San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, VIa Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Int J Cosmet Sci. 2013 Feb;35(1):2-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2494.2012.00754.x. Epub 2012 Sep 21.
Sensitive 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.
敏感皮肤是一种主观的皮肤对环境因素过度反应的状况。有这种情况的受试者报告说，当他们的皮肤接触到化妆品、肥皂和防晒霜时，会出现过度的反应，而且他们经常在暴露于干燥和寒冷的气候后报告病情恶化。尽管通常没有发现刺激的迹象，但瘙痒、灼热、刺痛和紧绷感一直存在。通常情况下，不会被认为是刺激性的物质会参与这种异常反应。敏感皮肤和主观刺激很常见，但仍远未得到完全定义和理解。有人假设敏感皮肤与体质异常和/或其他触发因素（如职业性皮肤病或慢性接触刺激性物质）之间存在相关性。最近的研究结果表明，更高的敏感性可能是由于不同的机制。超敏反应者的角质层可能更薄，角质细胞面积减小，导致水溶性化学物质的经皮渗透增加。已经描述了香草素受体的改变和神经元传递的变化。监测皮肤参数，如屏障功能、刺激倾向、角质细胞大小和感觉传递，也有助于识别皮肤敏感性的区域差异。
