Galderma released findings from a groundbreaking real-world study in China, showing how lifestyle and environmental factors directly affect sensitive skin. Galderma will present the results at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2025 Congress. The findings highlight a direct biological link between modern urban living and worsening skin health.
Rising prevalence of sensitive skin
Sensitive skin affects up to 70% of people worldwide, with prevalence rising by 68% over the past two decades. The condition continues to be under-recognised and insufficiently studied despite its growing impact. Increasing urbanisation, pollution, stress, and sleep deprivation now drive sensitive skin conditions. Galderma’s Global Sensitive Skincare Faculty (GSSF) initiated the first study of its kind to quantify the biological toll of urban living. This global network of dermatology experts launched the research to address the knowledge gap in sensitive skin.
The study enrolled 150 women in China aged 35–50. Researchers divided them into three groups based on skin sensitivity and living environment. Participants in urban areas reported greater exposure to pollution, higher stress levels, and poorer sleep quality than those in rural environments. By comparing skin health across these groups, researchers were able to isolate the compounded effects of both sensitivity and lifestyle factors.
Triple threat for sensitive skin
The results reveal that modern living significantly worsens skin outcomes in sensitive individuals. Tape-stripping analysis revealed sensitive skin in urban environments faces a triple threat: heightened inflammation, oxidative stress, and visible environmental damage.
Urban participants with sensitive skin showed three times higher inflammation levels than rural counterparts, as confirmed through measured inflammatory biomarkers. Inflammation plays a direct role in disrupting the skin barrier, causing heightened reactivity to environmental stressors and discomfort.
The study also demonstrated that oxidative stress—a biological response triggered by UV exposure and pollution—was consistently higher in sensitive skin. Sensitive individuals in urban settings showed a 16% rise in oxidative stress markers compared with non-sensitive skin. This finding suggests oxidative stress fundamentally drives sensitive skin. Researchers observed elevated oxidative stress levels across all sensitive skin groups, regardless of location, emphasising its central role in the condition’s biology.
Furthermore, visible long-term damage was identified through a higher prevalence of dark spots associated with photoaging in participants with sensitive skin. The findings reinforce environmental stressors’ cumulative impact on skin integrity and appearance, linking modern lifestyle pressures to accelerated skin aging.
Industry implications
The findings elevate sensitive skin from a subjective concern to a measurable condition with distinct biological markers. The dermatology and skincare industry gains a new scientific foundation to advance diagnosis, develop targeted treatments, and actively educate consumers. The evidence highlights the need for innovation as companies formulate products that address the compounded effects of pollution, stress, and oxidative damage.
Galderma presents five additional sensitive skin abstracts and hosts educational sessions featuring Cetaphil®, its flagship brand in the gentle skincare segment.
Galderma drives dermatology forward, fosters global collaboration, and delivers meaningful solutions for the growing sensitive skin population through such initiatives.