title: Evaluation of the cellulite using a thermal infra-red camera.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cellulite is usually related to alterations of the microcirculation. Measuring the skin temperature is a mean to assess the skin microvascular plexus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A three-step clinical study was performed in order to develop and to validate the use of an infrared thermal camera for measuring cellulite severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thermal images of the thigh were recorded and processed to quantify the thermal homogeneity. The proposed protocol was then validated in three steps. Firstly, the parameters which could influence the skin temperature were identified throw a design of experiment. Secondly, the repeatability and reproducibility of the method was estimated (five subjects, four investigators and five experiments). Finally, thermal images and clinical grading of cellulite was performed on 39 women (21-68 years old), and the correlation between these methods was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All parameters describing the thermal homogeneity were found repeatable and reproducible. The strongest correlation between thermal results and the clinical assessment were observed for Sa (R = 0.53, P < 0.05), Sz (R = 0.53, P < 0.05), Sq (R = 0.54, P < 0.05) and the surface of hot pixels (R = 0.42, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that the thermal camera imaging is a repeatable and reproducible method that can be used to assess the severity of cellulite.
authors: Johnson & Johnson Santé Beauté France, 1 Rue Camille Desmoulins, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, Hauts De Seine, France. ankengne@its.jnj.com
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nkengne
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Papillon
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bertin
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D012881:Skin Temperature; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000098:blood supply*; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult