Sensitive skin evaluation in the Japanese population

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Sensitive skin syndrome, first described in 1977, lacks comprehensive prevalence data in Japan.
• Previous studies on sensitive skin have been conducted in Europe and the USA, necessitating comparable Japanese data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of sensitive skin in a representative Japanese population.
• To investigate the association between self-reported sensitive skin and reactions to various environmental triggers.

Main Methods:

• A national telephone survey was conducted on a representative sample of Japanese adults (over 18 years).
• Participants were questioned about their skin sensitivity and experienced reactions to factors like emotional stress, climate, and pollution.
• The quota method was used for sample selection, ensuring demographic representation.

Main Results:

• 52.84% of men and 55.98% of women self-identified as having 'rather sensitive' or 'very sensitive' skin, with no significant gender difference.
• A zero non-response rate suggests widespread understanding of the term 'sensitive skin'.
• Individuals with sensitive skin reported significantly higher frequencies of experiencing rashes or irritation from water (18.97% vs 6.15%), air pollution (39.29% vs 12.45%), and warm conditions (29.74% vs 9.8%) compared to others.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first recent epidemiological data on sensitive skin prevalence in Japan.
• The findings indicate a high prevalence of sensitive skin in Japan, comparable to some Western populations.
• Sensitive skin is strongly associated with heightened reactivity to common environmental stimuli, highlighting its clinical significance.