Sensitive skin, medically known as "sensitive skin", is an abnormal skin condition characterized by paroxysmal or periodic burning, paroxysmal redness, tingling, itching and tightness after the skin is slightly stimulated by the outside world, with or without persistent erythema, a highly sensitive, highly reactive and low-tolerance symptom.

1. Individual factors

Studies have shown that the occurrence of sensitive skin is closely related to factors such as age, skin type, and gender. Generally, sensitive skin is more common in young people, and people with dry skin are more likely to have sensitive skin. In addition, women are more likely to have sensitive skin than men, and the symptoms are often more severe.
In addition to the above factors, people who are tired, have sleep disorders, eat less, smoke, are under high stress, and have a genetic atopic constitution (such as atopic dermatitis) are also more likely to have sensitive skin. For women, physiological factors such as pregnancy, dysmenorrhea, and oral contraceptives may also increase the risk of sensitive skin.

2. Environmental factors

Epidemiological surveys at home and abroad show that sensitive skin is also related to a variety of environmental factors. For example, dust, temperature and humidity changes caused by climate, air pollutants, and long-term use of air conditioners may affect the skin barrier and cause sensitive skin.

3. Other factors

Cosmetics and cleaning habits: Frequent changes in cosmetics or using multiple brands of products at the same time, excessive facial cleaning, repeated use of disinfectant products, etc., may damage the skin barrier and lead to the occurrence of sensitive skin.

Drugs and treatment related: Topical irritants, long-term and large-scale topical glucocorticoids, and failure to repair the skin barrier in time after certain laser or chemical peeling treatments may also cause sensitive skin.

1. Semi-subjective evaluation

The irritation test is a semi-subjective method for evaluating sensitive skin, which has been widely used. Common tests include lactic acid sting test and capsaicin test. Due to the different mechanisms of action of different chemical irritants and conduction pathways, these tests help diagnose different types of sensitive skin.

2. Objective evaluation

Objective evaluation mainly relies on non-invasive skin detection technology, which can quantitatively analyze the physiological functions, erythema and capillary conditions of sensitive skin. Commonly used quantitative indicators include transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema index, dermoscopy and laser confocal microscopy.

3. Subjective evaluation

Subjective evaluation relies on the individual's description of the reaction of their skin after being subjected to minor stimuli (such as mental tension, cold and heat, sunlight, etc.), such as whether there is burning, paroxysmal redness, stinging, itching or tightness. Therefore, the sensitive skin self-assessment scale is often used for subjective evaluation. In recent years, the commonly used assessment scales are as follows:

The Sensitive Scale SS-7: Contains 7 questions, mainly assessing the sensitivity of the skin to external stimuli. Each question is answered with "yes" and scored 1 point, and the answer is "no" and no score. A total score of ≥5 points can be judged as sensitive skin.

Sample questions:

1. Does your face/neck not tolerate cold or hot weather?

2. Does your face/neck skin not tolerate rapid changes in temperature?

3. Do you avoid certain cosmetics because they cause skin irritation?

4. Does your face/neck have adverse reactions to cosmetics or hygiene products?

5. Do you think you have sensitive skin on your face/neck?

6. Does your face/neck feel itchy, burning, or stinging from wind or the use of cosmetics?

7. Is your facial/neck skin sensitivity related to pollution, stress/emotions, or changes in your menstrual cycle?

SS-10: Assess the subjective symptoms of sensitive skin (such as allergy, tingling, burning, tightness, itching, pain, skin discomfort, flushing or redness, etc.) through scoring, ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (unbearable). A total score of >13 points can be used as the diagnostic standard for sensitive skin, and a score of >5 points can be used as the diagnostic standard for mildly sensitive skin.

SS-14: Based on the Bauman Sensitive Skin Questionnaire, it is suitable for sensitive skin assessment in the Chinese population. The questionnaire contains 14 questions, 11 of which are aimed at the causes of sensitive skin and are scored from 1 to 4 points; the remaining 3 questions involve personal and family allergy history and facial disease history, and answering "yes" or "no" will get 2 points or 1 point respectively.

The total score range and sensitivity classification are as follows:

12-17 points: good skin tolerance

18-23 points: mild sensitivity

24-32 points: moderate sensitivity

33-42 points: severe sensitivity

Misconception 1: Blushing means sensitive skin

This view is one-sided and even wrong. Facial skin redness may be caused by a variety of reasons, including but not limited to sensitive skin, rosacea, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, etc. Sensitive skin, especially the acquired "simple sensitive skin", its clinical manifestations usually include facial burning, stinging, tightness, itching and other discomfort symptoms, as well as possible paroxysmal flushing, facial erythema, dryness and desquamation, and capillary dilation. The erythema of sensitive skin can usually disappear on its own or quickly return to normal skin color after treatment. If the facial erythema is persistent, it may involve rosacea or facial dermatitis. The treatment methods for these conditions are fundamentally different from those for simple sensitive skin.

