I often hear this statement: "The sting of using skin care products is caused by the lack of water in the skin, and more water is enough".
Is this really true?

Let's talk about stinging when using skin care products.

I. Why do skin care products feel tingling?
There can be two reasons for stinging when using skin care products.
1. Use strong, effective skin care products
Not all skin care products sting the skin, only certain strong skin care products that contain harsh ingredients do.
This is caused by irritation from high concentrations of ingredients.
For example, skin care products that contain high concentrations of acidic ingredients such as acid, salicylic acid, azelaic acid, retinoic acid, and vitamin C.
This is a normal situation when using some functional skin care products. The tingling sensation often disappears after a few minutes, and the skin is slightly red at most, and then it will return to its original state. As long as there are no other discomfort symptoms, you can continue to use it.
2. Weak and damaged skin barrier
You will feel a tingling sensation when using any ordinary skin care product or mask.
This is the result of a weak and damaged skin barrier.
The epidermis protects the dermis, and when the epidermis is destroyed, irritants can easily penetrate the epidermis and stimulate the nerves of the dermis, causing pain.
Two, how can I determine the cause of skin irritation?
It's actually quite simple.
1. Look at the ingredient list of the product.
Whether there are a series of stimulating ingredients such as high concentration of acid, prototype VC, etc., the ingredient list is clear at a glance.
2. Look at user feedback.

The general feedback is tingling, so there is a high probability that it is a problem with the formula ingredients of the skin care product itself.

Third, if it is not because the skin is dehydrated, then why does the tingling feel after strengthening moisturizing getting smaller?
In fact, it is not that moisturizing makes the tingling sensation smaller, but that after applying moisturizing products before irritating products, the moisturizing film on the surface of the skin plays a role in slowing the penetration of subsequent irritating products.
In other words, an extra layer of cushioning is added before the product that causes the sting, so the stinging sensation will be reduced.
Fourth, how to solve the problem of tingling when using skin care products?
Treat the symptoms as well as the root causes.
1. If the sting is caused by high concentrations of powerful ingredients, there are two solutions. You can start with a small amount and a low concentration, mix high-concentration strong skin care products with other basic creams and milk or hyaluronic acid stock solution, and gradually increase the concentration of strong skin care products as the use time prolongs until the original concentration. Use moisturizing products before harsh products, and functional skin care products last.
2. If the sting is caused by damaged skin barrier, it is necessary to repair the skin barrier, and at the same time choose mild and non-irritating skin care products and avoid irritating skin care products until the skin barrier is repaired.
5. What is the relationship between the tingling of skin care products and "dehydration"?
Damage to the skin barrier can lead to transdermal water loss, but this "water loss" and "sensitivity" are actually juxtaposed, that is, damage to the skin barrier can lead to "skin dehydration" and "Sensitive skin", not "dehydration causes sensitivity".
Therefore, simply relying on "hydration" is not enough to repair the barrier to solve the stinging problem.