Sensitive Skin: What It Means & How Cellular Thread Supports It

What Is Sensitive Skin?

• Definition & prevalence
  Sensitive skin is a subjective syndrome rather than a formal medical diagnosis. It describes skin that reacts more readily than average to external or internal stimuli (cosmetics, environment, heat/cold) with sensations such as stinging, burning, itching, or tightness.
  Surveys suggest that close to 50% of women and 40% of men report sometimes experiencing sensitive or reactive skin.

• Clinical features
  Symptoms may occur with or without visible signs. Common subjective sensations include:

  stinging, burning, tingling, itching, tightness.

  Visible or objective signs may include:

  • Mild erythema (redness)

  • Flushing or transient capillary dilation

  • Dryness, scaling, peeling

  • Occasional increased reactivity (e.g. flares)

• Origins and mechanisms
  Sensitive skin arises from interplay among a few key factors:

  1. Impaired barrier function
     The skin’s barrier (stratum corneum and tight junctions) may be less robust, allowing increased permeability, greater transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and deeper penetration of irritants.

  2. Neuroimmune hyper-responsiveness
     Nerve endings in the skin (sensory afferents) may be more readily activated by stimuli, triggering uncomfortable sensations (itch, stinging). In parallel, immune and inflammatory pathways (cytokines, neuropeptides) may amplify responses even to mild stimuli.

  3. Low threshold for external triggers
     Common triggers include: changes in temperature, UV exposure, air pollution, fragrance, preservatives, surfactants, acids or actives at higher concentration.

Because sensitive skin involves subjective perception, diagnosis is often based on patient history, exclusion of known dermatoses, and in some cases challenge or “stinging tests.”

If you suspect true sensitive skin, a consultation with a dermatologist can help rule out allergic or inflammatory skin conditions.

Cellular Thread Ingredients & Sensitive Skin: Supporting the Fragile Architecture

When designing formulations for sensitive skin, the goals are:

1. Reinforce barrier integrity

2. Modulate low-grade inflammation

3. Support cellular repair signals

4. Avoid over-activation of nerve pathways

Peptides & Autophagy-activating peptides

• Barrier & soothing peptides
  Emerging studies show that peptides designed to activate autophagy signaling can both strengthen barrier properties and reduce inflammatory responses. One synthetic peptide was tested in vitro, ex vivo, and clinically. After 4 weeks, it reduced TEWL and erythema in subjects with sensitive skin (identified via stinging test) and decreased cytokines (IL-8, TNF-α).

• Peptide-based modulation of inflammation
  Certain peptides can act as signal peptides (to encourage cellular repair), neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides (attenuating sensory nerve excitation), or enzyme-modulating peptides (reducing matrix degradation) — all potentially helpful in formulations for sensitive skin.

• Why peptides help

  • They can promote cellular homeostasis and repair (less reliance on damage-response pathways)

  • Reduce oxidative stress and neutralise reactive species

  • Modulate mild inflammation without harsh suppression

  • Encourage production or maintenance of barrier proteins

Barrier-supportive molecules (lipids, ceramides, humectants)

While peptide actives drive signaling, the more “foundation” layer of your formulation should include well-tolerated barrier components:

• Essential lipids / ceramides / phytosphingosine to replenish the stratum corneum

• Humectants (low molecular weight) such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid (in moderate molecular weights) — ensuring hydration without osmotic stress

• Soothing botanical actives in low, well-tolerated doses (e.g. centella, bisabolol, madecassoside)

• Minimal sensitising ingredients — avoid fragrance, high concentration essential oils, acids or alcohols

How to Use Cellular Thread (Ritual Suggestions for Sensitive Skin)

• Patch test first — apply to inner forearm or behind ear for 2–3 days before full facial use

• Layer gently — use after a non-stripping cleanser, before heavier creams

• Frequency — begin with once daily, monitor for any signs of sensitivity

• Supportive habits — limit over-exfoliation, harsh actives, use gentle surfactants, and protect from UV / environmental insults