• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.248-254
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• 2023

This study aims to measure the skin rigidity of different facial areas among Koreans and propose guidelines for each area's skin rigidity that can be applied with a facial robot for testing respiratory protective devices. The facial skin rigidity of 40 participants, which included 20 men and 20 women, aged 20 to 50, was analyzed. The rigidity measurement was conducted in 13 facial areas, including six areas in contact with the mask and seven non-contact areas, by referring to the facial measurement guidelines of Size Korea. The facial rigidity was measured using the Durometer RX-1600-OO while in a supine position. The measurement procedure involved contacting the durometer vertically with the reference point, repeating the measurement of the same area five times, and using the average of three values whose variability was between 0.4 and 4.2 Shore OO. The rigidity data analysis used precision analysis, descriptive statistics analysis, and mixed-effect ANOVA. The analysis confirmed the rigidity of the 13 measurement areas, with the highest rigidity of the face being at the nose and forehead points, with values of 51.2 and 50.8, respectively, and the lowest rigidity being at the chin and center of the cheek points, with values of 19.2 and 20.7, respectively. Significant differences between gender groups were observed in four areas: the tip of the nose, the point below the chin, the area below the lower jaw, and the inner concha.