Stinging Skin: Sensitive Skin That Burns

Stinging skin is a type of sensitive skin. (1) You may notice that your skin stings but nothing is there, because stinging skin often occurs without any skin redness, rash, or visible irritation. You may feel a burning sensation like sunburn, but not see redness. It has also been described as skin tingling. This can occur when washing your face with only water, when applying skin care products, when exposed to heat or cold, or even when doing nothing.

People who have this type of sensitive skin are called “Stingers” by dermatologists. The definition of a stinger is someone whose skin stings but there is no rash and no evidence of skin allergy.

Causes of Stinging Skin

Why Skin Stings

New Skin Care Products Sting

Ascorbic Acid

Benzoyl Peroxide

Hydroxy Acids

Retinoic Acid and Retinol

Where Skin Stings

Skin Stings Around the Mouth and Cheeks

Skin Stings on Back

Ingredients in Skin Care Products that Cause Stinging

List of Ingredients that Can Make Your Skin Sting

Science of How Ingredients Cause Skin to Sting

Tips to Treat Stinging Skin

Skin Care Routine for Stinging Skin

References

Causes stinging skin

Causes of Stinging Skin

If you have stinging skin, chances are you need to re-evaluate your skin care routine. You are probably using the wrong skin care product for your skin type, or something is making them too strong for your skin.

These are the most common causes of burning and stinging skin:

Rosacea

Low pH (acidic) skin care products

Beginning retinoids or increasing retinoid strength

Over exfoliation

Skin inflammation

Skin allergy

Ingredients skin skin care products

Why Skin Stings

Skin stings when nerve endings in the skin are stimulated. There are special nerves and receptors in the skin that make you feel stinging on the skin. The skin stinging sensation is very common on the back, neck and face.

It can happen when your environment, health, or skin care routine changes.

Why can water sting?

Why does water sting my face?

When you have skin inflammation, rosacea, are over exfoliated, or are starting a new retinoid (or increasing the frequency or strength of a retinoid), everything will make your face sting- even water. Friction from the towel used to dry your face can also cause stinging.

If washing your face with water causes stinging, try these steps.

Stop all skin care products

Avoid face brushes and loofas

Use a soothing cleanser or cleaning oil

Apply a soothing oil such as argan oil 2-3 times a day.

Soothing oils can reduce skin stinging (I personally use the PAORR Oil because I have very sensitive skin):

ClarityRx Glimmer of Hope Shimmering Facial Oil

$58.00

Add to Cart

Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil

$79.00

Out of Stock

Shea Terra MD 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil

$24.00

Out of Stock

PAORR By Zerafite Organic Moroccan Argan Oil

$22.75

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Glimmer of Hope Shimmering Facial Oil

$58.00

Add to Cart

Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil

$79.00

Out of Stock

Shea Terra MD 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil

$24.00

Out of Stock

PAORR By Zerafite Organic Moroccan Argan Oil

$22.75

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Glimmer of Hope Shimmering Facial Oil

$58.00

Add to Cart

Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil

$79.00

Out of Stock

Shea Terra MD 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil

$24.00

Out of Stock

PAORR By Zerafite Organic Moroccan Argan Oil

$22.75

Add to Cart

Why do new products sting?

New Skin Care Products Sting

New products in your skin care routine can cause stinging. What should you do if this happens?

Retinoids, hydroxyacids, ascorbic acid, and benzoyl peroxide often sting when you first start them. This is what to do if these are in your new routine. If you have a skin reaction with redness or a rash, read this blog instead.

First, make sure you are using the right skin care routine for your Baumann Skin Type.

Take the Quiz

If you are using our routine recommendations and you still have stinging on the face but no rash, this is what to do if you are using these ingredients:

Ascorbic acid

Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid stings many people, especially when used on the face. The good Vitamin C serums have a low pH, which some people cannot tolerate because they feel the acid stinging their skin. Vitamin C is not a good choice for “stingers” or for those with rosacea.

When you take our skin type quiz, we specifically ask if your skin is stinging. Go back and retake the quiz, answer “yes” to this question, and you will get a skin care regimen that is less likely to sting your skin and has ingredients to calm and soothe it.

Take or retake the quiz here.

benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide (BP) can make your skin sting, especially if you have a dry skin type.

If you are using BP and you sting, these tips can help stop the stinging:

Decrease the % of the BP you are using

Stop any hyaluronic acid in your routine

Use a barrier repair moisturizer

Stop any low pH cleansers

Reduce the strength of any retinoids you are using

BP is a known irritant. Using too high of a dose, or using it with other exfoliants can cause skin to sting.

glycolic acid

Hydroxy Acids

Hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid have a low pH so they can sting irritated or over exfoliated skin.

If hydroxyacids sting, try these tips:

Decrease the number of exfoliants in your routine

Retake our quiz and say yes to the stinging question

Stop using hydroxyacids

Change to a better moisturizer for your skin type

Retinoic Acid and Retinol

Retinols turn into retinoic acid in the skin. Using a new retinoid or increasing the retinoid strength is a common cause of skin stinging.

If you think retinol or other retinoids are making your skin sting, stop them and read these retinoid instructions.

retinol

Where Skin Stings

Where your skin stings can be a clue to the cause of stinging. Stinging on the face is almost always caused by skin care products, rosacea, or over exfoliation.

