Assessment of Pruritus and Sensitive Skin

Abstract

Pruritus is a common and complex symptom in dermatology but also in general population. Measuring pruritus is essential for patient assessment but also to raise awareness of the impact of chronic pruritus in health care. Mono-dimensional scales, such as the numerical rating scale, the visual analog scale, and the verbal rating scale, are available and easy to use to measure pruritus intensity. Multidimensional scales can be an alternative but are not used in clinical practice. Theses scales (such as the 5-D itch scale, the Pruritus Severity Scale or the 12-Item Pruritus Severity Scale) combine several dimensions such as itch intensity, sleep disturbance, or duration. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is a widely used health-related quality of life scale specific for dermatologic disorders. Sensitive skin is a frequent complaint in the general population and can impair the quality of life. The Sensitive Scale is a validated questionnaire including 10 items and correlated with the DLQI. The lactic acid sting test is also used in studies of sensitive skin and consists in application of lactic acid to the nasolabial fold, followed by evaluation of the intensity of the subjective symptoms. Assessment of burden in sensitive skin can be achieved by the Boss (Burden of Sensitive Skin) questionnaire.