Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin (SS), also known as sensitive skin syndrome, refers to highly reactive, poorly tolerant, or allergy-prone skin. It is a skin condition characterized by subjective sensations triggered by susceptibility to various factors. Clinical manifestations are predominantly subjective and include tightness, irritation, burning, pain, and itching. There may be no objective skin lesions or clinical or histological evidence of skin disease; occasionally, erythema, dryness, or wheals may occur.
There is no corresponding disease name for sensitive skin in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); it may be considered in relation to patterns such as wind-induced pruritus, occult rashes, and powder-flower sores.
TCM Pattern Identification and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
With damp-heat accumulation, there is usually a subjective sensation of heat and itching. After exposure to external irritants, the skin may readily develop erythema, papules, and vesicles, or even erosions with oozing. This may be accompanied by irritability, dry mouth, a bitter taste, constipation, dark yellow urine, a red tongue with a yellow, greasy coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The skin often feels hot or burning and itchy.
- After exposure to external irritants, the skin may develop red patches, small bumps, or small blisters. In severe cases, the skin may break down and ooze fluid.
- You may feel restless or irritable.
- Your mouth may feel dry, making you feel that you need a drink.
- You may have a bitter taste in your mouth, which can be more noticeable in the morning and evening.
- Your stools may be hard and difficult to pass.
- Your urine may look more yellow or reddish and darker than usual.
- Your tongue may look redder than usual.
- Your tongue coating may be yellow and greasy, appearing thick and sticky.
- Your pulse may feel smooth and faster than usual.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear heat and drain dampness
In Plain Language:
- May help clear internal heat and ease discomfort such as feeling hot and restless, thirst, dry throat, or a sore throat.
- May help promote the elimination of dampness and ease symptoms such as a heavy sensation in the body, difficulty urinating, or swelling in the lower limbs.
|Related Formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Intense itching that worsens with scratching and heat but eases with cooling; flushed, hot skin; irritability and thirst; yellow urine; dry, hard stools; a red tongue with a thin yellow coating; and a floating, rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The skin is very itchy; scratching makes it worse. Heat aggravates it, while cool conditions bring relief.
- The skin may become flushed and feel hot or burning.
- You may feel restless and thirsty.
- Your urine may look yellow.
- Your stools may be hard and difficult to pass.
- Your tongue may look red.
- Your tongue coating may be thin and yellow.
- Your pulse may feel superficial and faster than usual.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Dispel wind and clear heat
In Plain Language:
- May help dispel wind and clear internal heat, easing discomfort such as fever, headache, sore throat, thirst, or restlessness.
- May help ease discomfort associated with wind-heat and promote a feeling of comfort.
|Related Formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
The skin is prone to itching, papules, and vesicles. The rash may be slightly red or skin-colored; scratching can lead to erosion and considerable oozing. Other features may include abdominal distension after eating, fatigue, abdominal bloating, loose stools, a pale tongue with a white, greasy coating, and a wiry, moderate pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Your skin may itch easily and develop small raised bumps or blisters that are slightly red or close to your skin tone.
- Scratching may cause the skin to break down and ooze fluid.
- Your abdomen may feel full after eating and may often feel bloated.
- You may feel tired and lacking in energy.
- Your stools may be loose.
- Your tongue may look pale.
- Your tongue coating may be white and greasy.
- Your pulse may feel tense and relatively slow.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Strengthen the Spleen and transform dampness
In Plain Language:
- May help support Spleen and Stomach function and digestion, easing poor appetite, fatigue, abdominal bloating, or loose stools.
- May help transform and eliminate dampness, easing symptoms such as a heavy sensation in the body, difficulty urinating, or swelling in the lower limbs.
|Related Formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
More common in older adults. The skin may be dry, rough, or flaky, with a dull complexion and pigmentation. Itching may lead to numerous scratch marks and bleeding. Other features may include dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia with vivid dreams, abdominal bloating after meals, constipation or loose stools, a pale, enlarged tongue with a white coating, and a fine pulse.
In Plain Language:
- This pattern is more common in older adults.
- The skin may be dry and rough or may flake.
- The complexion may look dull.
- The skin may darken, with areas of pigmentation.
- The skin may itch, prompting you to scratch.
- Scratching may leave numerous marks that bleed.
- You may feel dizzy or have blurred vision.
- You may sleep poorly, with insomnia and vivid dreams.
- Your abdomen may feel full after eating.
- Your stools may be either hard or loose.
- Your tongue may look pale and enlarged.
- Your tongue coating may be white.
