Transepidermal water loss, temperature and sebum levels on women's facial skin follow characteristic patterns.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the biophysical properties of different facial zones. METHODS: We investigated transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin temperature and sebum casual level (CL) on 90 adjacent test sites distributed on the forehead, cheeks and chin of five women. RESULTS: All three parameters showed a symmetrical distribution around the facial median line. Only minor variations of individual values were found within the forehead and the chin areas. In contrast, the cheeks exhibited a distinct gradient with highest values in the paranasal zones and lowest on the cheek bones for all of the three parameters. The mean values on both cheeks of a given individual were nearly identical, and the patterns within the two cheeks were superimposable. Both CL and skin temperature distributions pointed out a "T-zone" with highest values on the forehead, on the chin and on the median part of the cheek. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that biophysical skin properties differ considerably between different facial areas but that they follow a characteristic distribution.
Lopez
Sabine
S
CEntre de Recherches et d'Investigations Epidermiques et Sensorielles (CE.R.I.E.S.), Neuilly sur Seine, France and; Department of Dermatology, Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria.
Le Fur
Isabelle
I
Morizot
Frédérique
F
Heuvin
Guylaine
G
Guinot
Christiane
C
Tschachler
Erwin
E