Association between biophysical properties and anxiety in patients with sensitive skin

Background: Sensitive skin (SS) is a syndrome in which neurosensory disorders accompany epidermal barrier dysfunction. However, it is not yet clear how high anxiety levels affect the biophysical parameters of the skin in patients with SS. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship between anxiety levels and facial neurosensitivity, the erythema index, sebum content, and sensitive skin scale scores in individuals with sensitive skin. Methods: The study was carried out on 35 individuals with SS and 40 without SS over three months. In the study, a questionnaire to detect the presence of sensitive skin, the sensitive skin scale for sensitive skin severity, the lactic acid sting test (LAST) to show facial neurosensitivity, a Mexameter for erythema index measurement, and a Sebumeter for sebum content measurement were used. In addition, the anxiety levels of the patient and control groups were measured using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Results: While the HADS-Anxiety scores were found to be significantly higher in patients with sensitive skin, there was no significant difference in the HADS-Depression scores. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was found between the HADS-Anxiety scores and the erythema index in patients with sensitive skin. Conclusions: Sensitive skin is a disorder that can sometimes occur without any dermatological examination findings. In particular, the sensations of the patients, along with their anxiety levels, are essential parameters that should be evaluated in the approach to patients with sensitive skin. © 2022 The Authors. Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.