Interaction of skin color distribution and skin surface topography cues in the perception of female facial age and health

Background Skin color distribution and skin surface topography are the predominant drivers of the variation in visible skin condition, and this variation affects one’s perception of age and health. Recent research, however, has shown that the strength of the impact of these features on perception differs such that skin surface topography is a stronger indicator of age, while skin color distribution is more strongly linked to health perception. Objectives To examine further the relative contribution and interaction effects of skin color distribution and surface topography cues on perception by considering small changes of these features. Methods Two sets of images were created by gradually smoothing uneven skin color distribution and removing skin surface topography cues (both in 25% increments) in the digital image of the face of a 61‐year‐old British woman. Omnibus pairwise combinations of modified images were presented to a panel of 160 German men and women (aged 19–49 years). With each pair, they were asked to select the face they considered both younger‐looking and healthier. Results Female facial age perception was more strongly affected by the removal of skin surface topography cues than by changes in skin color distribution, particularly so for topography removal of 50% and more. In contrast, the smoothing of uneven skin color distribution had a stronger effect on the perception of female facial health, particularly for changes of 25% and greater. Conclusions These results support previous reports on the differential effects of visible skin color distribution and surface topography cues on the perception of female facial age and health and show that only relatively small changes are necessary to drive this differential perception.     

Visible changes of female facial skin surface topography in relation to age and attractiveness perception

Objectives Evolutionary psychology suggests that a woman’s age and physical appearance are important mate choice criteria. Given that changes in female facial skin surface topography are important, prominent visible signs of aging, male perceptual sensitivity for variation in this trait may also affect preference and attractiveness judgment. Methods Two experiments were conducted to investigate perception (Experiment 1) and noticeability (Experiment 2) of skin surface topography manipulations in facial images of six British women, aged 45–65 years. In Experiment 1 skin surface topography cues were completely removed on the cheeks, the “crow’s feet” area adjacent to the eye, under the eyes, above the upper lip, and on the forehead while, in Experiment 2, it was removed gradually (20% increments) on the forehead and around the eyes. In both experiments, stimuli were presented to American and German participants (total N = 300, aged 15–55 years) in omnibus pair‐wise combinations (within‐face). With each pair, respondents were asked to select that face which they considered as younger looking (Experiments 1 and 2) and more attractive (Experiment 1). Results Faces with skin surface topography cues removed were judged significantly younger and more attractive than their original (unmodified) counterparts, with modifications on the forehead and around the eyes showing the highest differences. In these areas, participants were able to detect at least a 20% visual change in skin surface topography. Conclusions The results support the assertion that even small changes in skin surface topography affect the perceptions of a woman’s facial age and attractiveness and may, thus, also influence men’s mate preferences.     

Visual attention to and perception of undamaged and damaged versions of natural and colored female hair

Female hair color is thought to influence physical attractiveness, and although there is some evidence for this assertion, research has yet not addressed the question if and how physical damaging affects the perception of female hair color. Here we investigate whether people are sensitive (in terms of visual attention and age, health and attractiveness perception) to subtle differences in hair images of natural and colored hair before and after physical damaging. We tracked the eye‐gaze of 50 men and 50 women aged 31–50 years whilst they viewed randomized pairs of images of 20 natural and 20 colored hair tresses, each pair displaying the same tress before and after controlled cuticle damage. The hair images were then rated for perceived health, attractiveness, and age. Undamaged versions of natural and colored hair were perceived as significantly younger, healthier, and more attractive than corresponding damaged versions. Visual attention to images of undamaged colored hair was significantly higher compared with their damaged counterparts, while in natural hair, the opposite pattern was found. We argue that the divergence in visual attention to undamaged colored female hair and damaged natural female hair and associated ratings is due to differences in social perception and discuss the source of apparent visual difference between undamaged and damaged hair.     

The effects of skin colour distribution and topography cues on the perception of female facial age and health

According to evolutionary psychology, the preference for some facial characteristics reflects adaptations for mate choice because they signal aspects of mate quality. Although morphological features such as facial symmetry and sexually dimorphic traits have been studied extensively in recent years, little is known about skin condition in this context. The preferences for young and healthy looking skin could offer an explanation as to why women place such an importance on the condition of their skin and its refinement through e.g., cosmetic products. Recent research showed that facial skin colour distribution significantly influences the perception of age and attractiveness of female faces, independent of skin surface topography cues. However, the relative effect of skin colour distribution and topography cues on age and health perception remains to be investigated. We present data showing that both skin colour distribution and skin surface topography cues not only significantly influence the perception of female facial age and health but also convey differential information with regard to the strength of these effects. Our data indicate that skin surface topography cues account for a large proportion of variation in facial age perception, whereas skin colour distribution seems to be a stronger health cue.     

