Understanding the 4 Subtypes of Sensitive Skin and How to Care for Them

Sensitive Skin Types

The term sensitive skin is often used incorrectly and many people think they have sensitive skin when they do not. In the Baumann Skin Typing System, there are 4 different types of sensitive skin. All 4 sensitive skin subtypes are reactive and prone to inflammation. To choose the best skin care products and build a skin care routine for sensitive skin, you need to know which type of sensitive skin you have.

It is possible, and even common, to have more than one subtype of sensitive skin which makes shopping for sensitive skin care products challenging.

If you have sensitive skin, you know how upsetting it is when you have a bad skin day. Using the wrong skin care ingredients can cause and worsen sensitive skin!

Understanding what subtypes of sensitive skin you have will help you find the best products to reduce inflammation and keep your skin calm.

The best way to find out if you have sensitive skin and what type of sensitive skin you have is to take our Baumann Skin Type Quiz. Eight of the 16 Baumann Skin Types have sensitive skin. Are you one of them? Find out now!

Types of Sensitive Skin

How to know if you have sensitive skin?

All types of sensitive skin have signs of inflammation. Inflammation is caused by many different things.

There is so much confusion about what sensitive skin is, that if you want to know if you have sensitive skin, the best thing to do is take our skin type test. It will help you know if you have sensitive skin, what is causing it, and what to do about it.

acne, rosacea, stinging and allergic are 4 sensitive skin types

There are 4 Subtypes of Sensitive Skin:

Acne

Rosacea

Stinging

Allergic

Sensitive Skin Type 1 – Acne / Pimples

pimples are caused by bacteria, clogged pores, and hormones

Acne Type Sensitive Skin has red bumps called papules, or pus bumps called pimples or pustules, and clogged pores called comedones. Severe acne will have acne cysts.

Acne is caused by the bacteria Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), hormones, and / or clogged pores,

Acne bacteria causes:

clogged pores,

inflammation

papules, and pustules called pimples

acne cysts

acne scars

dark spots (caused by inflammation)

Using the wrong skin care products or products with acne causing ingredients can cause you to suddenly develop the acne sensitive skin type.

Sensitive Skin Type 2- Rosacea / Redness

skin redness is caused by dilated blood vessels

Rosacea occurs when blood vessels dilate and lose the ability to shrink back down. This makes the skin look pink or red from the increased blood flow. The enlarged blood vessels cause facial flushing, a red face, and a sensation of warmth that comes and goes.

You may have triggers that make the face more sensitive. Your face may get red when you exercise, eat spicy or hot food, experience strong emotion, or drink alcohol.

Rosacea is progressive and gets worse over time so you need to add anti-inflammatory ingredients in your skin care routine.

Look for rosacea cleansers and creams that soothe and calm the skin.

Sensitive Skin Type 3- Stinging and Burning Skin

stinging sensitive skin is caused by sensory receptors

Stinging skin hurts when you put anything on it- even water. People who feel an uncomfortable burning and stinging feeling on their skin are called “stingers”.

Acids, preservatives, and fragrances can cause stinging. Not all skin types sting when they come into contact with a low acidic pH, but most stingers do.

It is unknown why some people are more likely than others to feel their face sting when applying skin care products, but it has to do with sensory receptors in the skin.

Rosacea sensitive skin types are often also stinging skin types.

When you begin a retinoid skin care product, you may become a sensitive skin type for a few weeks because retinoid users may experience stinging as a temporary side effect of retinoids.

Sensitive Skin Type 4 – Allergic or Easily Irritated Skin

Sensitive allergic skin is caused by the immune system

Allergic skin reacts when exposed to an allergen. Irritated skin has a weak barrier that allows irritating substances into the skin.

This sensitive skin subtype is more likely to react to things it encounters such as:

Fragrances

Preservations

Sunscreen ingredients

Irritant chemicals like benzoyl peroxide and Low pH ingredients like hydroxyacids and Vitamin C

Here is a list of the most common skin care ingredients that cause an allergic reaction.

Allergens and irritants trigger the immune system to release inflammatory factors to cause a rash known as contact dermatitis.

The only way to avoid allergic contact dermatitis is to avoid the ingredient you are allergic to.

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Can I Have More Than One Type of Sensitive Skin?

It is possible to have more than one type of sensitive skin- in fact, many people do. For example- rosacea skin types often have pimples, redness and stinging and are more likely to get irritated by ingredients in skin care products.

The best skincare products for your sensitive skin type depends upon which type or types of sensitive skin you have.

