ABSTRACT
One of the most visually prominent features of photoaged skin is a mottled and irregular pigmentation due to the irregular distribution of melanocytes in the epidermis (1) and local differences in melanogenesis rates. It has been well-known that various types of chemical agents can inhibit melanogenesis (2,3). Most of the effects of these ‘‘skin-lightening ingredients,’’ however, have been demonstrated through in vitro study design. It is true that several clinical studies have been performed by means of visual assessment (4) and/or histological evaluation in which only narrow areas of hyperpigmented spots have been examined (5,6). However, there are few objective and quantitative methods available for evaluating the degree of hyperpigmented spots in the entire face. We developed an image analysis system that was capable of capturing a wide area of the face in order to quantify overall improvement of hyperpigmented spots through the treatment with skin-lightening materials. This is the report on the design, capability, and limitation of our system.
