The source of skin inflammation, redness and rash like breakouts arises most often from skincare products, used according to directions. The vast majority of skincare formulations for cleaners and moisturizers guarantees an irritation response when used frequently. Add concealing makeup to that and you have a perfect storm.

Topical skincare product addiction affects a huge population regardless of age or skin type. A daily routine of cleanser/exfoliator, moisturizer/sunscreen, concealing makeup and an occasional high-octane serum is guaranteed to result in visible inflammation.

The usual solution is to develop a similar routine with other products. And for a short time this may work. But inevitably the same drab, sensitive, even raw skin comes back.

It is not a single product, though it may be a single product, that will tip the scale to the negative, but usually the totality of stuff going on your skin that is the problem.

It is in your interest to learn more. Skin that easily flares up can lead to a chronic condition called rosacea where the ‘flare’ is nonstop. This can deteriorate further into dermatitis. And in dermatitis, even water aggravates the skin.

If you experience this flaring skin ordeal and try to resolve it with more products you will fail. You also have a very good chance of developing the very serious condition of dermatitis.

The Skin Dork cannot emphasize enough the importance of eliminating skincare products if you suffer from skin flare-ups.

First, use no cleansers or moisturizers, sunscreens, makeup. Nothing.

Your skin is addicted and just to make matters worse, withdrawal WILL make your skin go bananas for a short time. For some it is days, for others it is a few weeks. The skin will be super reactive.

Most people who use skincare products describe their skin as sensitive, the reason is that the skincare products have sensitized their skin.

So what now? You must get your skin back to baseline. Cleanse lightly once daily, evenings best, with a non-ionic cleanser. This could be a fragrance-free hand sanitizer or REVIVE from 302 Skincare. Clean linens are a must.

Witch hazel and other natural extracts will not work as cleansers. They will very shortly aggravate the problem. You are on thin ice and the days of experimenting are over.

Cleansing is everything and at the limit of tolerability. It will take weeks to stabilize your skin even if the flare ups diminish in frequency and intensity.

You may re-apply REVIVE as a leave-on after cleansing but ONLY after the flare ups have subsided. Remember, flare-ups will happen using even water.

You cannot fix product addiction with more products. You must subtract.

Cleansing. That’s it and cleansing itself is a problem. Tread very lightly. The chemistry of even ‘healing’ cleansers will usually aggravate your problem.

Avoid fragrances and essential oils. Your diet must avoid spices, wine, recreational drugs and you should avoid over excitement (your significant other should be boring) and avoid “this worked for me” stories.

Those testimonials may be true for them, but if the world of therapeutics has taught us anything over the last fifty years it is that we are not the same and that our biology is fantastically complicated. Those television ads for drugs have such an endless list of side effects because we are so different and unpredictable in our reactions. But some things are certain.

You have to play the percentages and that means you reduce your topical applications to a mild cleanser, free of betaines and anionic surfactants.

In the case of dermatitis, product usage is out the window. The transition from flare-ups to rosacea to dermatitis can happen quickly so be aware. Few dermatologists or physicians of any specialty have the time to address your situation. The source of the problem may be a combination of pollen season, too may topicals, or just one, anxiety, stress, a medication oral or topical, or ulcerative colitis and on and on all combining into a storm.

You can only combat this by closing the topical doors. Cleanse and leave alone. No makeup, no sunscreen, no moisturizers, no magic dust, no nothing. Stop. Let your skin recover. It will take time. Not days, but weeks.