Evaluating the respective weights of some facial signs on the perceived radiance/glow in differently aged women of six countries.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of Facial radiance or Glow on the perception of age (PA) and to assess which facial signs most influence PA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The faces of 1058 differently aged women (18-80 years) of six different ethnicities/countries (China, Japan, Korea, India, South Africa, and Brazil) were photographed under standard conditions. These allowed to focus on 20 different facial signs that were further graded by experts, using referential Atlases dedicated to facial aging. In each of the six countries, 100 local women were recruited as naïve panels to express their perceptions on Glow and Age on each full-face photograph (blind coded) of the local studied woman. RESULTS: A decreased Glow/Radiance appears clearly associated with an increased perceived age in all studied subjects, especially among Chinese, Japanese, and South African women. With regard facial signs, Skin texture (Wrinkles of all kinds), Ptosis/Sagging, and Pigmentation signs prevail in almost all women at the exception of South African women where Pigmentation signs and Cheek skin pores largely predominate in the perception of both Glow and PA. Pigmentation signs are of a very high weight among Chinese and Japanese women. CONCLUSION: Despite some collective agreements, the present study shows some specificities within the women of the six ethnicities/countries. PA, a core index of antiaging strategies, goes along with facial Glow in almost all studied women. The duller the facial skin, the older it is perceived.

Skin moisture assessment using Hydration Sensor Patches coupled with smartphones via Near Field Communication (NFC). A pilot study with the first generation of patches that allow self-recordings of skin hydration.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the potency of a new skin hydration sensor patch in the fast self-recording of skin hydration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Skin Hydration Sensor Patch (SHSP) turns the user's smartphone into a wireless skin moisture measuring device. The SHSP combines a capacitive measurement unit and Near Field Communication technology (NFC) for transmitting data and energy. The probe is fixed onto the back of the smartphone and pressed to the skin for a few seconds where the application immediately calculates the capacitance value. Once recorded, the probe is then immediately taken off from the skin. In a first study, this system was compared to the Corneometer® technique, in vivo, on various skin sites of 23 healthy French women. In a second study, 20 women with moderate dry skin on face and forearm self-recorded, through the SHSP the changes in skin hydration induced by a Xanthan gel containing 3% (w/w) of Glycerol, along 24 hours. A questionnaire based on 5 types of questions was established to be filled by subjects about their perception of the use of this new system. RESULTS: In the first study, the values recorded by the SHSP were found highly correlated with those provided by the Corneometer® . The second study allowed to observe significant differences in skin hydration of both sites at all times, as compared to values obtained before the application of the gel. Differences between both sites were observed, the face being less hydrated than forearm. From a practical aspect, the self-recordings on the face show a higher variability (approx. 10% than those of the forearm). The questionnaire led to positive answers on almost all points. CONCLUSION: This SHSP appears as a promising approach in the field of connected skin-related devices. As such, it opens or enlarges a new paradigm in the relationships between a consumer and a cosmetic product.

The respective weights of facial signs on the perception of age and a tired-look among differently aged Korean men.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the respective weights of certain facial signs on the assessment of the perceived age and a tired-look on Korean men of different ages. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Photographs were taken of the faces of 101 Korean men (20-80 years) under standardized conditions. These photographs allowed to define 16 signs, which were then graded by 15 experts/dermatologists, using standardized scales provided by a referential Skin Aging Atlas. These signs were dispatched into 5 clusters, namely Wrinkles/Texture, Ptosis/Sagging, Cheek pores, Pigmentation, and Vascular signs. A naïve panel of 200 Korean individuals (100 women, 100 men), of similar age range, were asked, when viewing full-face photographs, to (a) attribute on a 0-10 scale their perception of a tired-look and (b) estimate the age of the subject. RESULTS: The severity of all clusters increased with age, although at different rates. The Wrinkles/Texture or Ptosis/Sagging showed a rather regular progression, whereas Vascular presented the weakest changes. Although perceived and real ages were found highly correlated, almost 85% of the subjects were judged older by 1-15 years. The signs/clusters were found significantly correlated with perceived age, highly for Wrinkles/Texture and Ptosis/Sagging, moderate for Pigmentation, and low for Vascular and Cheek pores. The weights in perceived ages of Wrinkles/Texture and Ptosis/Sagging represent 81% and Pigmentation at 19%. Facial tired-look of Korean men was found significantly correlated with perceived age. Although Vascular and Cheek pores were found not impacting, Wrinkles/Texture, Ptosis/Sagging, and Pigmentation presented a clear influence. CONCLUSION: Within facial clusters, Wrinkles/Texture, Ptosis/Sagging, and Pigmentation are major factors in the assessment of perceived age in Korean men. The perception of an increased tired-look is significantly associated with increased perceived age.

