Patent ID: 8100830

Claim:
A non-therapeutic method of evaluating the level of skin neurosensitivity of an adult individual to a capsaicinoid, the method comprising: 1) applying to a skin area of the individual a first composition comprising a physiologically acceptable vehicle that is an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solution and a peripheral nervous system stimulant that is a capsaicinoid, the concentration of the stimulant being between 1×10 −5 % and 1×10 −3 % by weight relative to the total weight of the composition; 2) recording whether the individual detects an unattractive sensation; 3) if no sensation is detected by the individual, repeating steps 1) and 2) with a composition containing a higher concentration of the same stimulant until the individual detects an unattractive sensation or until a composition containing a maximum concentration value of the stimulant is applied; and 4) deducing, from the last concentration applied, information regarding the skin neurosensitivity of the individual, wherein the aqueous-ethanolic solution contains from 8% to 15% ethanol in water, wherein the unattractive sensation perceived is scored on a scale of 0 to 5, wherein 0 represents no sensation, 1 represents very slight sensation, 2 represents slight sensation, 3 represents moderate sensation, 4 represents substantial sensation, and 5 represents painful sensation, and wherein an individual is declared to have sensitive skin if the score is greater than or equal to 5 after 5 minutes or if a moderate sensation is perceived during the first three minutes.