- 2023-06
- Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) 29(6)
- Ying Zuo
- Ruoyu Wan
- Ping Jiang
- Xiaomei Chen
- Li Li
- Wei Hua
Study Design
- Type
- Observational
- Sample size
- n = 30
- Population
- participants with and without sensitive skin (n = 30, 30)
- Methods
- cowhage test and CPT measurement with its related sensations
- Funding
- Unclear
Background
The diagnosis of sensitive skin remains nonuniform, and the underlying mechanism is unclear. Previous studies were inconsistent in the current perception threshold (CPT) measurement for sensitive skin; thus, the neural sensitivity of sensitive skin needs to be clarified.Objectives
This study aimed to compare the CPT measurement and the cowhage test for sensitive skin and to investigate the correlation between CPT values and cowhage-itch scores.Methods
Participants with and without sensitive skin (n = 30, 30) were included. The cowhage test and CPT measurement with its related sensations were performed.Results
No difference was found in CPT between the sensitive and nonsensitive groups at either the site of the face or the forearm (5, 250, or 2000 Hz). Once the CPT was reached, sensations (itch, stinging, and throbbing) were significantly different between the two groups. Cowhage provoked more intense itch with a longer duration in the face (visual analog scale [VAS] score 1.90 ± 1.47 vs. 0.52 ± 0.90, p < 0.001; duration 3.80 ± 3.31 vs. 0.87 ± 1.43 min, p < 0.001) and forearm (VAS 2.53 ± 2.60 vs. 0.72 ± 1.06, p < 0.001; duration 3.37 ± 3.46 vs. 1.33 ± 2.14 min, p < 0.01) of the sensitive group compared with the nonsensitive group. Cowhage-induced itch and CPT-related itch (5 Hz) showed moderate correlations in both the face (r = 0.441, p < 0.001) and forearm (r = 0.491 p < 0.001) and weak correlations in the forearm (r = 0.323 at 250 Hz, p = 0.012; r = 0.376 at 2000 Hz, p = 0.003).Conclusions
Cowhage test showed better performance in assessing the neural sensitivity of sensitive skin in comparison with the CPT measurement. Evaluation of CPT-related sensations may add valuable information to sensitive skin assessment.