title: A preliminary investigation of the impact of oily skin on quality of life and concordance of self-perceived skin oiliness and skin surface lipids (sebum).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This preliminary study investigated both the impact of oily skin on quality of life (QoL) and the agreement between subjective oily skin self-assessment and objective skin surface sebum measurement in young to middle-aged Chinese women in Beijing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 18-item Chinese version of the Oily Skin Self-Image Questionnaire (OSSIQ) was used to assess the impact of oily skin on QoL in 300 healthy female subjects (age groups: 20-25; 26-30; 31-35,). The subjects were divided equally into the oily skin group and the non-oily skin group based on their self-perception of skin oiliness. The level of skin surface lipids (SSL) was measured on the middle of the forehead, and both cheeks using the Sebumeter(®). In order to assess the agreement between self-perceived skin oiliness and measured SSL, we tentatively used the SSL median value as a dividing point to regroup all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that the Chinese version of the OSSIQ distinguished the oily skin group from the non-oily skin group. Subjects in the oily skin group had significant higher emotional status score and behavior score when compared with subjects in the non-oily skin group. Subjects in the oily skin group had higher SSL when compared with subjects in the non-oily skin group, especially in younger age groups. The agreement between self-perceived skin oiliness and measured SSL was moderately strong in younger age groups, and declined with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results strongly suggest that having oily skin can cause a significant negative impact on QoL among Chinese women. The Chinese version of the OSSIQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the impact of oily skin on QoL. The accuracy of oily skin self-assessment declines with age.
authors: Department of dermatology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Niu
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Zhong
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Zhen
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Saint-Leger
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Verschoore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012629:Sebum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chinese women; oily skin; oily skin image questionnaire; quality of life; skin surface lipids