Abstract
Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) often present with dry skin, and the reduced secretion of sebum may be responsible for the impaired skin barrier function. A sebum check film enables the patient to self-evaluate the skin sebum content. This study compared the sebum check film with a sebumeter. The skin sebum content of the forehead was measured using a sebum check film and a sebumeter. The findings of the sebum content of healthy controls showed that the sebum dot fields on the sebum check film were significantly correlated with the sebum content measured using the sebumeter (r = 0.774, p < 0.001). In addition, the sebum fields on the sebum check film of AD patients (n = 26) were significantly less than those on the sebum check film of the controls (n = 30; p < 0.05). Furthermore, the analysis of the sebum fields on the sebum check film of the AD patients was significantly correlated with their sebum content findings that were obtained using a sebumeter (r = 0.592, p < 0.01). These findings indicate that the sebum check film is easy to use for measuring the sebum secretion and is suitable for self-checking the sebum contents by AD patients for daily skin care.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Epprecht R (1955) Elektrometrische Messungen mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Säureneutralisation. Dermatologica 111(4):204–223
Firooz A, Gorouhi F, Davari P, Atarod M, Hekmat S, Rashighi-Firoozabadi M, Solhpour A (2007) Comparison of hydration, sebum and pH values in clinically normal skin of patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy controls. Clin Exp Dermatol 32(3):321–322
Leung DY, Boguniewicz M, Howell MD, Nomura I, Hamid QA (2004) New insights into atopic dermatitis. J Clin Invest 113(5):651–657
Leung DY (2001) Atopic dermatitis and the immune system: the role of superantigens and bacteria. J Am Acad Dermatol 45(1 Suppl):S13–S16
Sator PG, Schmidt JB, Hönigsmann H (2003) Comparison of epidermal hydration and skin surface lipids in healthy individuals and in patients with atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 48(3):352–358
Takigawa H, Nakagawa H, Kuzukawa M, Mori H, Imokawa G (2005) Deficient production of hexadecenoic acid in the skin is associated in part with the vulnerability of atopic dermatitis patients to colonization by Staphylococcus aureus. Dermatology 211(3):240–248
Conflict of interest
We certify that we do not have any affiliation with or financial involvement in any organization or entity with direct financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in the article (for example, employment, consultancies, stock ownership and honoraria) except Hamade, and Yokoi are Life Care R&D Inc. employees.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Furuichi, M., Makino, T., Matsunaga, K. et al. The usefulness of sebum check film for measuring the secretion of sebum. Arch Dermatol Res 302, 657–660 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-010-1076-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-010-1076-x