India, Aug. 21 -- There was a time when a little stinging after applying a cream was something most people ignored. Today, burning after a serum, redness after cleansing, itching after sunscreen, or sudden intolerance to a previously familiar product are increasingly common complaints in dermatology clinics. The science tells us that sensitive skin is far from a niche concern. A nationwide Indian epidemiological study found that 32.4% of Indians reported having sensitive or very sensitive skin, including 27.9% of men and 36.7% of women. Importantly, this was a self-reported measure, so it should not be interpreted as a clinical diagnosis. It does establish the scale of the phenomenon.

Sensitive skin is now understood as a complex interac...