Between six and seven out of ten women are believed to have sensitive skin. Your mom is one of them. When she uses certain products, her skin becomes itchy or irritated. How do you and her personal care at home provider find the best products when her skin is so sensitive?
Watch For Certain Ingredients
When your mom uses a newer product and has a reaction, take note. Go through the ingredient list and see if any of these items are in the ingredient list. It could be that your mom has a sensitivity to a specific item that should be avoided in the future.
- Denatured alcohol – Dryness
- Fragrance – Burning, dryness, and irritation
- Parabens – Redness and irritation
- Retinoids – Redness, dryness, and peeling
- Salicylic acid – Dryness, redness, and burning
- Sulfates – Redness and itching
Natural products are not always the best options. Your mom could have skin that’s sensitive to natural ingredients, too. For example, some people find coconut oil or almond oil irritates the skin. It might be better to use a moisturizer with olive oil.
Do a Patch Test
When trying something new, perform a patch test first. Take some of the product and put it on a small bandage. Apply that to your mom’s forearm and leave it in place for 24 hours. If you remove the bandage and your mom’s skin is fine, your mom can start using the product without issue.
When your mom does find a product she likes, watch for reformulations. From time to time, a company may switch the formula. If you notice it’s in new packaging or the product says something like “new and improved,” do another patch test as it may not be the same.
Talk to Her Doctor
If it’s possible, see if her doctor will recommend her for an allergy patch test. It will expose her skin to several common allergens and see which ones deliver positive results. You’ll have an official list of items to avoid.
Make Sure Proper Skin Care Routines Are Followed
Stick to the same routine. If she’s always applied a skin cream while her skin is wet, stick to that routine. It helps her skin get a protective barrier over it when the skin cells have absorbed water. Don’t force her to try a different routine as that kind of change can impact how well she does remembering the steps.
As your mom’s ability to take care of her skin declines, she doesn’t have to deal with dry, irritated skin. You don’t have to reschedule your work hours to be there when she takes a bath or shower. Call a home care agency and ask about personal care at home services.
Personal care at home aides help with skin care, nail care, hair care, and other aspects of grooming and hygiene. Talk to the advisor about your mom’s skin sensitivities during this call. You’d be surprised how common sensitive skin is in older adults.