Comparing the self-perceived effects of a facial anti-aging product to those automatically detected from selfie images of Chinese women of different ages and cities.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the agreement, after 1-month application of a popular and efficient anti-aging product, between self-perceived facial signs of aging and those detected and graded by an automatic A.I-based system, using smartphones' selfie images. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 1065 Chinese women, aged 18-60 years, from eight different Chinese cities were recruited. They were asked to apply daily, for 1 month, a referential anti-aging product onto their whole face. Selfie images were taken by all subjects at D0 and D28 and sent to our facilities for being analyzed through 10 different facial signs. At D28 , all subjects were asked to fill a questionnaire on the status of their faces, through six general statements. RESULTS: A global agreement between both approaches is reached, particularly among women older than 40 years where the severity of facial signs is already more pronounced or among younger women who present at least facial signs scored above one grading units. This limit becomes, therefore, a prerequisite in the recruitment of Chinese subjects in the case of anti-aging applied studies and possible automatically based on automatic grading system. When respecting such conditions, the positive effects of the product on most facial signs can be demonstrated after 28 days of successive applications. CONCLUSION: Such methodological approach paves the road in fulfilling the need of consumers of a better transparency in the claims of an anti-aging product.

Gender-related differences in the facial aging of Caucasian French subjects and their relations with perceived ages and tiredness.

OBJECTIVES: (a) To assess and compare the changes in five facial signs with age between genders of Caucasian subjects and (b) to evaluate their links with perceived ages and tiredness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Once zoomed from standardized digital photographs, five facial signs of 518 Caucasian French subjects of both genders and different ages (18-69 years) were graded by 15 experts, using a referential Skin Aging Atlas. A large naïve panel of 1000 French subjects (500 men and 500 women) was asked to attribute a perceived age and a degree of tiredness to 200 subjects (among the 518). RESULTS: The severity of the facial signs increases with time at a linear-like rate. The changes in marionette lines significantly differ between genders, much more pronounced in women, and nasolabial fold was found more pronounced in men at older ages (>50 years). Before 50's, Forehead wrinkles present a slightly higher severity in men whereas at 50's women present more severe ptosis. Crow's feet wrinkles did not show significant changes. Perceived ages were found significantly correlated with the severities of the facial signs and the perception of tiredness was associated with perceived ages in men, but not in women older than 40 years. The gender-related perceptions from the naïve panel in both perceived ages and tiredness showed a low discrepancy. Interestingly, as for changes in facial signs, the upper-half face seems more affected for men and lower-half face for women; after 40 years, the naïve panel seems more focusing on the same areas to predict a perceived age. CONCLUSION: As compared to the previous Chinese study, the present work reveals some slight ethnical-related differences, indicating that the facial signs of the lower face play a major role in the assessment of perceived age of both genders from different ethnicity.

Evaluating the respective weights of some facial signs on perceived ages in differently aged women of five ethnic origins.

BACKGROUND: New gratification assessments, after skincare routines or makeup products, could benefit from innovative methods that could predict the culturally based perceptions of age. AIMS: To determine the facial signs that most influence the perception of age in women of five different ethnic ancestries, assessed by the same ethnical naïve panel. PATIENTS/METHODS: The faces of 1351 women, differently aged (18-80 years), from five countries (China, France, India, Japan, and South Africa) were photographed under the same standardized conditions in the five countries. Fourteen to 24 facial signs (grouped under five clusters, ie, Wrinkles/Texture, Ptosis/Sagging, Pigmentation disorders, Vascular disorders, and Cheeks skin pores) were focused, and their respective severities were graded using referential Skin Aging Atlases by the same panel of 15 experts and dermatologists. Five naïve panels, all comprising 100 local women, allowed to collect the perceived age, assessed from blind-coded full-face photographs. RESULTS: Although perceived ages and real ages were found highly correlated, their differences vary according to ethnicities, particularly among a large part of Indian and South African women, judged older by about 5 and 7 years, respectively. Results show that the clusters of Wrinkles/Texture and Ptosis/Sagging are predominant factors taken into account in almost all ethnicities, albeit at various extents, reaching almost 100% in French women. Pigmentation disorders appear important secondary factors in Japanese, South African, and Indian women. Vascular disorders, of a difficult grading in darker skin tones, were found of some impact in Japanese and Chinese women. Cheek skin pores were of minor or nil weight in the attribution of age, at the exception of South African women. Regarding facial areas which drive aging perception, it seems the upper-half face has prevalence for Chinese and Japanese women whereas the lower-half face has major importance for South African women. CONCLUSION: Facial traits are differently perceived as signs of aging according to un-separable ethnic ancestries and cultural factors.