A study of a method for distribution analysis of skin color

Background/aims: The objective and quantitative assessment of the skin is important in medical and cosmeceutical research. Assessment of color is an important element for analyzing the surface of the skin, which is usually determined subjectively by a doctor or using color analysis devices. These devices, however, cannot provide correct color information because color is construed from the mean value of the observation region, and analysis of color distribution is impossible. The purpose of this paper is to develop an objective analysis method to permit skin color measurement of each pixel unit of an image and analyze the distribution of skin surface color. Methods: The Skin Color Distribution Analyzer (SCDA) is an analysis method newly developed at the Research Institute for Skin Image at Korea University. The SCDA system presented in this paper performed a novel form of quantitative and objective analysis of skin color distribution using each pixel color model parameter found in image wavelength information. In this paper, distribution analysis was conducted on normal skin and skin lesions and skin affected by artificially induced irritant contact dermatitis and pigmented nevous. The method selected a grade using a color model parameter. Twenty healthy Korean males participated in this study. A comparative study of the eight anatomical areas was performed, including the exposure and non‐exposure parts and the medial aspect and the lateral aspect of the forearm. A reliability test for the SCDA system was also conducted with a spectrometer (SPEC) using the color analysis method. Results: Each skin lesion was precisely segmented by grade and each parameter hada different statistical significance for results of analysis of distribution in pigmented nevous and the artificially induced irritant contact dermatitis. Parameters L^*, b^*, a^*, and EI showed salient traits. Showed resemble measured result in the SCDA system and the SPEC of normal skin. The exposed site, in comparison with the non‐exposed site, showed a notable difference in the L^* parameter and a significant statistical difference in the x and z parameters, except b^*. The comparison of the medial and lateral aspects of the forearm showed a notable difference in the L^* parameter and a significant statistical difference in the parameters except y and b^*. In the reliability test result using the SCDA system and the SPEC, the SCDA system was highly reliabile in terms of the CV value in all color model parameters. Conclusions: The color distribution analysis method using the SCDA system has revealed an aspect that the existent method of medical research has not shown, and is considered to be more reliable than other methods. This method can provide better study findings because it can be applied to other fields in addition to the medical science field and the ripple effect is thought to be bigger in other science field too.     

Ageing appearance in China: biophysical profile of facial skin and its relationship to perceived age

Background Perceived age is important to women and is a primary driver for topical product use and facial cosmetic surgery. Changes in facial features and biophysical skin parameters with chronological age and their associations with perceived age have not been described in Asian populations. Objective To investigate the relationship between biophysical properties of the skin, visual features of skin ageing and perceived facial age in Chinese women. Methods Facial photographs were collected of 250 Chinese women, aged 25–70 years in Shanghai, China. The perceived facial age was determined and related to the chronological age for each participant and to a range of visual assessments of skin appearance and objective biophysical measurements of the skin. The profile of changes in these parameters with age was investigated together with the differences in those parameters for women judged to look younger than their chronological age and those judged to look older than their chronological age. Results Large discrepancies in perceived age (up to 29 years) were found in women of the same chronological age. Each objective skin measure and visual assessment parameter had a stronger correlation with perceived age than with chronological age. The strongest relationships to perceived age were for wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Skin colour, hydration and trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL) had weaker associations with perceived age. Women judged to look older than their chronological age had significantly higher scores than those judged to look younger for coarse wrinkles and hyperpigmentation across all age groups. The appearance differences between these groups were evident in composite facial images of the same average chronological age. Conclusions We have identified the skin attributes which differ with perceived age in Chinese women. Perceived age is a better measure of the biological age of facial skin than is chronological age in this population.     

The difference between the constitutive and facultative skin color does not reflect skin phototype in Asian skin

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The assessment of the sensitivity of human skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is important in the area of phototherapy, photodermatoses, photo-aging, photo-carcinogenesis, and photo-protection. Some reports have shown that quantitatively measured skin color is a good indicator for predicting UV sensitivity to human skin in Caucasians. In this study, our aim was to define the correlation between skin color and the skin phototype assessed by the Fitzpatrick method in Asian brown skin. METHODS: A total of 180 medical students with similar life styles were included in this study. Their skin phototype was classified according to the system introduced by Fitzpatrick. Then, using a Minolta Spectrophotometer CM-2002, their skin color was determined on the buttocks and forehead. The buttock color was taken as the constitutive skin color, and the forehead color as the facultative skin color. Using these measured values, we compared the skin color with the skin phototype to find their correlation. Also, we investigated whether the difference between the constitutive and facultative skin colors of each individual had a relationship with his or her skin phototype. RESULTS: The constitutive skin color became darker with increasing skin phototype, and this change was statistically significant. As for the facultative skin color, it also became darker with increasing skin phototype, but was less well correlated with the skin phototype than the constitutive skin color. However, the difference between the constitutive and facultative skin colors did not show consistent results in predicting the skin phototype. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that the constitutive skin color can be a good indicator of the skin phototype. However, the difference between the constitutive and facultative skin colors of each individual does not give any meaningful information for the assessment of his or her skin phototype in Asian skin.     

