title: Novel facial cosmetic area 'O zone' shows unique characteristics in sebum excretion and acne lesion distribution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We usually divided cosmetic facial zone into the T zone and U zone by the level of sebum secretion. Our recent studies suggested that the perioral area showed different characteristics in the aspect of acne development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the unique characteristics of the O zone (perioral area) among the three facial areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 102 patients clinically diagnosed as acne vulgaris were included. The acne lesions were counted from the clinical digital photographs by facial areas. The sebum level was measured using Sebumeter(®) . Area-weighted (AW) sebum and AW density of three areas of face were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed according to age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the mean AW sebum level between the gender and age groups. Male has higher AW density of acne lesions than female at the O zone. The mean AW density of acne lesions on the NT zone, U zone, and whole face showed decrease by age, but at the O zone, 21-30 years group showed the highest mean AW density of acne.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age- and gender-matched patients do not represent the whole acne patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggested that the O zone is an independent facial zone, which showed a moderate-to-high sebum secreting area, maintained the acne lesions development by age, and predominated acne lesions in the male acne patients than female acne patients. Therefore, the O zone should be separated from the usual cosmetic T zone, and NT zone should replace the old T zone.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Korea.
authors: Sung Hwan
authors: SH
authors: Youn
authors: Chong Won
authors: CW
authors: Choi
authors: Jae Woo
authors: JW
authors: Choi
authors: Bo Ri
authors: BR
authors: Kim
authors: Sang Young
authors: SY
authors: Byun
authors: Sang Woong
authors: SW
authors: Youn
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: O zone; T zone; U zone; acne; age; gender; sebum; sebumeter®