Objective:

Objective analysis of the effects of a series of skin care products by application of modern imaging technology.

Method:

A study was conducted in 25 volunteers who attended a plastic surgical clinic. The cosmeceuticals chosen for investigation were from the IMAGE MD^® series provided by the company IMAGE Skincare. Facial images were taken with the Visia^® camera system by the company Canfield Scientific. The volunteers stopped their own skin care regimen after the initial facial captures and applied a series of the products for three months. 19 volunteers returned and underwent again facial capture. Eight different skin aspects – spots, wrinkles, skin texture, pores, UV spots, brown spots, red marks and porphyrins – as well as the skin age were determined and analysed.

Results:

Overall, the volunteers turned out to appear younger by 1.4 years, however not at a significant level. There was a spread in the results and a tendency for a stronger reduction of the measured skin age in women under 55 years old by 3.2 years. Best effects of the studied product line were obtained for the skin aspects red areas and brown spots. For the criteria spots, texture, pores and UV spots at least two thirds of the comparisons between the two time points, before and after treatment, were positive. In wrinkles and porphyrins, results did not improve. Altogether the majority of the examined skin criteria improved.

Conclusion:

The IMAGE MD^® product series caused the volunteer testers overall to appear slightly younger. An objective measurement of skin changes over time by application of the Visia^® imaging technology was found to be possible.