Environmental factors such as dramatic temperature changes, extreme hot or cold, wind, sun or atmospheric pollution. Increasingly bad air pollution, especially in urban environments, has been blamed for the growth of reports of hypersensitive facial skin conditions.
External factors. These tend to be chemicals or harsh cosmetic ingredients that irritate the skin, such as certain cleansing products, fragrances, unsuitable detergents, excessively calcareous water, baths, showers and swimming pools. An increase in people reporting allergic reactions over recent years has raised awareness of the need for 'pure' or '0%' cosmetics and detergents - those containing only a limited number of ingredients.
Psychological factors like stress, anger or intense emotions can trigger hypersensitivity as can hormonal factors such as the menstrual cycle.
Mechanical factors that put pressure on the skin can damage the already impaired barrier function, activating underlying sensory fibres.