Investigation and Identification of Sensitive Skin Through Questionnaire in Korea

Abstract

The term “sensitive skin” has been widely used in cosmetic literature and advertising. “Sensitive skin” is an important problem in cosmetic research. In many consumer surveys, the number of female consumers, who have or believe to have sensitive skin, have been increased. But still now there are not pathophysiologic evaluation and clear definition. So, we surveyed the mean, causes, symptoms or phenomenon of “sensitive skin”, occasional change to sensitive skin and its cause, etc. by questionnaire in Korea. 23～33% of Korean females (n=1181, age 17～68) were reported that they have the agony of “sensitive skin”. We could classify the cause and symptoms with four categories; “inherent”, “environmental”, “cosmetics” and “habit and others”. Based in these results, to diagnose the “sensitive skin” more effectively, we designed the diagnostic questionnaire and classification rules. In the result of investigation 460 females, “self reported skin sensitivity” and “skin sensitivity diagnosed by questionnaire” showed about 70% coincidence. We suggest that these results are useful to understand the recognition about sensitive skin in Korea and diagnostic questionnaire is helpful to classify the sensitive skin with degree of sensitivity and main causes.