Association between biophysical properties and anxiety in patients with sensitive skin

Controlled comparison evaluation of the soothing effect of 3 cosmetic products on skin discomfort induced by an irritant chemical agent (capsaicin)

BACKGROUND

Sensitive skin is a highly prevalent problem. The objective of the study was to assess whether the tested products are effective and safe in terms of improving the symptoms of sensitive skin.

METHODS

A clinical randomized split-face study was carried out on 24 healthy female subjects. Three cosmetic combinations were tested versus vehicle: product A (Solía Thermal Spring Water-TSW-from Cantabria, Spain + diatom algae-P. tricornutum-extract), product B (Solía TSW + diatom algae extract + Annona cherimola Fruit Extract) and product C (Solía TSW + diatom algae extract + Annona cherimola Fruit Extract + niacinamide). Prior to each application of the study Product (A, B, or C)/vehicle, 10% of aqueous solution of capsaicin to induce skin irritation was applied, mimicking the symptoms of sensitive skin. Stinging and burning sensations were evaluated at different time points.

RESULTS

All three tested products A, B, and C showed to act better in calming the symptoms induced by capsaicin when compared to the vehicle.

CONCLUSIONS

The tested products would be an interesting option for treating stinging and burning sensations in sensitive skin patients.

A review of factors influencing sensitive skin: an emphasis on built environment characteristics

Background

Sensitive skin (SS) is a condition characterized by hyperreactivity. Impacting around 37 percent of the worldwide population and exerting an influence on the quality of life for affected individuals. Its prevalence rate has increased due to factors such as elevating stress levels and deteriorating environmental conditions. The exposome factors influencing SS have extended from demographic, biological attributes, and lifestyle to external environments. Built environments (BEs) have demonstrated as root drivers for changes in behaviors and environmental exposure which have the potential to trigger SS, but the review of the associations between BEs and SS is currently lacking.

Objective

This review aims to achieve two primary objectives: (1) Examine exposome factors that exert influence on SS at the individual and environmental levels. (2) Develop a theoretical framework that establishes a connection between BEs and SS, thereby offering valuable insights into the impact of the built environment on this condition.

Methods

An extensive literature search was carried out across multiple fields, including sociology, epidemiology, basic medicine, clinical medicine, and environmental research, with a focus on SS. To identify pertinent references, renowned databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI were utilized.

Results

SS is the outcome of interactions between individual attributes and environmental factors. These influencing factors can be categorized into five distinct classes: (1) demographic and socioeconomic characteristics including age, gender, and race; (2) physiological and biological attributes such as emotional changes, skin types, sleep disorders, and menstrual cycles in women; (3) behavioral factors, such as spicy diet, cosmetic use, alcohol consumption, and physical exercise; (4) natural environmental features, including climate conditions and air pollution; (5) built environmental features such as population density, green space availability, road network density, and access to public transportation, also have the potential to affect the condition.

Conclusion

The importance of interdisciplinary integration lies in its ability to ascertain whether and how BEs are impacting SS. By elucidating the role of BEs in conjunction with other factors in the onset of SS, we can provide guidance for future research endeavors and the formulation of interventions aimed at mitigating the prevalence of SS.

The Challenges in Investigating the Pathogenesis of Sensitive Skin by Noninvasive Measurements: A Systematic Review

Sensitive skin (SS) is a common cutaneous condition that seriously affects people's quality of life, but studies of sensitive skin pathogenesis are unclear, the exploration are ongoing, and the biophysical properties of sensitive skin disagree with the study results. In this paper, we summarize the noninvasive biophysical and imaging instrumental methods used for sensitive skin and provide support for the classification of sensitive skin subtypes to prescribe precise treatment. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched according to PRISMA guidelines for articles from January 1971 to May 2022 that used noninvasive biophysical or imaging methods to monitor adult subjects with sensitive skin. The quality of the included articles was determined based on 22 items of the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. A total of 55 studies were included, representing 8 biophysical and 5 imaging methods and their applications in treatment efficacy evaluation studies. The biophysical parameter and cutaneous morphological property changes in sensitive skin subjects were observed. The quality of the studies was relatively low, and there was high variability in results between studies. Several parameters have shown tremendous potential in exploring the pathogenesis with different sensitive skin subtypes: type I may be detected with higher transepidermal water loss and lower stratum corneum hydration values, as well as with thinner epidermis with a shallower and more irregular honeycomb structure; Type II and III are more prone to higher blood flow, lower current perception threshold than normal skin. This systematic review identifies key reasons for the lack of uniform trends in noninvasive measurements and recommends the use of effective selection instruments or relevant parameters to explore the pathogenesis of sensitive skin, and to differentiate the subtypes of sensitive skin for achieving the precise treatment.