Skin sensitivity and intolerance in Shanghai: cumulative influence of different meteorological parameters

Although Sensitive skin (SS) conditions are reported to be affected by climate changes, the correlations with meteorological parameters remain mostly unclear.

To investigate the changes of facial skin conditions in different seasons in Shanghai, including the speed and severity of the influences imposed by different meteorological parameters.

Totally eighty-one healthy female volunteers completed the study in both spring (May) and summer (August). Evaluations of facial skin conditions included stimulating sensory test, clinical grading and biophysical measurements. Correlations between the meteorological parameters and ΔTEWL as well as clinical parameters were analyzed.

There was no significant difference between two seasons in lactic acid sting test. The stimulation sensations felt by Vitamin B3 (VB3) containing cream was significantly higher in May than that in August. In accordance, baseline visual scores for erythema and scaliness in May were also significantly higher than those scores in August. The baseline transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value was significantly higher in May than that in August. Positive correlations were detected between ΔTEWL and atmospheric pressure on the test day, adjust 3-day and 7-day mean of daily solar radiation respectively. There were negative correlations between ΔTEWL and temperature outside on the test day, adjust 3-day mean as well as adjust 7-day mean of relative humidity.

Facial skin conditions in summer are better than that in spring in Shanghai. The influences from atmospheric pressure and temperature are relatively quick in speed, while the influences from relative humidity and solar radiation are slow but cumulative.