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" If you&amp;#039;ve got the dry, red, itchy skin that often comes with winter, you&amp;#039;re in good company: Roughly seven in 10 American women say they have sensitive skin \u2014 a rate that seems to be on the rise thanks to increased use of potent, sometimes irritating anti-agers and new sensitizing medications for certain health conditions. In reality, less than 10 to 15 percent of the population actually suffers from the medically diagnosable condition: &amp;quot;Truly sensitive skin gets irritated by almost everything \u2014 from the most basic over-the-counter skin care to detergents and fabric softeners \u2014 whereas the majority of women who think they have sensitive skin get irritated only occasionally and can use most products without a problem,&amp;quot; says Neal Schultz, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. So if you&amp;#039;re looking for solutions stat, a few simple product and habit changes will likely bring fast relief. Here are some easy steps to soothe irritation and restore skin&amp;#039;s natural balance.  Routine Inspection The average beauty regimen \u2014 whether for face or body \u2014 is loaded with potential irritants. That&amp;#039;s especially true in winter, when &amp;quot;lower humidity and cold, driving winds chafe skin and make it extra vulnerable to product-induced irritation,&amp;quot; says Dr. Schultz. Follow these steps, and you&amp;#039;ll not only eliminate many of those aggravating ingredients, but you&amp;#039;ll soothe any existing inflammation as well.  Stay out of hot water... Whether you&amp;#039;re cleansing your face or your body, stick with tepid to warm water, says New York City dermatologist Doris Day, M.D. Heat opens your pores and causes moisture loss that you can ill afford if your skin is being reactive. &amp;quot;Skin that holds in moisture is a stronger barrier against irritants than dry skin,&amp;quot; she explains. Also, &amp;quot;heat itself can cause a histamine release, which makes skin itch,&amp;quot; says Dr. Schultz. &amp;quot;Soon you&amp;#039;ll get into an itch-scratch cycle that&amp;#039;s very hard to break.&amp;quot; ...And out of hard water, too. If the water running through your pipes is full of minerals, softening is the first thing you can do to offset sensitivity. &amp;quot;Calcium, magnesium, and other dissolved minerals that make water hard can be irritating to sensitive skin, causing redness with dry, itchy patches,&amp;quot; says David Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, NY. &amp;quot;Depending upon where you live, you can add a water softener for your whole house, or add individual softeners to showerheads and faucets.&amp;quot; Forgo fragrance when you choose a cleanser. Try a simple, mild, unscented one like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($7.50, drugstores). Even seemingly beneficial scents like orange, bergamot, or other citrus extracts can cause a reaction, says Kenneth Beer, M.D., a dermatologist in West Palm Beach, FL. Another good choice for face: Olay Foaming Face Wash, Sensitive Skin ($4, drugstores). And for body: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Surgras Concentrated Shower-Cream Anti-Dryness ($20, CVS).  Slow down on the sloughing. It&amp;#039;s OK to remove dry, flaky skin, but don&amp;#039;t exfoliate more than twice a week, says Dr. Day. Whether you use a physical or chemical slougher, it should be gentle \u2014 round granules devoid of jagged edges, or a low-strength (5 to 10 percent) glycolic solution. For face, try DDF Glycolic 5% Exfoliating Wash ($35, sephora.com) and for body, Av\u00E8ne Gentle Body Scrub for Sensitive Skin ($20, drugstores). Note: If you go the scrub route, make sure you use only light pressure.  Start fresh \u2014 with your razor blades, that is. Shaving your legs, underarms, or anyplace else can cause bumps and redness. To prevent this outcome, use a razor that&amp;#039;s no more than five shaves old and that has at least two or three blades. &amp;quot;Single-blade disposables are likelier to drag against the skin,&amp;quot; says Dr. Schultz. And apply only a sensitivity-safe shave gel, which has an increased slip factor: Try Gillette Satin Care Sensitive Skin Shave Gel with soothing aloe vera ($3, drugstores). To further minimize friction, shave with the grain of the hair. &amp;quot;If you&amp;#039;d still like a closer shave, reapply the gel and shave again \u2014 against the direction of the hair growth,&amp;quot; says Dr. Schultz. Once the hairs are as short as possible (and skin is warm and lubricated), the likelihood of burning or redness is greatly reduced, he explains.  Next: More skin-soothing solutions, plus when you should see a dermatologist  Be generous in applying moisturizer, and slather it on immediately after cleansing your face or bathing. For body, try Cur\u00E9l Sensitive Skin Remedy Lotion ($8, drugstores). For your face, make sure your daily SPF 15 lotion derives its ultraviolet protection from zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These minerals sit on the surface of the skin and form a physical block, says Dr. Bank. By contrast, chemical sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone and avobenzone penetrate the skin and react with it in order for the UV protection to kick in; they may cause stinging or burning in the process. For face, try Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 ($15, drugstores). Treat underarms gently. If you have dry, red, or itchy underarms, the culprit may be an ingredient in your antiperspirant, like aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium. Dr. Bank&amp;#039;s tip for gentle deodorizing: After you shower and dry off, shake about a tablespoon of baking soda into the palm of your hand, then pat the powder into your underarm area. