Questionnaire and Lactic Acid Sting Test Play Different Role on the Assessment of Sensitive Skin: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background Questionnaires and lactic acid sting test (LAST) are two widely used methods to identify sensitive skin. However, the self-perceived sensitive skin by questionnaires was not consistent with the determination of LAST. Objective The aim of the study was to measure the biophysical properties noninvasively of sensitive skin evaluated by questionnaire and LAST and to investigate their correlations with the scores of questionnaire and LAST. Methods A total of 209 healthy Chinese females completed the study. Self-assessment questionnaire and LAST were both performed to identify sensitive skin. Epidermal biophysical properties, including skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum content, erythema index (EI), a* value, L* value, skin elasticity, and skin pH, were measured with noninvasive instruments. Results The frequency of sensitive skin was 50.2% and 66.0% by questionnaire and LAST, respectively. Subjects with self-assessed sensitive skin had a slightly higher LAST positive rate. Skin hydration, sebum content, a* and EI values were significantly higher in the self-assessed sensitive skin group, while TEWL, a* and EI values increased but L* value decreased with significance in the LAST positive group. The LAST stingers among sensitive skin subjects had higher EI but not in the healthy skin subjects. In addition, questionnaire scores positively correlated with skin hydration, sebum content, a* and EI values, while a positive relationship of LAST scores with TEWL, a* and EI values was observed. The scores of questionnaire and LAST both negatively related to L* value. Conclusion Self-assessed questionnaire is associated with sensitive skin featured by oily and red face without impaired barrier function, whereas LAST is suitable to identify fragile skin barrier and enhanced blood flow on the face. Combination of both methods to diagnose sensitive skin might be more reliable.

The Challenges in Investigating the Pathogenesis of Sensitive Skin by Noninvasive Measurements: A Systematic Review

“… 17 , 22–30 Among them, it was found that Chinese females subjected to semisubjective tests (LAST/CAT) showed higher TEWL values on the cheek. Additionally, ten studies showed no difference in the values on the cheek, 33 , 35 face, 27 , 28 , 37 , 38 , 40 forearm, 34 , 36 , 37 body 34 , 35 or hand. 39 …”

“… 22 , 23 , 25–33 , 36 , 38–43 , 45 In cross-sectional and cohort studies, a wide range of skin capacitance values was reported (16.7–80.3 AU). 23 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 36 , 40–43 Among the case–control studies, four articles clearly reported lower SCH values in subjects with SS or stingers at different facial sites (forehead, cheek, nasolabial fold, and chin). 22 , 27 , 30 , 45 Of these, two studies used questionnaires, 22 , 30 one used LAST, 45 and one used both questionnaires and LAST.…”

“…In addition, two studies reported that the sebum content of subjects with SS and LAST positivity was higher. 28 , 47 However, five studies reported that the sebum content was not different between subjects with SS and NSS 32 or between stingers and nonstingers. 23 , 25 , 29 , 38 …”

“… 31 , 46 A total of eleven studies included sebum content with a large-scale range of 0.0–239.8 AU. 22 , 23 , 25 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 38 , 41 , 45 , 47 Three studies clearly reported lower sebum content values in subjects with sensitive skin using a questionnaire. 22 , 31 , 45 Comparing SS and non-SS (NSS) subjects, Caucasian women remarkably demonstrated a higher frequency of low sebum content on the face than Chinese women (66.67% vs 33.33%).…”

Investigations into the Usage of the Mineral Alginite Fermented with Lactobacillus Paracasei for Cosmetic Purposes

“…While our technique for measuring the moisturizing effect is first described and applied here, the lactic acid sting test (LAST), which also measures capacitance using a Corneometer (similarly to our dermatoscope's Corneometer) is highly comparable to it [11]- [13].…”