title: Definition of Sensitive Skin: An Expert Position Paper from the Special Interest Group on Sensitive Skin of the International Forum for the Study of Itch.
abstract: Sensitive skin is a frequent complaint in the general population, in patients, and among subjects suffering from itch. The International Forum for the Study of Itch (IFSI) decided to initiate a special interest group (SIG) on sensitive skin. Using the Delphi method, sensitive skin was defined as "A syndrome defined by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations (stinging, burning, pain, pruritus, and tingling sensations) in response to stimuli that normally should not provoke such sensations. These unpleasant sensations cannot be explained by lesions attributable to any skin disease. The skin can appear normal or be accompanied by erythema. Sensitive skin can affect all body locations, especially the face". This paper summarizes the background, unresolved aspects of sensitive skin and the process of developing this definition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Brest, FR-29200 Brest, France. laurent.misery@chu-brest.fr.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Misery
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ständer
authors.forename: Jacek C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Szepietowski
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wallengren
authors.forename: Andrea W M
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brenaut
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Gall-Ianotto
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fluhr
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berardesca
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weisshaar
mesh_terms: D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D011537:Pruritus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012677:Sensation; D009626:Terminology as Topic