Sensitive Skin in Thais: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Diagnostic Cutoff Scores

Abstract

Background: Sensitive skin is a dermatologic condition with variable prevalence. Universally established cutoff scores for the sensitive scale (SS) and burden of sensitive skin (BoSS) questionnaires are lacking in general populations. Aims: To determine the prevalence of and the associated risk factors for sensitive skin among Thais and to establish cutoff values for diagnosing mild, moderate, and severe cases of sensitive skin. Patients/Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 621 participants aged ≥ 18 years was conducted using an online questionnaire disseminated via various social platforms. Participants completed the SS-14, SS-10, and BoSS questionnaires to assess sensitive skin severity. Cutoff scores for these instruments were determined. Results: Sensitive skin was reported by 86.9% of participants, with 57.5% indicating moderate to severe sensitive skin. Significant risk factors for sensitive skin included female sex, underlying dermatologic conditions, history of atopic dermatitis, and dry skin type. The following cutoff points for diagnosing mildly, moderately, and severely sensitive skin were established for each questionnaire: SS-14 (6/16/25), SS-10 (5/13/22), and BoSS (13/19/24), respectively. The SS-10 questionnaire demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy than the BoSS questionnaire. Conclusions: This pioneering study elucidated the prevalence of and risk factors for sensitive skin in Thais. The established cutoff values will facilitate sensitive skin diagnosis and guide patient management strategies.