ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many studies about the skin elastic properties have been performed until now using diverse methods. Suction methods using Dermaflex and Cutometer are most prevalently used. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to obtain the normal range of skin elastic properties using Cutometer and to know the correlation between the data of Cutometer and those of Dermaflex. METHODS: Eleven different anatomical sites were measured in 46 healthy young volunteers (M:=23:3) by Cutometer. The same anatomical sites were also measured by Dermaflex in sixteen volunteers(M:=8:). RESULTS: When measured by Cutometer, skin elasticity and distensibility were generally higher in the central part of the body than the distal portion, showing the distal gradient. There were differences according to sexes and a part of them were significant. When we compared Cutometer with Dermaflex, they were closely related to each other in the data about distensibility, there was a weak correlation in the data of elasticity. No correlation was detected between Cutometer and Dermaflex in the data about hysteresis. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the Korean standard values of elastic properties in their twenties by Cutometer. The values measured by Cutometer and Dermaflex were not interchangeable although they were the same in the aspect of theoretical concept. These features should be considered in the future study measuring skin elastic properties.