Quantitative research on skin pore widening using a stereoimage optical topometer and Sebutape.
OBJECTIVE
The treatment of skin pore widening is concerned with cosmetics sciences, but an objective and quantitative measurement method of the severity of skin pore widening has not been developed. In this study, bioengineering methods were applied to evaluate skin pore widening. The results from bioengineering measurements were compared with clinical visual assessment.


METHODS
In order to quantify skin pore widening, three-dimensional data of skin pore were produced by a stereoimage optical topometer (SOT). The sizes of follicular infundibulum were measured quantitatively, with reserved sebum by Sebutape. 50 female volunteers were divided into two groups. Group A was tested by the cosmetics including active ingredient and group B by placebo. The constricting effect of skin pores by cosmetics was measured for immediate effect and long-term effect.


RESULTS
In the immediate effect, there was no statistical difference between groups A and B in visual scoring. In SOT, the size of the skin pores of group A had changed after application of cosmetics but there were no changes in group B. In the long-term effect, there was no statistical difference between groups A and B in visual scoring. TA, TV, SA, and SV of skin pores of groups A and B were decreased in 3 and 6 months by SOT. In Sebutape measurement, there was decreased volume of reserved sebum in groups A and B. The result of the Sebutape study was similar to that of SOT.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of skin pore change by visual assessment is difficult, but bioengineering tools are more reliable and useful methods for the assessment of skin pore change.
Jo
Ho Youn
HY
Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Kangwon, Korea.
Yu
Dong Soo
DS
Oh
Chil Hwan
CH
D000328:Adult; D001050:Apocrine Glands; D001458:Bandages; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018859:Hair Follicle; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010780:Photogrammetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016062:Porosity; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012627:Sebaceous Glands; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D041622:Tomography, Optical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003358:Cosmetics; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D011934:Reagent Strips