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s both drying and odor-killing,&amp;quot; says Dr. Bank. Once any irritation subsides, you can try a new antiperspirant if you&amp;#039;d prefer a stronger sweat fighter.  Avoid the alcohols, oils, synthetic dyes, binders, fragrances, and other potential irritants that are typically found in conventional makeup, suggests Dr. Bank. &amp;quot;These ingredients can dry out your face or cause an allergic reaction known as contact dermatitis.&amp;quot; Instead, switch to mineral makeup, which, like physical sunscreens, contains only inert particles that sit on rather than penetrate the skin (and actually deliver some UV protection as well). Doctors even recommend these gentle powder formulations to patients after facial or reconstructive surgery. Try: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear ($9 \u2014 $14) or Bare Escentuals BareMinerals ($13 \u2014 $28). When to See a Derm If the strategies and products listed here don&amp;#039;t work within three weeks, visit a dermatologist to determine whether you have clinically sensitive skin and need prescription cleansers, lotions, or salves. Chances are, you&amp;#039;d know if you had truly sensitive skin: As mentioned on page 65, you&amp;#039;d react frequently to many common skin-care products. These reactions could take the form of extreme drying, stinging, redness, or even burning. Other indicators: You may also have allergies, eczema, and/or asthma (or have had them as a kid); your skin isn&amp;#039;t just dry, but often chapped, itchy, and scaly; your undertones are reddish or pink; you have fine pores; and you react quickly to any noticeable temperature changes, indoors or out.  Does Sensitivity Age Skin?  &amp;quot;Sensitive skin contains highly reactive nerve fibers and has an impaired ability to retain moisture and fend off irritants,&amp;quot; says Angelike Galdi, director of skin care and sun care for L&amp;#039;Or\u00E9al USA Research and Development. &amp;quot;These conditions can eventually lead to damage in collagen and elastin fibers, which give skin its structure and elasticity.&amp;quot; When the scientists behind La Roche-Posay, owned by L&amp;#039;Or\u00E9al, studied more than 120 sensitive-skinned women, they found that wrinkles appeared three years earlier in sensitive than in normal skin, and firmness diminished 10 years sooner. That prompted the company to study ways to fight the signs of aging in sensitive skin without exacerbating sensitivity with potent active ingredients. &amp;quot;Our approach is to couple those ingredients with soothing agents that can raise the skin&amp;#039;s tolerance threshold for temperature, textiles, and other irritants,&amp;quot; says Galdi.   The company&amp;#039;s Redermic [+] Intensive Daily Anti-Wrinkle Firming Fill-In Care ($49, CVS) delivers two skin calmers: the herb madecassoside and a dipeptide called neurosensine.  Other anti-aging products specifically for sensitive skin: Patricia Wexler M.D. Anti-Aging Sensitive Skin Starter Kit ($40, Bath and Body Works) and Lumene Sensitive Touch Comforting Night Cream ($18, CVS).  Next: 5 Tips to Save Your Skin  Do&amp;#039;s &amp;amp;amp; Dont&amp;#039;s  1. Don&amp;#039;t expose unprotected skin to wind and cold. &amp;quot;Low winter temperatures can damage your skin by disrupting the barrier that normally locks moisture into your skin,&amp;quot; says Dr. Bank. &amp;quot;And when there are chinks in that armor, microscopic droplets of water can escape and freeze on the skin&amp;#039;s surface, causing additional redness, chapping, and irritation.&amp;quot; If you can&amp;#039;t avoid exposure, apply a rich lotion first, such as Origins All-Purpose High-Elevation Cream Dry Skin Relief ($25, Origins). And bundle up in a scarf, but make sure it&amp;#039;s a breathable, natural fabric such as cotton, silk, or cashmere (though not other wools \u2014 the fibers are notoriously itch-inducing).  2. Do drink 1.5 to 2 quarts of water per day to ensure that your skin is sufficiently hydrated. Increase this amount during the holiday season if you&amp;#039;re going to increase your alcohol consumption, says Dr. Bank. (Alcohol is a diuretic and can rob the body of much-needed water. For that matter, so is caffeine.)  3. Don&amp;#039;t slack on your diet. &amp;quot;Immune system health, which depends on proper intake of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, can influence the reactivity of your skin,&amp;quot; says Dr. Bank. A good night&amp;#039;s sleep helps in this department, too. 4. Don&amp;#039;t let stress ravage your skin. &amp;quot;Stress can actually increase sensitivity to environmental factors, leaving your skin more prone to irritation,&amp;quot; says Dr. Bank. So practice yoga, curl up with a trashy novel, or find some other way to unwind.  5. Do launder clothing with dye- and fragrance-free detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets. Both additives can cause itching and rashes. Try Tide Liquid Detergent Free &amp;amp;amp; Gentle ($9, drugstores) and Ultra Downy Free &amp;amp;amp; Sensitive Fabric Softener ($9, drugstores). "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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