The Prevalence of Sensitive Skin

Miranda A Farage

doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00098

Abstract

Sensitive skin has been described as unpleasant sensory responses to stimuli that should not provoke such sensations. Objectively measurable signs of irritation are not always present in individuals with sensitive skin, however, subjective sensory effects such as, itching, burning, stinging, tightness, and dryness, are consistently present. Given the subjective nature of the phenomenon known as sensitive skin, surveys have been a popular approach to evaluating the prevalence of this condition among the general population, and a number of them have been conducted worldwide. Overall, ~60–70% of women and 50–60% of men report having some degree of sensitive skin. However, there are differences between populations in various geographies, and perceptions of sensitive skin at specific anatomic sites. This article is a review of survey data on the prevalence of self-declared sensitive skin in various geographies, among different gender and age groups, and at various anatomic sites. In addition, we review the factors that may contribute to sensitive skin, and the physiological characteristics associated with this condition, including impaired barrier function and heightened neural reactions.

Highlights

The development of consumer beauty, health and household products routinely includes intensive premarket product testing intended to ensure that any marketed product is free of irritant potential
Sensitive skin is defined by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations in response to stimuli that normally should not provoke such sensations, and which cannot be explained by lesions attributable to any skin disease [5]
The prevalence of sensitive skin varies in different geographies and cultures, but it is generally agreed that this condition effects a substantial portion of the population

Summary

Introduction

The development of consumer beauty, health and household products routinely includes intensive premarket product testing intended to ensure that any marketed product is free of irritant potential. Sensitive Skin Prevalence with specific sensory reactions, such as stinging or burning, and traditional tests for irritation with enhanced means of detecting inflammatory responses. In one of our studies we evaluated responses to a sensitive skin questionnaire by comparing the severity of perceived skin sensitivity in general (i.e., “very,” “moderate,” “slight” or “none”) to that of perceived sensitivity at specific anatomic sites (i.e., face, body, and genital area) [21].

Results

Conclusion