Baumann Skin Type in the Korean Female Population

Abstract

Background: To meet the need for a subspecialized skin type system, the Baumann skin type (BST) system was proposed.

Objective: To evaluate the distribution of BST types and influencing factors among Korean women.

Methods: BST questionnaires were administered to 1,000 Korean women. The possible responses were as follows: oily (O) or dry (D), sensitive (S) or resistant (R), pigmented (P) or non-pigmented (N), and wrinkled (W) or tight (T). The correlations of the BST with the subjects' age, location, ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure, drinking and smoking habits, and blood type were assessed.

Results: The OSNT, DSNT, DRNT, and OSNW skin types were the most common skin types (55.3%). The O, S, P, and W types accounted for 46.6%, 68.8%, 23.2%, and 31.9%, respectively. The proportion of the O and S type was the highest in Gyeongsangbuk-do (55.0%) and Seoul (77.2%). The proportion of the P and W type was the highest in Gyeongsangbuk-do (33.0%) and Chungcheong-do (39.0%). The O type decreased in the higher age group, whereas the P and W type showed a reversed tendency. In smokers, the proportion of W type was significantly higher than in the non-smokers (66.3% vs. 24.1%, p<0.05).

Conclusion: The 4 most common BST types were OSNT, DSNT, DRNT, and OSNW. In the comparison across the 4 BST parameters according to the age, region, smoking and drinking habits, occupation, blood type, and UV exposure, significant differences were observed. Individualized and customized skin care is required according to the personal skin type.

Keywords: 4 Parameters; Baumann skin type; Korean women; Surveys and questionnaires.

Fig. 1. The nationwide distribution of the Baumann skin type in the Korean female population. The proportion of each skin type is arranged in a clockwise, decreasing manner. Of the 16 Baumann skin types, the top 4 types account for >50%. O: oily, D: dry, S: sensitive, R: resistant, P: pigmented, N: non-pigmented, W: wrinkled, T: tight.

Fig. 2. The distribution of the Baumann skin type according to region. (A) Seoul, (B) Gyeonggi-do/Incheon, (C) Gyeongsangnam-do, (D) Jeolla-do, (E) Gyeongsangbuk-do, (F) Chungcheong-do, (G) Gangwon-do, and (H) Jeju-do. ORNT and DRNT accounted for approximately 40% in most of the regions, except Jeolla-do. In Jeolla-do, the proportion of DRNT was twice that of the other regions, and that of DSNT was half that of the other regions. O: oily, D: dry, S: sensitive, R: resistant, P: pigmented, N: non-pigmented, W: wrinkled, T: tight.

Fig. 3. The distribution of the Baumann skin type according to age. (A) Twenties, (B) thirties, (C) forties, and (D) fifties. The proportion of OSNT showed a decreasing tendency as the age of the survey participants increased. O: oily, D: dry, S: sensitive, R: resistant, P: pigmented, N: non-pigmented, W: wrinkled, T: tight.

Fig. 4. The distributions of the oily and dry, sensitive and resistant, pigmented and non-pigmented, and wrinkled and tight skin types among Korean women.

Fig. 5. Comparison of the Baumann skin type in the northern and southern parts of South Korea. The proportion of the sensitive types was higher in the region with a latitude of <37 degree (^*p=0.041). The proportions of the oily, wrinkled, and pigmented types were higher in the region with a latitude of <37 degree but the differences did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05).

Fig. 6. Distribution of Baumann skin type according to use of sunscreen, drinking, smoking, and professional ultraviolet exposure. The proportion of oily type was significantly higher in drinkers and smokers, and the proportion of wrinkled type was 2.75 times higher in smokers (^*p<0.05).