Japanese experiment of a complete and objective automatic grading system of facial signs from selfie pictures: Validation with dermatologists and characterization of changes due to age and sun exposures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capacity of the automatic detection system to accurately grade, from smartphones' selfie pictures, the severity of ten facial signs in Japanese women and their changes due to age and sun exposures. METHODS: A three-step approach was conducted, based on self-taken selfie images. At first, to check on 310 Japanese women (18-69 years) enrolled in the northerner Hokkaido area (latitude 43.2°N), how, on ten facial signs, the A.I-based automatic grading system may correlate with dermatological assessments, taken as reference. Second, to assess and compare age changes in 310 Japanese and 112 Korean women. Third, as these Japanese panelists were recruited according to their usual behavior toward sun exposure, that is, non-sun-phobic (NSP, N = 114) and sun-phobic (SP, N = 196), and through their regular and early use of a photo-protective product, to characterize the facial photo-damages. RESULTS: (a) On the ten facial signs, detected automatically, nine were found significantly (P < .0001) highly correlated with the evaluations made by three Japanese dermatologists (Wrinkles: r = .75; Sagging: r = .80; Pigmentation: r = .75). (b) The automatic scores showed significant changes with age, by decade, of Wrinkles/Texture, Pigmentation, and Ptosis/Sagging (P < .05). (c) After 45 years, a significantly increased severity of Wrinkles/Texture and Pigmentation was observed in NSP vs. SP women (P < .05). A trend of an increased Ptosis/Sagging (P = .09) was observed. CONCLUSION: This work illustrates, for the first time through investigations conducted at home, some impacts of aging and sun exposures on facial signs of Japanese women. Results significantly confirm the importance of sun avoidance coupled with photo-protective measures. In epidemiological studies, the AI-based system offers a fast, affordable, and confidential approach in detection and quantification of facial signs and their dependence with ages, environments and lifestyles.

Changes in facial signs due to age and their respective weights on the perception of age and skin plumpness among differently aged Korean women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the respective weights of certain facial signs on the assessment of perceived age and plumpness on Korean women of different ages. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Photographs were taken of the faces of 112 Korean women of different ages (18-80 years) under standardized conditions. These photographs allowed to focus and define 19 facial signs, which were then graded by 15 experts and dermatologists, using standardized scales provided by a reference Skin Aging Atlas. The facial signs were dispatched into 5 clusters, namely Wrinkles/Texture, Ptosis/Sagging, Pigmentation disorders, Vascular disorders, and Cheek skin pores. A naïve panel, composed of 92 Korean women, of similar age range were asked, when viewing full-face photographs, to: (a) attribute on a 0-10 scale their perception of the skin plumpness (ie supple/hydrated/nourished) and (b) estimate the age of the subject. RESULTS: With the exception of Vascular disorders, the severity of all 4 clusters increased with age, although at different rates. The Wrinkles/Texture or Ptosis/Sagging showed a rather regular progression. Although perceived ages and real ages were found highly correlated, half of the subjects were judged older by 2-12 years. The facial signs/clusters were significantly correlated with perceived age, with the exceptions of vascular disorders, size of pigmentary spots and cheek skin pores. The weights in perceived ages of Wrinkles/Texture and Ptosis/Sagging represent 37% each and Pigmentation disorders at 26%. Skin plumpness was logically found significantly anti-correlated with perceived age. If, surprisingly, Vascular disorders were found not impacting the plumpness aspect, Cheek skin pores presented a clear influence. CONCLUSION: Within facial clinical clusters, Wrinkles/Texture, Ptosis/Sagging, and Pigmentation disorders are major factors in the assessment of perceived age in Korean women. The perception of a decreased skin plumpness is significantly associated with increased perceived age.

Gender-related differences in the facial aging of Chinese subjects and their relations with perceived ages.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the progressing severity of facial signs and their links with perceived age, of Chinese men and women. METHODS: Full-face photographs of 438 Chinese subjects (220 men, 218 women) differently aged (18-80 years) were taken. These photographs afforded a zoom on 5 facial signs of aging: forehead and crow's feet wrinkles, nasolabial fold, marionette lines and ptosis of the lower face. A panel of 15 experts graded each sign, using the Asian skin aging atlas reference. A naïve panel of 80 Chinese women (20-60 years) was asked to attribute an apparent age. RESULTS: Despite slight differences in severity between genders, men and women share in common a rather regular progression rate, correlated with perceived ages. 15% of men were judged older by more than 10 years, and all 5 signs were found more severe than the means of the other 85%. Forehead and Crow's feet wrinkles appear more pronounced in men. Ptosis is slightly more pronounced in women. Nasolabial fold does not differ. Marionette lines show distinct changes: those of men show a lessened severity and a slower rate of progression. In contrast with changes in facial signs with real ages, the upper face seems privileged in the perception of ages in women whereas the latter seems more focusing on its lower part in men. CONCLUSION: The facial skin aging process in Chinese subjects presents an almost linear progression with perceived ages, common to both genders, at the exception of marionette lines that are more marked and more rapidly progressing in women.