Behind the science – Of Eucerin Hypersensitive

In Europe it is estimated that as many as 50% of people are affected by sensitive skin* with a significant proportion of them considering their skin to be hypersensitive. And numbers are rising - possibly as a result of increased pollution and allergic reactions. 

In developing the Eucerin Hypersensitive Skin ranges, scientists at Eucerin focussed on the Hypersensitive Skin Triangle; the three recurrent traits found in hypersensitive skin.

The first is a weakened, compromised skin barrier. This causes an increase in trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and makes underlying layers more vulnerable to irritation and allergic reaction.

Secondly, hyper-reactive sensory fibres in the epidermis. These react faster and much stronger than in normal skin triggering unpleasant skin sensations which have been described as, among other things, stinging and burning.

Finally endogenous and exogenous triggers can increase the level of stress of the skin causing redness. 

"We wanted to find a holistic skin care solution for hypersensitivity." says Dr Gitta Neufang who leads the Eucerin Actives Team at Beiersdorf AG. "A pure formula that could address all aspects of Hypersensitive Skin Triangle."

Dr Neufang and her team concentrated their efforts on finding an active ingredient that could soothe hypersensitive skin, making it less irritable and less likely to over-react to stressors. They tested over 800 active combinations before they found SymSitive**.

This innovative anti-hypersensitivity ingredient actively reduces over-reactions of the skin and balances its sensitivity tolerance threshold. In a series of clinical tests, the non-comedogenic Eucerin UltraSENSITIVE and Eucerin AntiREDNESS ranges containing SymSitive** showed excellent results with participants reporting an immediate and long-lasting calming of the unpleasant sensations and relief of irritation.

Having tested the benefits of SymSitive** the scientists' next task was to find complementary ingredients that could address the barrier defects and redness.

With hypersensitive skin products it is as much about what you leave out as what you put in.

explains Dr Neufang. "We had to pare our ingredients down to those that served an essential role and remove any that could cause intolerance or allergic reactions".

The Eucerin Hypersensitive Skin range is 'pure' so products only contain a limited number of ingredients and all have 0% preservatives (including parabens), paraffins, fragrances and alcohol.

Importantly the Eucerin Hypersensitive Skin ranges also use anti-contamination packaging to prevent the formulas from impurities and oxidation. Its valves have sterilising filters, its connections are ultra-welded for tightness and its dispenser has an ultra tight tip seal.

Within the ranges the two anti-redness products - Eucerin AntiREDNESS Concealing Day Cream SPF 25 and Eucerin AntiREDNESS Soothing Care - contain a natural anti-redness and anti-oxidant called Licochalcone A. As well as quickly calming skin irritations clinical studies have reported significant anti-redness efficacy. 

Hypersensitive skin does not have to be a burden; it simply needs special, proactive skin care, 

explains Dr. Susan Taylor, Director of the Clinical Trials section at Society Hill Dermatology and Founding Director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke’s Hospital Center in New York.

"What matters is bringing sensitive skin back into balance as quickly and as gently as possible," she continues. "The new Eucerin skin care products contain the active ingredient SymSitive**, which effectively acts as a sensitivity regulator directly at the source of hyper-reactivity, thus relieving sensitivity instantly.

"And what’s more: used regularly, Eucerin for hypersensitive skin makes the skin more resistant to internal and external stress. With this active care, and by heeding important rules such as avoiding extremes of wind, heat, cold, and sun, sensitive skin returns to its natural balance and the natural skin’s protection function is strengthened in order to be able to cope with the stressors of modern life."

Read more about redness-prone facial skin
Read more about Rosacea and Couperose-prone skin

* Escalas-Taberner, J., Gonzalez-Guerra, E., Guerra-Tapia, A. Sensitive Skin – a Complex Syndrome. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2011;102(8):pp. 563-571.
** =reg.tm of Symrise AG, Germany