RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Facial skin pores (FSP) are common and benign signs that generate frequent esthetic concerns or complaints. Despite their worldwide prevalence, related literature remains scarce. Hence, a new device has been developed and applied to validating studies, aiming at best describing FSP as they are self-perceived, i.e. their anatomic features, their possible alterations with age and their appearance after application of a make-up product. METHODS: Dermascore+® is an imaging device dedicated to a direct observation and acquisition of various characteristics of the skin surface. Images are captured under a high magnification and under different lighting configurations, to highlight the skin relief, based upon parallel polarized images. Dedicated software allows FSP to being detected and their morphological parameters to being extracted and computed. By measuring each detected FSP in a given region of interest, a statistically significant impact of both age and an applied cosmetic product upon their morphological features can be observed and quantified. RESULTS: Although the size and density of FSP are not affected by aging, their shape becomes elongated. A few tested make up products show variable effects that closely correlate with visual assessments made by trained estheticians. CONCLUSION: The shape of FSP present on cheeks shows age-related changes, toward a more elongated aspect, likely linked to a progressively altered (more isotropic) skin surface micro-relief. The new tool Dermascore+® allows foundations to being rapidly differentiated and screened according to their variable effects upon the visual appearance through instrumental, objective depiction of FSP.