RT Book, Section
A1 Baumann, Leslie
A2 Baumann, Leslie
A2 Saghari, Sogol
A2 Weisberg, Edmund
SR Print(0)
ID 1172446593
T1 Burning and Stinging Skin (Type 3 Sensitive Skin)
T2 Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice, 2e
YR 2009
FD 2009
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071490627
LK dermatology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1172446593
RD 2024/04/19
AB A  subset  of  people  feel  stinging  and  burning  when  exposed  to  certain  skin  care  products.  These  people  have  traditionally  been  called  “stingers”  since  Kligman  coined  the  term  in  1977.  This  skin  type  has  also  been  called  reactive  skin,  hyperreactive  skin,  intolerant  skin,  or  irritable  skin.  In  the  Baumann  Skin  Typing  System,  stingers  are  designated  as  having  Baumann  S3  sensitive  skin  (see  Chapter  9);  the  “3”  denotes  burners  and  stingers  rather  than  other  types  of  sensitive  skin  that  develop  such  as  acne  (S1),  rosacea  (S2),  or  contact  dermatitis  (S4).  One  patient  can  demonstrate  one  to  four  different  types  of  sensitive  skin.  For  example,  many  rosacea  (S2)  patients  are  also  burners  and  stingers  (S3).  Although  this  skin  type  is  referred  to  as  stingers  in  the  context  of  applying  chemical  factors  such  as  skin  care  ingredients,  this  skin  type  also  includes  those  who  feel  the  onset  of  a  prickling,  tingling  sensation,  or  slight  pain  because  of  physical  factors  such  as  ultraviolet  radiation,  heat,  cold,  and  wind.  Psychologic  stress  or  hormonal  factors  such  as  menstruation  may  play  a  role  as  well.  It  is  important  to  know  a  patient’s  susceptibility  to  S3  sensitive  skin  because  this  may  lead  to  noncompliance  with  certain  medications  and  vehicles  that  cause  discomfort  to  the  patient.  Finacea  is  an  example  of  a  rosacea  medication  that  causes  stinging  in  a  small  proportion  of  users.  Retin  A  Micro  contains  benzyl  alcohol  (a  derivative  of  benzoic  acid)  that  can  cause  stinging  in  certain  people.  This  chapter  will  discuss  what  is  known  about  the  mechanisms  of  burning  and  stinging,  what  ingredients  are  most  likely  to  cause  it,  and  how  to  identify  a  potential  “stinger.”