Sensitive skin in China: characteristics and burden

Mask wearing impacts skin barrier function and microbiome profile in sensitive skin

Mask-wearing behavior, common in the post-COVID-19 era, raises concerns for sensitive skin. This split-face study investigated mask-related changes in skin barrier function and microbiome composition among 30 female volunteers with sensitive skin and assessed the mitigating effects of a moisturizer containing biological lipids and probiotics. Skin physiological indicators (transepidermal water loss, erythema index, stratum corneum hydration, pH, temperature) of masked and unmasked areas were collected at baseline, after three hours of mask-wearing, post-tape stripping, and after 24 h, respectively. Microbiome samples collected from the masked areas before and after wearing a medical mask were analyzed with bioinformatics methods. Mask-wearing significantly weakened barrier function in both masked and adjacent unmasked areas, while reducing bacterial diversity. It was also associated with an increase in Cutibacterium (P = 0.110) and decreases in Streptococcus (P = 0.032) and Prevotella (P = 0.026) abundance. Moisturizer application prior to mask-wearing significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and erythema (both P < 0.001) and further improved erythema after 24 h (P = 0.048). These findings demonstrate that mask-wearing can disrupt the skin barrier and microbiome in individuals with sensitive skin and applying a moisturizer beforehand can mitigate mask-related discomforts by aiding barrier repair and reducing sensitivity.

Prevalence of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and access to supportive care in cancer in Brazil, China, France, Russia and the USA

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of treatment with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in the general adult population of five countries (Brazil, China, France, Russia and the USA) and to evaluate the use of different Supportive Care in Cancer (SCC) services.

METHODS

A total of 11,100 individuals representing the general population over 18 years of age were recruited from the five countries via a rigorous quota sampling method.

RESULTS

There are between 4.1% and 8.78% of respondents reported having undergone medical cancer treatment. Among these subpopulations, the use of at least one SCC was reported by 63% to 86% of respondents. The most commonly used SCC was psychological counselling in France, dietary counselling in Brazil and China, participating in a focus group in the USA and using alternative medicine in Russia. Alternative medicines were chosen by 50% to 61% of patients in every country.

CONCLUSION

This study provides information on the prevalence of patients treated by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in representative populations from five countries. Among them, SCC was widely used. However, these uses varied both in proportion and choice, given the cultural differences in patients' and families' health beliefs and values, differences among organisations, in available resources and in ethics and policies among countries.

Burden of Sensitive Skin (BoSS) Questionnaire and Current Perception Threshold: Use as Diagnostic Tools for Sensitive Skin Syndrome

The assessment of sensitive skin syndrome, characterized by subjective unpleasant sensations, remains a challenge, since there is no international consensus on the best diagnostic tools. This study evaluated the combination of the Burden of Sensitive Skin (BoSS) questionnaire and the current perception threshold as diagnostic tools for sensitive skin syndrome, and the relationship between BoSS and the subjects’ smoking status, phototype and skin type. A total of 100 women completed the BoSS questionnaire, and current perception threshold was measured on the face. The BoSS score was significantly higher in the self-reported sensitive skin group compared with the non-sensitive skin group (25.61 vs 14.05; p < 0.001), and in non-smokers vs smokers (23.00 vs 18.37; p < 0.05). In addition, the current perception threshold values were similar between the sensitive and non-sensitive groups. These results suggest that BoSS is a better diagnostic tool for sensitive skin syndrome than the current perception threshold, and that smokers less frequently have sensitive skin than do non-smokers.