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Sensitive skin can be small fibre neuropathy: results from a case-control quantitative sensory testing study
F Huet1,2, A Dion3, A Batardière4
1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, 29609, Brest, France.
The British Journal of Dermatology
|August 17, 2018
Summary
Sensitive skin syndrome (SSS) may be a small fiber neuropathy. Quantitative sensory testing revealed decreased heat pain thresholds and increased neuropathic pain scores in SSS patients, supporting this hypothesis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Dermatology
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Sensitive skin syndrome (SSS) involves abnormal sensations like itching and burning.
- Previous research suggests SSS might stem from small fiber neuropathy, but lacks quantitative sensory testing (QST) data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate tactile sensitivity disorders, specifically heat pain thresholds (HPT), in SSS patients using QST.
- To determine if SSS is associated with small fiber neuropathy.
Main Methods:
- A monocentric case-control study involving 21 SSS patients and 21 controls.
- Quantitative sensory testing (QST) was performed on all participants.
- Neuropathic pain was assessed using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) questionnaires.
Main Results:
- SSS patients exhibited significantly lower HPT compared to controls (14.5 ± 2.8 vs. 17.8 ± 2.5, P < 0.001).
- Intermediate pain thresholds were also reduced in SSS patients.
- DN4 and NPSI scores were significantly elevated in the SSS group.
Conclusions:
- The reduced HPT in SSS patients suggests hyperalgesia, potentially due to C-fiber damage.
- Elevated neuropathic pain scores further support a neuronal basis for SSS.
- These findings provide new evidence for classifying SSS as a small fiber neuropathy.
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