Impact of Sensitive Skin on Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Sensitive skin (SS) is a common condition reported by many people worldwide. Patient interviews reveal that individuals with SS experience diminished quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Nonetheless, the impact of SS on mental health remains unclear.

Objective: To assess whether SS affects mental health and the relationship between symptom severity and its impact.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea, between June 2022 and March 2023. The Sensitive-Scale 10 (SS-10) was used for SS diagnosis and severity scoring; the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessed mental health. Participants were categorized as 'non-sensitive' (<20), 'sensitive' (20-49), and 'extremely sensitive'(≥50) based on SS-10 scores. Objective measurements included transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH), erythema, and demodex density.

Results: Of 200 participants, 146 completed the study. Participants were predominantly female (79.45%) with a mean age of 36.86 years (SD = 12.25). DLQI scores were higher in more sensitive groups (non-sensitive: 6.25, sensitive: 14.46, extremely sensitive: 18.86; P <.001). HADS-A and HADS-D scores also increased with severity (HADS-A: 4.94 in non-sensitive to 7.80 in extremely sensitive, HADS-D: 3.88 to 8.54; P <.05 for HADS-A, P <.001 for HADS-D). DLQI was significantly influenced by discomfort and redness, HADS-A by TEWL (negatively) and flushes, and HADS-D by flushes.

Conclusion: SS is associated with lower quality of life and increased anxiety and depression. Symptoms of sensitive skin substantially impact patients' psychological well-being.