Assessing human skin with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and colorimetry

InSeok Seo; Yang Liu; Paulo R. Bargo; Nikiforos Kollias

doi:10.1117/12.910206

9 February 2012 Assessing human skin with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and colorimetry

InSeok Seo, Yang Liu, Paulo R. Bargo, Nikiforos Kollias

Proceedings Volume 8207, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics VIII; 82070P (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910206
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2012, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Colorimetry has been used as an objective measure of perceived skin color by human eye to document and score physiological responses of the skin from external insults. CIE color space values (L*, a* and b*) are the most commonly used parameters to correlate visually perceived color attributes such as L* for pigment, a* for erythema, and b* for sallowness of the skin. In this study, we investigated the relation of Lab color scale to the amount of major skin chromophores (oxy-, deoxyhemoglobin and melanin) calculated from diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Thirty two healthy human subjects with ages from 20 to 70 years old, skin types I-VI, were recruited for the study. DRS and colorimetry measurements were taken from the left and right cheeks, and on the right upper inner arm. The melanin content calculated from 630-700 nm range of DRS measurements was shown to correlate with the lightness of skin (L*) for most skin types. For subjects with medium-to-light complexion, melanin measured at the blue part spectrum and hemoglobin interfered on the relation of lightness of the skin color to the melanin content. The sallowness of the skin that is quantified by the melanin contribution at the blue part spectrum of DRS was found to be related to b* scale. This study demonstrates the importance of documenting skin color by assessing individual skin chromophores with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, in comparison to colorimetry assessment.

Citation Download Citation

InSeok Seo, Yang Liu, Paulo R. Bargo, and Nikiforos Kollias "Assessing human skin with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and colorimetry", Proc. SPIE 8207, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics VIII, 82070P (9 February 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910206

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available