Joichi Taisei, Yoshida Hiroyuki, Katsukura Hiroaki, Zhai Lili, Watanabe Daisuke, Yamamoto Naohito, Haneoka Mai, Nakamura Shun, Kawamoto Akane, Nakazawa Hiromitsu, Suka Motoaki
Skin Care Products Research, Kao Corporation, Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan.
Biological Science Research, Kao Corporation, Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan.
J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 Apr;24(4):e70154. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70154.
Although sensitive skin (SS) is a syndrome characterized by cutaneous hypersensitivity to environmental factors, its pathophysiology remains elusive.
We aimed to explore the characteristics of ceramides (CERs) and intercellular lipid (ICL) structures of individuals with and without facial SS and their relationship with skin hypersensitivity.
PATIENTS/METHODS: Healthy Japanese females were divided into SS or non-SS groups based on self-perception and lactic acid stinging test (LAST). Stratum corneum (SC) lipids were analyzed using a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer, and the orthorhombic-hexagonal lateral packing structure of ICLs was assessed using electron diffraction.
According to the mean LAST score, individuals with SS (n = 48) had mild-to-moderate skin hypersensitivity. SS exhibited not significantly but slightly impaired skin barrier function (p = 0.072) and lower levels of CER[NH], [NP], [EOS], [EOH] (all p < 0.05), and [EOP] (p = 0.073) in the SC compared with non-SS (n = 18). Notably, the CER[NP]/[NS] ratio, a marker of skin barrier function, was positively correlated with the orthorhombic-hexagonal lateral packing ratio of ICLs (p = 0.002), whereas it was negatively correlated with the LAST score (p = 0.015) and the interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist/IL-1α ratio (p = 0.003) in the SC, an indicator of chronic inflammation. Moreover, corneocyte size was reduced in SS (p < 0.001), suggesting inferior SC maturation, and was positively correlated with the CER[NP]/[NS] (p < 0.001) and the orthorhombic-hexagonal ratios (p = 0.011).
Individuals with SS showed an abnormal CER profile, particularly the altered CER[NP]/[NS] ratio, which was in turn associated with disordered ICL structure and skin hypersensitivity. Abnormal epidermal turnover may be an underlying mechanism of the abnormalities.
尽管敏感性皮肤（SS）是一种以皮肤对环境因素过敏为特征的综合征，但其病理生理学仍不清楚。
我们旨在探讨面部有或无SS的个体的神经酰胺（CERs）和细胞间脂质（ICL）结构特征及其与皮肤过敏的关系。
患者/方法：健康日本女性根据自我感知和乳酸刺痛试验（LAST）分为SS组或非SS组。使用液相色谱-质谱仪分析角质层（SC）脂质，并使用电子衍射评估ICL的正交-六方侧向堆积结构。
根据平均LAST评分，SS患者（n = 48）有轻度至中度皮肤过敏。与非SS组（n = 18）相比，SS表现出皮肤屏障功能虽无显著但略有受损（p = 0.072），且SC中CER[NH]、[NP]、[EOS]、[EOH]（均p < 0.05）和[EOP]（p = 0.073）水平较低。值得注意的是，皮肤屏障功能标志物CER[NP]/[NS]比值与ICL的正交-六方侧向堆积比值呈正相关（p = 0.002），而与LAST评分（p = 0.015）和SC中慢性炎症指标白细胞介素（IL）-1受体拮抗剂/IL-1α比值呈负相关（p = 0.003）。此外，SS患者角质形成细胞大小减小（p < 0.001），提示SC成熟度较差，且与CER[NP]/[NS]（p < 0.001）和正交-六方比值呈正相关（p = 0.011）。
SS患者表现出异常的CER谱，特别是CER[NP]/[NS]比值改变，这又与ICL结构紊乱和皮肤过敏相关。异常的表皮更新可能是这些异常的潜在机制。
