Key Takeaways:
A recent Galderma study showed that urban living has a biological effect on sensitive skin. For people with sensitive skin, it isn’t just a concern; it now has a measurable biological profile that city living is exacerbating.
New findings from a Galderma-sponsored, real-world study conducted in China revealed that women with sensitive skin experienced inflammation three times more frequently than the average person without sensitive skin, and notably, higher levels of oxidative stress compared to those in traditional living environments. The study, which involved 150 women ages 35-50, was presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2025 in September.
With 70% of people worldwide having sensitive skin and reported cases have surged past 70% in recent years, researchers have drawn conclusions about why that is, citing modern day factors such as air pollution, disruptions in sleep, and chronic stress can make sensitive skin worse off.
The study divided the subjects into three different groups. Sensitive skin in urban environments, sensitive skin in traditional/less urban environments, and nonsensitive skin in urban environments. Researchers employed a method called tape stripping to analyze the outer layer of skin, utilizing biological markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and visible skin changes.
The results were direct: Women with sensitive skin in modern environments had an elevated amount of prostaglandin E2, a marker of inflammation, and around 16% more oxidative stress than women without sensitive skin. Women with sensitive skin in these urban environments were also found to have more dark spots and clear signs of photoaging and environmental damage.
“This research confirms that sensitive skin is a distinct biological condition, not just a perception,” said Aaron Farberg, MD, a member of Galderma’s Global Sensitive Skincare Faculty (GSSF). “Our findings highlight how modern stressors accelerate damage and why skincare must evolve to meet these needs.”
The study, conducted through the GSSF, an interdisciplinary network of international experts, is dedicated to improving the dermatological understanding of sensitive skin.
