Skin that reacts to things it should tolerate — usually a barrier that has stopped coping rather than an intrinsic skin type.
Book an assessment →A compromised stratum corneum loses water and admits irritants. Water loss rises, inflammatory signalling increases, and the threshold for reacting drops.
Genuinely sensitive skin is lifelong. Sensitised skin is acquired — usually from over-exfoliation, stacked actives or procedures too close together — and the second is reversible.
Product and actives history, frequency of exfoliation and procedures, current symptoms, and how long the reactivity has been present.
Barrier repair before anything active. Non-thermal, non-ablative support is appropriate; further stimulation usually is not.
Where the cause is an ongoing regimen or treatment cadence, the honest answer is to stop and let the barrier recover first.
Most sensitised skin we see has a recent story: a new retinoid added to an acid toner, daily scrubbing, a run of facials or peels, or a laser booked before the skin had settled from the last one. The outer layer of the skin (the stratum corneum) is a thin wall of cells and lipids. When it is worn down, water escapes, irritants get in more easily, and the skin starts reacting to things that never bothered it.
The assessment lists every product and procedure in the past few months, including the order and frequency. Dr Sin Yong also looks for conditions that mimic sensitised skin: rosacea (flushing, visible vessels, bumps), allergic or irritant contact dermatitis (a reaction to one ingredient), and eczema. Those need their own diagnosis and treatment.
The plan is usually short and plain: a gentle non-foaming cleanser, a fragrance-free moisturiser with barrier lipids, and sunscreen. Actives are paused. Once the skin is calm for several weeks, they are brought back one at a time at a lower frequency, so it is clear which ones the skin tolerates. Energy-based treatments are postponed until the barrier has recovered.
Lukewarm water instead of hot, patting dry rather than rubbing, fewer products rather than more, and patch-testing anything new on a small area for a few days. Air-conditioned rooms dry the skin, so a richer moisturiser at night can help in Singapore's indoor climate.
“Sensitised skin is usually a barrier that has been asked to do too much. The fix is subtraction, not another active.”
Skin that reacts to things it should tolerate — usually a barrier that has stopped coping rather than an intrinsic skin type.
Genuinely sensitive skin is lifelong. Sensitised skin is acquired — usually from over-exfoliation, stacked actives or procedures too close together — and the second is reversible.
Product and actives history, frequency of exfoliation and procedures, current symptoms, and how long the reactivity has been present.
Where the cause is an ongoing regimen or treatment cadence, the honest answer is to stop and let the barrier recover first.
It varies with how damaged the barrier is and whether the trigger has stopped. Many people notice the stinging settle over a few weeks of a simple routine; full tolerance to actives takes longer and is rebuilt step by step.
Usually they are paused while the skin is reactive, then reintroduced one at a time at a lower frequency once it has settled. Dr Sin Yong will advise on order and timing.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.
Every assessment at IN Eternity Clinic is carried out personally by Medical Director Dr Sin Yong at 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza. If the honest answer is that treatment should wait, you will be told that.
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