Is Body Scrub Good For Sensitive Skin?

When researching body scrubs for sensitive skin, you are likely to find a lot of reports that say it should be avoided at all costs. While it’s true that sensitive skin needs some extra TLC that other skin types may not, the belief that scrub can’t be used at all is false.

However, you need to make sure you know what you’re doing! Many ingredients that are fine for normal, oily, or dry skin will cause irritation for sensitive skin. There are also ingredients to seek out as they will be more beneficial for skin sensitivities.

If you have a medical condition of your skin, you may need to talk to your doctor or dermatologist to ensure that exfoliation is safe for you.

HOW DOES BODY SCRUB HELP SENSITIVE SKIN?

The skin of the face is thinner than the skin of the body, no matter which skin type you have. When exfoliating a sensitive face, it’s usually advisable to focus on extremely gentle mechanical exfoliation, if any, and go for chemical exfoliants instead.

Remember: chemicals aren’t inherently bad! There are beneficial chemicals and harmful chemicals. Those found in skin exfoliants are safe to use, but you just need to be sure your particular skin can handle them.

But for body skin, even sensitive skin can usually handle a fair amount of mechanical exfoliation. But, you need to pair the scrubbing material with ingredients (chemicals) that help exfoliate the skin as well. Be sure to remain gentle, though! Scrubbing too hard or too much can leave your skin inflamed and cause even more skin sensitivity.

With the right approach, you can use body scrub for glowing skin!

By scrubbing lightly and for a very short time, but leaving the product on the skin for a few minutes, you get the best of both worlds! The scrub physically loosens dead skin and other unwanted residues, exposing the new skin underneath. The chemicals both nourish the new skin and help promote the dead skin not removed by the scrub to dissolve away.

INGREDIENTS TO LOOK FOR AND AVOID FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

Look for the most gentle scrubbing ingredients, like coffee, sugar, clay, and perhaps sea salt (depending on your skin’s sensitivity). Avoid nutshell exfoliants as they will be too harsh for sensitive skin.

The best ingredients to chemically exfoliate sensitive skin are:

• Lactic acid (synthetic or derived from dairy or sugary plants)

• Malic acid (derived from unripe fruit)

• Salicylic acid (in a strength of 1% or less; derived from willow bark)

• Mandelic acid (derived from bitter almonds)

• Tartaric acid (derived from antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables)

• Lactobionic acid (derived from dairy)

• Galactose (derived from milk or some fruits and vegetables)

• Gluconic acid (found in plants, honey, and wine)

Chemical exfoliant ingredients to avoid, depending on skin sensitivity, are:

• Glycolic acid (derived from sugarcane)

• Citric acid (derived from citrus fruits)

• Salicylic acid (in higher concentrations)

• Benzoyl Peroxide (synthetic)

The best soothing, nourishing, and hydrating ingredients for sensitive skin are:

• Chamomile

• Aloe

• Lavender

• Oatstraw extract

• Reishi

• Neem

• Rosemary oil

• Rosehip oil

• Meadowfoam oil

• Jojoba oil

• Vitamin e

• MSM

• Shea butter

• Sweet almond oil

• Avocado oil

BODY SCRUB FOR SENSITIVE SKIN WITH HYPERPIGMENTATION

The general advice for hyperpigmented skin is to use mechanical exfoliation with stronger chemical exfoliant ingredients added as well.

For sensitive skin, we need to take a slightly different approach. Knowing which ingredients to combine, you can find the best body scrub for hyperpigmentation that works with your sensitive skin.

Remember all of the ingredients listed above, and keep those at the forefront of your search for products. The acids help to break down dark spots and even out skin tone while being gentle on the skin.

But, you can also look for slightly more intense chemical exfoliants as well. Just be sure to use them sparingly and scrub lightly, in case you have a reaction!

Look for these ingredients to find the best gentle body scrubs for lightening skin:

• Azelaic acid

• Cysteamine

• Kojic acid

• Arbutin

• Niacinamide

Sensitive skin needs a little more thought when it comes to using products, especially body scrubs. Too much scrubbing leads to physical irritation. Harsh chemicals lead to chemical irritation. Not enough protecting nutrients can lead to dryness, rash, or other skin irritations.

But armed with the right knowledge, you can safely and effectively use body scrubs to make your sensitive skin glow!