Inclusive interest of a specific dermo-cosmetic cream in the management of sensitive skin syndrome in Asian and Caucasian subjects

Introduction & Objectives

Several epidemiological studies evaluated the ethnic impact on the prevalence of Sensitive Skin Syndrome (SSS), including phototype, climatic/environmental and cultural factors, but there is a lack of inclusive studies evaluating the interest of cosmetic products in SSS. Therefore, the investigation of a specific dermo-cosmetic cream efficacy in Polish and Thai subjects suffering from SSS allowed to explore the potential differences in these two populations.

Materials & Methods

Two monocentric clinical studies were performed on subjects (aged 43 years old in average) suffering from SSS associated with a Burden of Sensitive Skin (BoSS) score equal or higher to 20 (out of 56) involving in Thailand 34 women and 6 men with phototypes IV (55%) or V (30%), and in Poland 40 women and 10 men with phototypes II (54%) or III (46%). For methodological reason, the Polish subjects was selected with a positive stinging test. The specific dermocosmetic cream was applied by the subjects once to twice daily on the face and neck for at least 28 days. Clinical signs (redness, dryness, roughness, squames) were evaluated using a 11-point-scale both by the dermatologists and by the subjects. With a similar scale, the functional signs (itching, pain, tightness, tingling, heat sensations) were self-evaluated by the subjects. In addition, the impact on the quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the BoSS questionnaire. Adverse events were reported by the subjects, and the global cutaneous acceptability was evaluated by the dermatologists at day 28 (D28) using a 4-point-scale.

Results

At D28 in both studies the cream significantly reduced all clinical signs (p<0.05 to p<0.001) assessed by the dermatologists and the subjects and improved the functional signs (p<0.005 to p<0.001), as well as the subjects’ QoL (p<0.005 for Thailand, p<0.001 for Poland), vs baseline. According to the dermatologists, at baseline and D28, redness and dryness were significantly higher (p<0.001), and roughness lower (D0 p<0.005; D28 p<0.001) in Polish subjects, vs Thai subjects. As reported by the subjects, at baseline, dryness, roughness and squames were significantly higher in Thai subjects and at D28 redness (p<0.001) and dryness (p<0.05) higher in Polish subjects. Concerning the functional assessments, at baseline, tingling, pain, and itching were significantly higher (p<0.001) in Thai subjects vs Polish subjects. At D28, tightness (p<0.005) was significantly lower while, tingling and pain higher (p<0.001) in Thai subjects vs Polish subjects. In addition, the global BoSS scores at baseline and D28 were higher (p<0.005) in Thai subjects vs Polish subjects, especially for questions concerning sensations (choice of clothes and washing of powder, pollution). The questions concerning the appearance however were significantly higher in Polish subjects (ex: redness). Finally, 100% and 87.5% of the subjects presented a good to very good tolerance to the cream according to the dermatologists in Poland and Thailand, respectively.

Conclusion

Interestingly, Thai subjects were more affected by sensations of sensitive skin while Polish subjects were more affected by visible effects, even if the latest presented a positive stinging test. Despite the difference in sensibility, phototype and culture, and the potential variation in the SSS perception, these studies demonstrated that this specific dermo-cosmetic cream was well-tolerated and present an inclusive efficacy in SSS by improving the QoL.