Rising prevalence of sensitive skin linked to environmental factors

Recent dermatological research indicates a rising prevalence of sensitive skin, affecting approximately 60% of women and 40% of men. This trend is attributed to a combination of environmental, lifestyle, and cosmetic factors.

Environmental contributors include increased pollution, smog, and dust that disrupt the skin's hydrolipidic film, as well as frequent transitions between temperature-controlled indoor environments and the outdoors. Lifestyle factors such as chronic stress, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition also impact the skin's ability to repair itself. Additionally, ‘over-skincare’—the excessive use of aggressive exfoliants, acids, and products containing reactive fragrances or preservatives—can weaken natural defenses.

Experts, including Professor Pietro Quaglino from the University of Turin, emphasize that skin protection must now look beyond traditional UV protection (SPF). Modern dermatological strategies focus on the ‘solar exposome,’ which encompasses the full range of environmental factors affecting skin health. While solar exposure is necessary for Vitamin D synthesis, excessive exposure to UVA rays can cause oxidative stress and photoaging, while UVB rays are primary drivers of sunburn and DNA damage that may lead to skin cancers such as melanoma.