Asian J Beauty Cosmetol. 2012; 10(1): 15-23.
Antioxidant Status of Serum by the Wellness Index of the Skin in the Middle Aged Women
ABSTRACT
This study was performed to analyse the relationship between facial skin condition and serum antioxidant
status in 60 female subjects. The skin pore size, roughness, level of pigmentation, and degree of wrinkles
were determined and the Wellness Index (WI) was calculated. 20 females with 14-22 points were put into
High Wellness group (HW), 19 females with 23-27 points were put into Medium Wellness group (MW),
and 21 females who had 28-32 or more points were put into Low Wellness group (LW). Their living habits,
moisture of facial skin, sebum content, and antioxidant status of serum were then compared. The result of
the HW group showed that they had desirable living habits including eating habits. Also they had high content
of facial skin moisture and sebum (p<.0001), low portion of keratin (p<.05), and high elasticity (p<.05). The
total antioxidant status (TAS) concentration in blood was highest (p<.05) and the superoxide dismutase
(SOD) concentration was lowest in the HW group (p<.001). Catalase (CAT) was highest in the HW group
showing significant difference with the LW group which showed lowest CAT concentration (p<.05). The HW
group showed rich in facial moisture, had less amount of keratinous tissue (dead skin cells), and had high
elasticity. In addition, the concentration of TAS and CAT were also high in HW group. The relationship among
the factors malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzyme, and TAS with the condition of skin showed that as
the concentration of antioxidant enzyme and TAS increased the moisture and sebum of facial skin. For such
results, desirable antioxidant nutrient condition affect as an affirmative factor to keep healthy skin.
Keywords :
Living habits, Skin moisture, Sebum, Wellness index, Antioxidant enzyme