Relationship between constitutive skin color and ultraviolet light sensitivity in Koreans

The assessment of skin sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is important in treating a variety of skin diseases and preventing the deleterious effects of UV. Although there are many ways to predict the sensitivity to UVR, controversies exist over their objectivity, correlation, and applicability in various races. For the purpose of evaluating the relationship of skin color and UV responsiveness, this study was performed to assess the validity of constitutive skin color for an individual's UV sensitivity in 80 healthy Korean volunteers. The subjects were divided into two groups: a young-aged group with 40 subjects aged 20-39 years and an old-aged group with 40 subjects aged 43-63 years. A minimal erythema dose (MED) of UVB and minimal immediate pigment darkening dose (MIPDD) of UVA were assessed using a fluorescent lamp (Panasol II, National Biologic Co., Twinberg, USA) and a metal-halide lamp (Dermalight 2001, Mutzhas, Munich, Germany), respectively. The constitutive skin color of buttock was measured with a Minolta Chroma Meter CR-300 (Osaka, Japan), using the CIE (Commission International de l'Eclairege) L*a*b* system. Of the three L*a*b*, we used the L* value to estimate the skin color. For the MED and L* values, the values were inversely proportionate (P<0.05) in the young-aged group; however, no correlation existed in the old-aged group. No relationships existed among Fitzpatrick skin type and MED, skin type and MIPDD. The results of this study indicated that the constitutive skin colors in the young-aged group can be an objective and adequate predictor of cutaneous UV sensitivity.     

Assessment of the usefulness of skin phototype and skin color as the parameter of cutaneous narrow band UVB sensitivity in psoriasis patients

BACKGROUND: Many reports have been released to assess skin types, skin colors and cutaneous sensitivity to broad band UVB or UVA. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the usefulness of skin type and skin color as the parameter of narrow band UVB (NBUVB) sensitivity. METHODS: The minimal erythema dose (MED) of 40 psoriasis patients was investigated by irradiating several doses ranging from 200 to 1500 mJ/cm2. Before phototesting, the skin color of buttock was measured with a tristimulus colorimeter. RESULTS: The median and mode value of MED of NBUVB was 950 mJ/cm2. Skin type was well correlated with the MED and there was a significant relationship between the L* value and MED, but not for the a* and b* values. CONCLUSION: The MED value of NBUVB in our study is a basic data to set the phototherapy protocol. Our result showed that skin type and L* value might be useful for predicting the sensitivity to NBUVB irradiation.     

Dermatoses in overweight and obese children and their relationship with insulin and skin color

Background/Aim

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity-related dermatoses in obese children, and the association between these dermatoses and insulin resistance as well as skin color.

Methods

Obese, overweight, and normal weight children according to body mass index who were followed up and treated in the outpatient clinics were included in the study. Dermatological examinations of the participants were performed, and fasting insulin and glucose levels were checked.

Results

The obese and overweight children were evaluated as the patient group (70 girls, 41 boys, mean age: 12.37 ± 3.14 years). One hundred one healthy children with normal weight were determined as the control group (59 girls, 42 boys, mean age: 12.15 ± 2.43). The first five common dermatoses in the patient group when compared with the control group were keratosis pilaris (KP), striae distensae, hyperhidrosis, acanthosis nigricans (AN), and plantar hyperkeratosis. The first five dermatoses which were positively correlated with formation and insulin resistance were KP, striae distensae, AN, hyperhidrosis, and plantar hyperkeratosis. According to the Fitzpatrick skin scale, we found that the darker the skin color, the higher the probability of AN and KP (OR, 0.298; 95% CI, 0.106–0.834, p = 0.021; OR, 0.306; 95% CI, 0.117–0.796, p = 0.015, respectively).

Conclusion

Some dermatoses associated with obesity and insulin resistance were not found in obese children, or there was no significant association. These results indicate that many skin morbidities may be prevented by preventing and treating obesity and insulin resistance in the early period.     

皮肤颜色客观评估方法的比较

目的:通过比较皮肤科学和化妆品研究领域常用的两种皮肤颜色仪器测量方法,为临床和科研提供实际应用指导。方法:应用三刺激值色度计(MinoltaChromameterCR200)和窄谱反射分光光度计(MexameterMX16及MX18)先定量测定标准色板和志愿者皮肤颜色,然后再比较这些仪器在体内外测定的重复性、敏感性以及相关性。结果:这3种仪器在体内外都表现出重复性高(CV=0.01%～3.32%)、敏感性好。MexameterMX16及MX18在体外及人体都有显著相关性(P<0.01)。两种型号的Mexameter与ChromameterCR200间也显著相关(P<0.01)。结论:3种仪器都能准确地表现皮肤颜色。L*、b*、MI适合色素沉着测定,而a*、EI则更适合测定皮肤的红斑。