Sensitive skin: correlation with skin surface microrelief appearance.
OBJECTIVE
Sensitive skin is a condition associated with reduced tolerance to environmental factors and/or the application of topical products, such as cosmetics. Its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated and few data are available on its prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlation between objective sensitivity and skin surface microrelief.


METHODS
During an epidemiological survey conducted for a campaign promoted by International Society of Plastic Dermatology in Italy, 243 adult healthy subjects of both sexes with no evident dermatological disorder but positive to the lactic acid stinging test, were submitted to cyanoacrylate stratum corneum stripping from the volar forearm for the determination of the irregularity of the skin surface microrelief (irregularity skin index (ISI)).


RESULTS
A significant correlation was found between intensity of symptoms in stingers and ISI (r(s)=-0.47; P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Sensitive skin is common in the healthy population. ISI can contribute towards the identification of subjects with sensitive skin and the development of more specific skin treatments for this prevalent condition.
Sparavigna
Adele
A
Derming, Clinical Research and Bioengineering Institute, Monza, Milan, Italy. adele.sparavigna@derming.com
Pietro
Antonino
A
Setaro
Michele
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013499:Surface Properties