- Your pulse may feel fine.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Nourish the blood and moisten the skin; dispel wind and relieve itching
In Plain Language:
- May help nourish the blood and moisturize the skin, easing discomfort such as a sallow complexion, dry skin, or flaking.
- May help dispel wind and ease itching, including symptoms such as skin rashes, severe itching, or repeated scratching.
|Related Formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
The complexion may be bright red or purplish red. The skin may feel hot and itchy, with symptoms worsening at night. The lips may be dry and chapped; there may be thirst without much desire to drink, hard stools, scant dark urine, a deep-red tongue with little coating, and a rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Your face may look bright red or purplish red.
- Your skin may feel hot or burning and very itchy.
- Symptoms may worsen at night and feel more uncomfortable.
- Your lips may feel very dry and chapped.
- You may feel thirsty but have little desire to drink.
- Your stools may be hard and difficult to pass.
- You may pass only a small amount of dark yellow or reddish urine.
- Your tongue may look deep red.
- Your tongue may have very little coating.
- Your pulse may be faster than usual.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear heat and cool the blood
In Plain Language:
- May help clear internal heat and cool the blood, easing discomfort such as feeling hot and restless, thirst, dry throat, or skin redness.
- May help ease manifestations associated with blood-heat, such as bleeding spots, skin rashes, or restlessness.
|Related Formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Exposure to cold wind may readily cause wheals and itching. The person may feel cold, catch colds easily, have little thirst, a pale tongue with a white coating, and a weak pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Cold wind may cause raised welts and itching.
- You may feel cold and uncomfortable after becoming chilled.
- You may catch colds easily.
- You may not feel very thirsty.
- Your tongue may look pale.
- Your tongue coating may be white.
- Your pulse may feel weak.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Dispel wind and secure the exterior
In Plain Language:
- May help dispel wind and strengthen the body’s exterior defenses, easing discomfort such as headache, body aches, aversion to wind and cold, or spontaneous sweating.
- May help consolidate the body’s exterior defenses and support resistance to external pathogens, potentially reducing recurrent colds or abnormal sweating.
|Related Formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Dry skin, hot flashes at night, flushed cheeks, weight loss, night sweats, thirst, fatigue, shortness of breath, dry stools, yellow urine, a red tongue with little coating, and a fine, rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Your skin may feel dry, tight, or flaky.
- You may experience hot flashes at night, which become more noticeable after dark.
- Your cheeks may look flushed.
- You may be thin or have lost weight.
- You may sweat during sleep at night.
- You may feel very thirsty and want to drink water.
- You may tire easily and lack energy.
- You may feel short of breath, especially when speaking or moving around.
- Your stools may be dry and difficult to pass.
- Your urine may look darker yellow than usual.
- Your tongue may look red and have little coating.
- Your pulse may feel fine and rapid, with a relatively weak beat.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Tonify qi and nourish yin
In Plain Language:
- May help replenish qi and nourish yin, easing symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, restlessness, thirst, hot flashes, or night sweats.
- May help support a weakened constitution and improve signs associated with energy and fluid depletion.
|Related Formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Rashes and itching often begin several days before menstruation. Symptoms commonly resolve after menstruation ends, but recur before the next period. This may be accompanied by irregular menstruation or menstrual cramps; the tongue may appear normal or pale, and the pulse may be wiry and fine or wiry and slippery.
In Plain Language:
- A rash and itching often develop in the days before your period and commonly resolve after it ends.
- The symptoms, especially itching, may return before your next period.
- You may also have irregular periods or lower abdominal pain during menstruation.
- Your tongue may look normal or pale.
- Your pulse may feel wiry and fine, or wiry and slippery.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Regulate the Chong and Ren vessels
In Plain Language:
- May help regulate the functions of the Chong and Ren vessels, easing irregular menstruation, abnormal vaginal discharge, or related reproductive symptoms.
- May help harmonize the circulation of qi and blood and support balance in reproductive and restorative functions.
|Related Formulas
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Chinese Association of Dermatologists. Epidemiological survey of sensitive skin in China[J]. Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2011(2).
- Berardesca E，Cespa M，Farinelli N，et al. In vivo transcutaneous penetration of nicotinates and sensitive skin[J]. Contact Dermatitis，1991，25(1)：35-38.
- Berardesca E，Farage M，Maibach H. Sensitive skin：an overview[J]. Int J Cosmet Sci，2013，35(1)：2-8.
- Song Mingxian, Yang Ming. Newly Compiled National Chinese Patent Medicines[M]. 2nd ed. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2011.
- Editorial Committee for the Clinical Application and Prescription Collection of National Essential Medicines. Guidelines for the Clinical Application of National Essential Medicines[M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2013.