Survey of practicing dermatologists on the prevalence of sensitive skin in men

Synopsis Objectives Today, a majority of the general population describe themselves as having sensitive skin. Although this is often considered more of a problem for women, the number of men claiming this condition is substantial. The objective of these studies was to evaluate dermatologists' perceptions with regard to the prevalence of sensitive skin among men, and the potential impact of influencing factors. Methods Questionnaire surveys were conducted among two groups; a European survey (1531 subjects), which included dermatologists from several geographical regions, and a US Internet survey (300 subjects). Results and Conclusion The majority of dermatologists in both studies (82.0% and 58.3%, respectively) either agreed or strongly agreed that they have noticed an increase in male patients reporting sensitive facial skin over the past 5 years. Some regional differences were apparent in the European survey, with a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher proportion agreeing in Central/Eastern Europe (84.9%) and Asia (89.9%) compared with Western Europe (75.1%). General factors cited that could influence the incidence of perceived skin sensitivity included environmental factors, stress, increased acceptance in society and increased use of products. With the exception of UV light exposure, which was cited by a majority of dermatologists in all geographical regions, exacerbating environmental factors differed in a manner that may have been related to differing climates in the regions. In both surveys, over 90% of responders agreed that the selection of shaving products was important for men with sensitive skin. Résumé Objectifs Aujourd'hui, la majorité de la population générale se décrit comme ayant la peau sensible. Bien que ce soit plus souvent considéré comme un problème pour les femmes, le nombre d'hommes se réclamant de cette condition est important. L'objectif de ces études était d'évaluer les perceptions des dermatologues à l'égard de la prévalence de la peau sensible chez les hommes, et de déterminer l'impact potentiel des facteurs d'influence. Methodes Les enquêtes par questionnaire ont été menées sur deux groupes, une enquête européenne (1531 sujets) qui comprenait les dermatologues de plusieurs régions géographiques, et une enquête Internet US (300 sujets). Resultats et conclusion La majorité des dermatologues dans les deux études (82.0% et 58.3%, respectivement) étaient d'accord ou fortement d'accord qu'ils ont remarqué une augmentation de patients de s