims of the great fire and in 1874 the French Academy of Medicine officially validated its therapeutic properties. Patients normally follow a two-week treatment programme including running baths, underwater massage, showers and body wraps.

Treatment at the centre is also available through the NHS - to qualify you will need a consultant referral from your GP, who can then recommend you for treatment to the Primary Care Trust. You will also need to fill in an E112 form from your local post office. Funding only covers medical treatment, and not travel or accommodation costs.

To find out more about the centre, visit the website at www.avenehydrotherapycenter.com

Using thermal water to treat skin conditions at home

Eau Thermale Avène is a division of the Pierre Fabre Dermo-cosmétique in France, a pharmaceutical company engaged in a wide range of product research and development, including anti-cancer drugs. All of the active ingredients used in its products are natural, and have been since the company's origins in the 1960s. The Eau Thermale range is based on the thermal spring water, used to treat patients at source, and includes a full skincare range of cleansers, moisturisers, serums and of course the spring water spray itself.