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Pathophysiological Study of the Sensitive Scalp
Sponsor: University Hospital, Brest
Summary
Sensitive skin is defined as a syndrome manifested by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations (tingling, burning, pain, pins and needles) in response to stimuli that should not normally cause them. These unpleasant sensations cannot be explained by lesions attributable to a specific skin disease. Sensitive skin can affect different parts of the body. The scalp is a site that is often affected, with specificity linked in particular to the presence of hair and different triggering factors (styling habits, wearing of head coverings, application of cosmetics to the scalp, etc.). Sensitive scalp affects around half the population, and can have an impact on the quality of life of sufferers, particularly those whose symptoms are very intense. Women are more likely than men to have a sensitive scalp, so in order to have a more homogenous study population, we chose to include 40 women. The pathophysiology of sensitive skin is imperfectly understood, and studies specific to the sensitive scalp are very rare. However, the pathophysiology of the sensitive scalp could be different because it is a hairy area, more innervated, and less exposed to environmental factors.
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2026-01-28
Completion Date
2027-01
Last Updated
2026-03-20
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
A scalp biopsy using a 4 mm punch in the retroauricular hair zone
a scalp biopsy using a 4 mm punch in the retroauricular hair zone under local anesthesia
a general health questionnaire
a general health questionnaire : demographics, history, treatment, smoking, alcohol consumption, phototype.
Questionnaires concerning their sensitive scalp
* The characteristics of a sensitive scalp (location, chronicity, triggering and soothing factors, use of cosmetics, etc.) * Sensitive Scalp Score (3S) * Impact on quality of life: BoSS questionnaire * Impact of pruritus on quality of life (ItchyQol)
Locations (1)
Chu Brest
Brest, France