Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1542457
36 ASCP Skin Deep Winter 2026 Is Your Client's Skin Sensitive or Sensitized? Understanding, educating, and treating with intention by Shawna Rocha GETTY IMAGES SKIN PHYSIOLOGY SKIN SENSITIVITY REMAINS one of the most common, yet misunderstood concerns encountered by skin care professionals. Whether genetic or acquired, skin that easily reacts presents unique challenges in treatment planning, product selection, and client education. To deliver consistent, visible results, professionals must learn to recognize the difference between sensitive and sensitized skin, set realistic treatment goals, and prioritize long- term barrier repair over short-term correction. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? Sensitive skin is a genetically determined condition characterized by inherently reactive nervous and immune systems. This type of skin often exhibits an exaggerated response to normal stimuli, resulting in sensations such as stinging, burning, or redness without visible irritation. At the biological level, sensitive skin is linked to increased neurosensory activity involving transient receptor potential channels, which heighten the skin's perception of discomfort. Additionally, people with sensitive skin often have a thinner stratum corneum, reduced lipid content, and impaired ceramide synthesis, all of which weaken the barrier and increase transepidermal water loss. The result is skin that is less equipped to protect against environmental stressors, allergens, and microbial imbalances, leading to chronic vulnerability and inflammation. Sensitized skin, on the other hand, is an acquired condition resulting from external or internal disruption of the skin barrier. Unlike genetic sensitivity, sensitization develops over time through repeated exposure to irritants, overuse of active ingredients, aggressive exfoliation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or pollution. These factors compromise corneocyte cohesion and damage intercellular