Abstract:

Introduction: Sensitive skin is one of the small fiber neuropathies that significantly affects the quality of life with its accompanying comorbidities. Our aim in this study was to determine the frequency of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and/or fibromyalgia that may accompany sensitive skin. Methods: Nine hundred and ninety-two female physicians participated in the study online with a questionnaire organized with the hybrid method. The study was conducted on female physicians with all three diseases (sensitive skin, fibromyalgia, and IBS) via a link using a Google form through WhatsApp, e-mail, and social media. The interviewed participants; for the diagnosis of IBS according to the Rome III criteria about chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits and for the diagnosis of FMS according to the criterion suggested by Wolfe et al. about generalized pain and its characteristics, were asked to answer questions. Results: Participants with sensitive skin declared that they had fibromyalgia (15.0%) and IBS (14.6%). The prevalence of fibromyalgia and IBS was significantly higher in “moderately sensitive” and “very sensitive” patients than in others (p=0.017 and p=0.008). Conclusion: In those with sensitive skin, care should be taken in terms of other disorders that may accompany sensitive skin and have a common pathogenesis with sensitive skin.

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