There are 8 different sensitive skin types, and each of them has slightly different skin care ingredient needs.

If you are concerned that you have sensitive skin, be sure to take our quiz, identify your skin type, and follow our regimen suggestions. Once you take the quiz, watch for emails with personalized advice on how to treat your sensitive skin type.

All sensitive skin types should use products with anti-inflammatory soothing and calming ingredients.

Take the Quiz

Which Baumann Skin Types Have Sensitive Skin?

The 8 Sensitive Skin Types

Eight Baumann Skin Types have sensitive skin.

Each of these can have a combination of 4 sensitive skin subtypes.

For example- Baumann Skin Type 1 can have any combination of the 4 subtypes.

Sensitive skin type symptoms are acne, rosacea, stinging and rashes

If Skin Type 1 has acne it is called Baumann Skin Type 1 Acne Subtype.

If Skin Type 1 has redness it is called Baumann Skin Type 1 Rosacea Subtype.

If Skin Type 1 has acne and redness it is called Baumann Skin Type 1 Acne and Rosacea Subtype.

If Skin Type 1 has acne, redness, stinging and allergic rashes it is called Baumann Skin Type 1 Acne, Rosacea, Stinging, and Allergic Subtypes.

Although all of these are Baumann Skin type 1, they each need a different skin care routine. This is why you need to take the quiz to get the best advice on how to treat your sensitive skin type.

List of Sensitive Skin Signs and Symptoms

Do I Have Sensitive Skin? Yes you do if you have symptoms on this list.

You must have one or more of these sensitive skin signs and symptoms at least every 2 months to have sensitive skin:

Bumps on skin (Papules, pustules, or pimples)

Burning Face

Burning Skin

Facial Flushing

Itching Skin

Pimples And Pustules

Pink Skin

Pink Skin With Scale

Prickly Skin

Red Face

Red Skin

Redness

Stinging Face

Stinging Skin

Sunburn With No Sun Exposure

Unpleasant skin sensations

Why Do I Need To Know Which Type of Sensitive Skin I Have?

The different types of sensitive skin have different needs and require different ingredients.

We need to know which type of sensitive skin you have to give you skin care advice because the treatment for one skin type can make another skin type worse.

For example- if you have acne and redness, acne treatments can make your redness worse.

If you have redness and are allergic- some natural cosmetic ingredients might irritate your skin and cause a skin allergy.

Once we know what type or types you have- we can design a step-by-step skin care routine that targets all the sensitive skin types without making any of them react.

Take the Quiz

Baumann Skin Types with Sensitive Skin

There are 8 Sensitive Baumann Skin Types – Which one are you?

We can divide sensitive skin into two main categories: Oily or Dry?

There are 4 oily, sensitive types and 4 dry, sensitive types.

Oily, Sensitive Skin Types

Oily Sensitive Skin Types

The oily sensitive skin types 5 (OSPT) and 6 (OSNT) usually suffer from acne, but less commonly have rosacea, stinging and skin allergies.

Skin Type 7 (OSPW) and Skin Type 8 (OSNW) usually suffer from rosacea but may have some acne, stinging and allergies.

All oily sensitive skin types will do well with anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Some of our favorite soothing skincare ingredients for oily sensitive skin are salicylic acid, argan oil, green tea, Centella Asiatica Extract, chamomile, aloe, allantoin and panthenol.

Dry, Sensitive Skin Types

Dry Sensitive Skin types 1,2,3 and 4

Dry, sensitive skin types are trickier to treat than oily, sensitive skin types because dry skin is much more susceptible to inflammation due to a disrupted skin barrier.

The goal of a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin is to hydrate the skin and repair the skin barrier with soothing fatty acids while calming the skin with soothing skincare ingredients.

There are 4 dry sensitive skin types in the Baumann Skin Typing System. Notice that they are all designated by a pink or red color to illustrate the fact that the wrong skincare products will cause the skin to react and turn red.

Dry sensitive skin types are at a high risk of reacting to a new skincare product and may wake up with pimples, an itchy rash or a red face after trying a new product.

Sensitive Skin on The Neck

The skin on the neck is different than the skin on your face because it has fewer hair follicles. It tends to be more reactive and sensitive than face skin. The neck heals slower than the face and is more likely to scar after laser treatments.

The neck area has more side effects and gets easily irritated to:

antiaging creams

retinol

hydroxy acids

When you are beginning a strong antiaging cream with retinol on the neck- start every 4th day so your skin can adjust.

If your neck gets red and irritated, use a soothing oil such as Argan oil to calm the skin.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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