374 Gender-related characterization of cutaneous sensory symptoms in Chinese with skin disorders

Abstract

Background: Although development of cutaneous sensory symptoms in skin disorders is known, features of dermatosis-associated cutaneous sensory symptoms have not been characterized yet. Objective: To characterize cutaneous sensory symptoms in Chinese with skin disorders. Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire was given to outpatients to identify self-proclaimed sensory symptoms at dermatology clinic. Prevalence, clinical symptoms and severity of sensory symptoms were analyzed. Results: A total of 2144 patients, including 1254 females and 890 males, aged 13-94 years, included in this study. Prevalence of cutaneous sensory symptoms was higher in females than in males (p<0.0001). In general, inflammatory skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis, eczematous dermatitis, psoriasis, displayed higher prevalence of cutaneous sensory symptoms (47-82%) in comparison to non-inflammatory skin disorders, such as alopecia areata, verruca vulgaris and vitiligo (1-22%). Moreover, subjects with a family history of sensitive skin also exhibited higher prevalence of cutaneous sensory symptoms in comparison with those without family history (p<0.0001). Likewise, high prevalence of cutaneous sensory symptoms was observed in subjects with either dry or oily skin as compared with those with normal skin. The sensitive scales of all symptoms except pain and itching were higher in females than in males. Triggering factors were associated with both gender and type of skin disorders. Taken together, these results demonstrate that prevalence, sensitive scales and triggering factors of cutaneous sensory symptoms are associated with gender and type of skin disorders. Conclusion: Prevalence, triggering factors and symptoms of cutaneous sensation vary with gender and skin disorders.