Sensitive skin: an overview

Abstract

SynopsisSensitive skin is a condition of subjective cutaneous hyper-reactivity to environmental factors. Subjects experiencing this condition report exaggerated reactions when their skin is in contact with cosmetics, soaps and sun screens, and they often report worsening after exposure to dry and cold climate. Although no sign of irritation is commonly detected, itching, burning, stinging and a tight sensation are constantly present. Generally substances that are not commonly considered irritants are involved in this abnormal response.Sensitive skin and subjective irritation are widespread but still far from being completely defined and understood. A correlation between sensitive skin and constitutional anomalies and/or other triggering factors such as occupational skin diseases or chronic exposure to irritants has been hypothesized. Recent findings suggest that higher sensitivity can be due to different mechanisms. Hyper-reactors may have a thinner stratum corneum with a reduced corneocyte area causing a higher transcutaneous penetration of water-soluble chemicals. Alterations in vanilloid receptors and changes in neuronal transmission have been described. Monitoring skin parameters such as barrier function, proclivity to irritation, corneocyte size and sensorial transmission can also be useful to identify regional differences in skin sensitivity. Ré suméLa peau sensible est une condition de l'hyperréactivité cutanée subjective à des facteurs environnementaux. Les sujets souffrant de cette condition signalent des réactions exagérées lorsque leur peau est en contact avec des cosmétiques, des savons et des écrans solaires, et ils mentionnent souvent une aggravation après une exposition à un climat sec et froid. Bien qu'aucun signe d'irritation ne soit généralement détecté, les démangeaisons, sensations de brû -lure, de picotement et tiraillement sont constamment présentes. En général, les substances qui ne sont pas habituellement considérées comme irritantes sont impliquées dans cette réponse anormale. La peau sensible et l'irritation subjective sont largement répandues mais encore loin d'être complètement définies et comprises. Une corrélation entre la peau sensible et les anomalies constitutionnelles et / ou d'autres facteurs déclenchants tels que les maladies professionnelles de la peau ou l'exposition chronique à des irritants a été émise comme hypothèse. Des découvertes récentes suggèrent qu'une sensibilité augmentée peut être due à différents mécanismes. Les hyperréactifs peuvent présenter une couche cornée mince avec une zone de cornéocytes réduite entraînant une meilleure pénétra-tion transcutanée de produits chimiques solubles dans l'eau. Des modifications des récepteurs vanilloïdes et des changements dans la transmission neuronale ont été décrits. La surveillance des paramètres de la peau telles que la fonction de barrière, la propension à l'irritation, la taille des cornéocytes et de la transmission sensorielle peut également être utile pour identifier les différences régionales dans la sensibilité cut...

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