Clinical Trial Summary
The concept of sensitive or reactive skin was evoked in 1947 and developed in the 1970s and
is now widely recognized. The international pruritus society has proposed an international
consensus definition: sensitive skin is defined as a syndrome manifested by the occurrence of
unpleasant sensations (tingling, burning, pain, pruritus, tingling) in response to stimuli
that normally do not not cause such sensations. The triggering factors can be cosmetics,
water, cold, heat, temperature variations, wind ... etc.
The physiopathological mechanisms are debated and several hypotheses exist. Sensitive skin
can be considered as a decrease of the threshold of cutaneous tolerance. Sensitive skin is
linked to abnormalities of the cutaneous nervous system, which becomes hyper-reactive. This
hyperreactivity can be modulated by multiple factors. Exposure to cosmetics could be one of
the main triggers for sensitive skin, especially for women. This can be explained by the wide
use of cosmetics (in France women apply an average of 16 different cosmetics per day), by
overconsumption of cosmetics, by exposure to potentially irritating ingredients. Sensitive
skin would be less tolerant to the frequent and prolonged use of cosmetics. However, no
precise information is available on the actual consumption of cosmetic products in the
population with sensitive skin, in particular no data exists concerning the type of products
used, the criteria of choice of products, the daily number of products used. and the
ingredients contained in these cosmetics
Objectives are:
To compare the consumption of cosmetics qualitatively and quantitatively in a group of
subjects with sensitive skin in the face and scalp, with a group of subjects with
non-sensitive skin Study of triggers of sensitive skin Localization of sensitive skin in the
face Resonance of sensitive skin Duration of onset of skin sensitivity after application of
the cosmetic Use of organic products, formulated for sensitive skin, for children Shopping
venues for cosmetics Advice from a professional for the purchase of cosmetics Impact of
sensitive skin on the use of cosmetics Budget dedicated to the purchase of cosmetics