Skin Stings Around the Mouth and Cheeks

The parentheses areas around the mouth- called the nasolabial folds, and the cheeks are the most common areas on the face to sting.

The increase in sensitivity in this part of the face is thought to be caused by a thin stratum corneum in the upper layer of the epidermis, a high density of sweat glands and hair follicles in this around, and an elaborate network of specialized sensory nerves that detect stinging.(2)

Skin Stings on Back

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a condition where people feel itching on their upper or middle back, usually in areas that are hard to reach. This itchiness can sometimes feel like a “stinging” or burning sensation. It’s not fully clear why this happens, but it might be linked to issues with the nerves in that area. Things like tight clothing, changes in temperature, or stress can make the feeling worse. It can be frustrating, especially because it’s in a spot that’s tough to scratch or soothe.

Which ingredients cause stinging?

Ingredients in Skin Care Products that Cause Stinging

There are ingredients are more likely to cause skin stinging on the list below. However, if one of these cosmetic ingredients causes your face to sting, it does not mean that all of these ingredients will make you sting. There is specificity of the stinging response. You may sting to lactic acid, but not with benzoic acid and azelaic acid.

One study showed that there was no correlation between patients who stung from lactic acid and those who stung from azelaic acid. (2) This suggests that there is some sort of stinging specificity involved that has not been figured out by scientists.

List of Ingredients that Can Make Your Skin Sting

Avoid any low pH ingredients such as acids and any ingredients on this list if your skin stings:

Alcohol

Ascorbic Acid

Avobenzone (Parsol)

Azelaic acid

Benzoic acid

Capsaicin

Eucalyptus oil

Fragrance

Glycolic acid

Hydroxyacids

Lactic acid

Menthol

Peppermint

Retinoids

Salicylic acid

Sorbic acid

Vitamin C

Witch hazel

Alcohols can cause stinging on the skin

Science of How Ingredients Cause Skin to Sting

New research has shown that transient receptor proteins (TRPs) in keratinocytes of the skin can detect environmental stimuli. TRPV1 and TRPV4, members of this protein family, are primarily involved in perceiving heat, pain, and itch sensations.

TRPV1 is the receptor that identifies capsaicin — the compound found in chili peppers– and activation of TRPV1 by capsaicin is why our skin (or mouth) detects heat. Fascinatingly, TRPV1 is also responsive to low pH environments and could elucidate the stinging sensation that “stingers” experience by some when lactic acid is applied to the skin. The sensitivity of the TRPs can vary between individuals and explain why some people sting from a skin care product, while others do not.

Skin Care Ingredients that Target TRP Receptors:

Capsaicin: Found in chili peppers, it specifically binds to and activates TRPV1, imparting a warming sensation.

Menthol: Known to interact with cold-sensitive TRP channels, delivering a cooling effect.

Camphor: Another ingredient that can modulate TRP receptors, often used for its soothing properties.

Salicylic Acid: While primarily an exfoliant, it can influence TRP receptors, particularly in higher concentrations.

Lactic Acid: As mentioned, its lower pH can stimulate TRPV1, leading to a stinging sensation in sensitive individuals.

Understanding the interplay between these ingredients and TRP receptors will lead to more understanding about what causes skin to sting.

Other products in your skin care routine can affect the activity of these receptors. The cutaneous barrier, which is our skin’s frontline defense, interacts seamlessly with these TRP channels. When this barrier is compromised, TRPs become even more susceptible to external agents. For instance, ceramides, naturally occurring lipids in our skin, can influence how these receptors respond. A decline in ceramides might heighten the skin’s reactivity, making it more prone to sensations like itching or stinging.

Moreover, various environmental factors, such as temperature fluctuations or exposure to certain chemicals, can further modulate TRP activity. This variability underpins why it is necessary to truly customize tailor skincare regimens to target all of your skin’s concerns.

Tips to treat stinging skin

If your skin stings, here are some tips to make it feel better fast:

Apply a soothing oil like argan oil

Consider keeping your moisturizer in the refrigerator

Try an ice roller

More tips for when your skin stings:

Do not exfoliate

Wash with room temperature water or cold water

Consider using a thermal spa water with selenium

Avoid low pH cleansers like glycolic acid and salicylic acid

Stop retinoids for 4 days and restart slowly

Avoid foaming cleansers

Avoid extreme temperatures

Avoid Vitamin C serum

Best routine for stinging skin

Skin Care Routine for Stinging Skin

Starting a new skin care routine can result in skin stinging. This will occur if you use more than 3 types of exfoliating products at the same time. So- it your skin stings- stop all hydroxy acids, retinoids and Vitamin C for 4 days. Then slowly re-add each one. We recommend starting the retinoid first and closely follow the retinoid instructions.

Do not add in the hydroxyacid or the Vitamin C until you can tolerate the retinoid without stinging.

Of course- ALWAYS make sure you are using the right skin care products for your Baumann Skin Type.

Using the wrong skin care products or the wrong skin care routine or products in the wrong order can cause skin stinging.

Take the quiz and answer yes to the stinging question to get a customized skin care routine to soothe and calm stinging skin.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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