While sensitive skin is not a formal medical diagnosis, it is becoming increasingly common for individuals, especially women, to describe themselves as having sensitive skin.
Because the symptoms are primarily subjective, it is difficult to obtain definitive data about prevalence. However, it is estimated that overall, 60-70% of women and 50-60% of men report having some degree of sensitive skin1. Around 9% of people worldwide claim to have 'very sensitive skin'2.
In Europe, 74% of women and 38% of men reported some degree of sensitivity1. In urban China, a 2009 study reported 39% of women and only 12% of men had experienced sensitive skin3. There is limited data for Australia, but one study found 51% of Australian men had experienced sensitive skin of the face1.