A research team led by professor Lee Yang-won at Konkuk University Medical Center revealed on Tuesday that around 57 percent of South Koreans believe their facial skin is sensitive, after conducting a survey of 1,000 South Koreans over 15 years of age. (Image: Kobiz Media)
SEOUL Dec. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – A new study has found 6 in 10 South Koreans believe they have sensitive facial skin, one of the highest figures in the world.
A research team led by professor Lee Yang-won at Konkuk University Medical Center revealed on Tuesday that around 57 percent of South Koreans believe their facial skin is sensitive, after conducting a survey of 1,000 South Koreans over 15 years of age.
The researchers argue that the high number of people who identify as having sensitive skin reflects the country’s interest in skin care, caused by improved living conditions and the development of a more sophisticated grooming culture among men.
“The findings show that South Koreans are extremely sensitive about their skin. As interest in this trend often leads to expensive cosmetic products and skin care procedures, people need to seek professional medical help,” said Shim Woo-young, a professor at Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital.
Among the 12 countries that were surveyed, South Koreans had the highest reported levels of sensitive skin, leaving behind the U.S. (44.6 percent), Russia (39.7 percent) and Europe (38.4 percent).
In Japan, 54.5 percent of respondents said they had sensitive skin, just behind South Korea.
Among the respondents who self-diagnosed themselves as having sensitive skin, 14.2 percent said their skin was ‘extremely sensitive’, while 42.6 percent said ‘sensitive’.
Only 1 in 100 people answered they aren’t sure whether their skin is sensitive or not, which the research team says goes to show how serious South Koreans are about their skin.
The study also revealed that more than 7 in 10 people with sensitive skin suffer from another skin condition, and were two to four times more likely to suffer from atopic diseases, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, and facial redness than other people.
People with sensitive skin were also more sensitive to temperature changes, water quality, dry weather, pollution, food, and cosmetics.
At around 64 percent, South Koreans with either oily or dry skin reported their skin to be sensitive.
Around 34 percent of the people who reported having sensitive skin said they had visited a skin clinic within the last year, while the figure stood at 8.1 percent among those with non-sensitive skin.
The research findings were published in the latest edition of international academic journal Skin Research and Technology.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
