A Convenient System for Facial Analysis

Dermatology is a visual field of medicine where direct observations of the skin guide diagnosis and management of disease. Clinical observation is limited by intra- and interrater variability. It may also be difficult for patients to objectively assess changes in their own skin. Skin analysis devices can potentially reduce these limitations and quantitatively assess skin characteristics, providing more consistent and objective measures of skin features that are less visible to the naked eye. Many validated skin analysis devices are on the market, but these can be costly and cumbersome.¹ Although perhaps suitable for clinical trials, the cost and accessibility of such devices may limit their use in everyday clinical practice.

Technologic innovation may make objective skin analysis more practical and accessible. High-definition cameras, hand-held devices with massive computing power, and artificial intelligence (AI) may revolutionize the field.² Already, such technology can be used virtually to try on makeup products, hair colors, and clothing items.^2-4 During the COVID-19 pandemic, both consumers and companies showed increased interest in these virtual apps because in-person consultations were limited; however, medical use is lagging.

Dermatologists perform one-third of cosmetic procedures in the United States, and patient satisfaction largely determines treatment success following cosmetic procedures.⁵ The most common reason for treatment dissatisfaction following procedures is perceived ineffectiveness.⁶ Initial consults serve to assess patient goals and expectations; however, what the clinician observes may differ from what the patient sees, which can make meeting the patient’s concerns a challenge.⁷ Using an app to analyze baseline and follow-up skin conditions before and after treatment can correctly identify patient skin concerns, realistic treatment goals, and treatment efficacy, which could result in greater overall treatment satisfaction.

The AI Skin Analyzer app was developed to assess patients’ skin using over 70,000 images of individuals of various ages an races and an AI machine learning algorithm (Figure 1 and Table 1).⁸ In less than 10 seconds, the app can score an individual in 14 parameters: spots, texture, dark circles, redness, pores, wrinkles, oiliness, moisture, eye bags, acne, skin firmness, skin radiance, upper eyelid droopiness, and lower eyelid droopiness (Table 2). Skin analysis apps could have an immediate role in the clinical setting, providing quantitative assessments of patients’ skin, baseline severity, and subsequent treatment response over time.

A skin analysis app is a convenient, practical, accessible method to analyze patients’ skin. It can be utilized in the patient room with either an iPhone or iPad before and following the dermatology visit. Photos and feature scores can be recorded almost instantaneously at initial and subsequent visits to track progress of disease and efficacy of treatments. The app can also be used to make personalized skin care recommendations and as an interactive educational tool, allowing patients to learn more about their skin or skin condition.

Reference
1. Goldsberry A, Hanke CW, Hanke KE. VISIA system: a possible tool in the cosmetic practice. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014;13(11):1312-1314.

2. YouCam for web. Perfect Corp. Accessed August 22, 2022. https://www.perfectcorp.com/business/services/youcam-4-web

3. AR watch virtual try on. Perfect Corp. Accessed August 22, 2022. https://www.perfectcorp.com/business/showcase/watches

4. Perfect hair color. Perfect Corp. Accessed August 22, 2022. https://www.perfectcorp.com/business/showcase/hair-color

5. Ching S, Thoma A, McCabe RE, Antony MM. Measuring outcomes in aesthetic surgery: a comprehensive review of the literature. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003;111(1):469-480; discussion 481-482. doi:10.1097/01.PRS.0000036041.67101.48

6. Watchmaker LE, Watchmaker JD, Callaghan D, Arndt KA, Dover JS. The unhappy cosmetic patient: lessons from unfavorable online reviews of minimally and noninvasive cosmetic procedures. Dermatol Surg. 2020;46(9):1191-1194. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002304

7. Gherghina A, Aristizabal M, Aguilera SB, Skopit S. Perspectives in cosmetic dermatology: what is in front of the mirror? J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018;17(5):672-674. doi:10.1111/jocd.12713

8. Maliavina A. Skin analyzer: how does it work & what do dermatologists say. Perfect Corp. August 2, 2022. Accessed August 22, 2022. https://www.perfectcorp.com/business/blog/ai-skincare/how-ai-skin-technology-drives-sales