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!

1. Acne
2. Rosacea
3. Stinging
4. Allergic

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

1. Baumann L Chapters 13,16, 17, 18 and 19 in Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology (McGraw Hill 2022)
2. Baumann L. Chapters 64-75. Cosmeceuticals and Cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)

Updated: 12/20/2022