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Misunderstanding 2: Sensitive skin comes from thin stratum corneum

The stratum corneum is closely related to the occurrence of sensitive skin, but the normality of the skin barrier function is not determined by the thickness of the stratum corneum. Even if the stratum corneum is thin, the skin barrier can usually remain normal as long as there is no excessive cleaning or improper skin care. The skin barrier is often likened to a "brick wall structure", and its integrity is more important than thickness. The main factors affecting the barrier function of the stratum corneum include the normal keratinization, integrity and density of the stratum corneum.

The treatment and management of sensitive skin is a multifaceted task that requires comprehensive consideration of individual skin conditions, living habits and environmental factors. Through correct diagnosis, reasonable treatment plan and healthy lifestyle, the symptoms of sensitive skin can be effectively improved.

As a non-invasive skin treatment method, phototherapy plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of sensitive skin. Such as intense pulsed light (IPL), long pulse 1064nm laser, and spectrum therapy.

1. Phototherapy miracle egg - intense pulsed light (IPL)

With its wide spectrum characteristics, intense pulsed light can achieve multiple effects such as redness reduction, desensitization and skin quality improvement. Intense pulsed light can play an excellent therapeutic effect in both the acute and stable stages of sensitive skin.

Acute sensitive period treatment: In the acute stage of sensitive skin, the desensitization and soothing effects of intense pulsed light are mainly used.

Stable period treatment: In the stable period of sensitive skin, intense pulsed light is mainly used to improve skin quality and remove redness.

2. UP Bang Bang Light - Long Pulse 1064nm Laser

1064nm laser is a commonly used treatment method, including picosecond, ultra-picosecond and other devices. Unlike these devices, the long pulse width 1064nm laser has a longer pulse width, which can achieve gentle heating of skin tissue between tens of milliseconds and several seconds, avoiding obvious blasting and thermal damage.

3. Spectral therapy device

A photoelectric technology widely used in skin treatment, it combines four different wavelengths of light: red light, blue light, yellow light and infrared light to play their respective therapeutic advantages.

• Red light therapy

The wavelength of red light is usually between 620nm and 750nm, which has anti-inflammatory and repair effects. It can penetrate deeper layers of the skin, promote blood circulation, and accelerate cell metabolism. During periods of skin sensitivity, red light can significantly reduce inflammation, help relieve symptoms such as redness, swelling and itching, while promoting the repair process of damaged skin.

• Blue light therapy

Blue light has a wavelength in the range of 415nm to 455nm and has a bactericidal effect. It can penetrate the surface of the skin and directly act on the bacteria on the skin, especially Propionibacterium acnes, thereby inhibiting or killing these bacteria and controlling skin problems caused by bacterial infections, such as acne and inflammatory skin diseases.

• Combined red and blue light treatment

Combined red and blue light treatment can simultaneously exert the therapeutic effects of two types of light. On the one hand, it reduces inflammation through the anti-inflammatory and repair effects of red light, and on the other hand, it uses the bactericidal ability of blue light to control bacterial infection. This combined treatment method can solve skin problems more comprehensively and improve treatment effects. It is especially suitable for sensitive skin or skin conditions prone to inflammation and infection.

• Yellow light therapy

The wavelength of yellow light is 590nm, which can change the structure of the mitochondrial membrane of skin cells, stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts, thereby enhancing the skin's immune function and the defense function of skin tissue. It can significantly reduce the sensitivity of the skin, reduce red blood streaks and erythema, inhibit the high reactivity of blood vessels and nerves, and enhance the skin's resistance and tolerance. In addition, it can also promote the repair of the skin barrier and relieve discomfort caused by sensitivity.

• Infrared light therapy

The wavelength of infrared light is usually around 830nm, which can penetrate deep into the dermis of the skin, promote blood circulation and reduce inflammation through photobiomodulation.

Infrared light can improve the microcirculation of the skin, reduce edema, relieve inflammatory reactions, promote the production of collagen and elastin, and make the skin firmer and more elastic. It has significant repair and anti-inflammatory effects on sensitive skin, and is especially suitable for long-term care of sensitive skin.

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Foremed Legend

The core founding team of Suzhou Foremed Legend Medical Technology Co., Ltd. comes from well-known universities at home and abroad such as Peking University. Foremed Legend focuses on the design, research and development and application of high-end medical beauty optoelectronic equipment based on compliance and product strength, and is committed to becoming a leading company in the field of high-end medical beauty optoelectronic equipment, a provider of integrated diagnosis and treatment intelligent solutions, and a pioneer of medical beauty data integration platform.

Through tackling a series of underlying key technologies, Foremed Legend has independently developed a number of high-end medical devices, including picosecond laser therapy devices, long pulse laser therapy devices, intense pulsed light therapy devices, photoacoustic imaging skin detection devices, and cold air therapy devices, and continues to deepen the research and development of core product technologies, using better technical solutions to benefit the vast number of beauty seekers.

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