The world population is very diverse, containing many types of skins. Lifestyles and stressful environment influence the status of different skin categories and can cause fragility of epidermis. A variety of dermatological procedure aim at resurfacing the stratum corneum and sometimes further layers of the epidermis. This epidemiologic study was set up to assess the prevalence of perceived Fragile skin across different skin types in a general adult population in 7 countries (Russia, Mexico, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Hong-Kong, Brazil) and to identify skin characteristics associated with perceived Fragile skin
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A cross-sectional subject survey was conducted in 7 countries on a representative sample of 600 adult individuals. This online questionnaire, based on quota method on gender, age and geographical regions, was self-administered. Descriptive statistics were performed globally but also by gender, age category and perceived fragile skin.
Findings: Across the world, dermatological procedures are democratizing but at a different rate. For example, Brazil has one of the highest frequencies of dermatological acts during the past 12 months. Peelings, lasers, dermabrasions, all these procedures are more performed in Brazil than in the other countries. Hong-Kong also has an important frequency of lasers during the past 12 months. Other countries such as Germany have a low rate of dermatological acts. This epidemiologic study allowed us to determine the perception of fragile across the world. It was more frequent in Hong-Kong and Brazil, respectively 65.5% and 64.7% and less frequent in Germany.
Conclusion & Significance: Fragile skin prevalence in the world is variable, ranging from 65.5% in Hong-Kong to 23.5% in Germany. The results show that countries in which people frequently perform dermatological acts also have a higher perception of fragile skin. Thus, this study confirms that dermatological acts cause fragility of the epidermis.
