Environmental and lifestyle determinants of skin ageing: Association between skin dryness and dyspigmentation in Chinese women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and classify the effects of seasonal and environmental variations on skin ageing features-specifically pigmentation disorders and dryness-in vivo in an Asian female population. METHODS: The skin characteristics of 200 Chinese women aged 20-70 years, residing in rural (YiXing) and urban (Shanghai) areas, were assessed during two representative seasons-late winter (March) and early summer (June)-to explore the relationship between seasonal or environmental variations and skin ageing manifestations. Phototype was classified using the Fitzpatrick Scale; dyspigmentation was rated with a six-grade photographic scale; and dryness was evaluated using both self-reported and expert-administered questionnaires. Statistical analyses examined associations between dyspigmentation and dryness, stratified by locality and season. RESULTS: Dyspigmentation and skin dryness were significantly more prevalent among rural participants in both March and June. Skin dryness was more marked in winter, suggesting a relatively short-term (from daily to monthly) evolution due to external conditions such as cold weather. On the opposite, dyspigmentation showed little seasonal variation-a pattern more consistent with a dependence on cumulative exposure rather than on short-term seasonal changes. A statistically significant correlation was observed between skin dryness and dyspigmentation across localities and seasons. CONCLUSION: This study identifies a significant correlation between skin dryness and dyspigmentation in Chinese women, consistent across localities and seasons. Both parameters were also influenced by seasonal and lifestyle factors, supporting their potential as morphological markers of the exposome's impact on skin health and ageing in both rural and urban settings. Further research, including in vitro models, is needed to elucidate the mechanisms potentially linking skin dryness and dyspigmentation.