Skin color evaluation contributes to assessment of an individual's cutaneous phenotype. Skin color changes provide important clues to disease progression or treatment response. Skin color is also a predictor of skin cancer risk. Melanin pigment, blood flow, skin thickness, and photoaging contribute to skin color. Melanin, hemoglobin, bilirubin, and carotene are the primary chromophores of skin color. Their concentrations vary depending on the individual's phenotype, anatomic location, external insults of chemical irritants and UVR, and physiological changes. The evaluation and perception of skin color are often subjective. Objective quantification of skin color can be achieved with colorimetric devices such as tristimulus colorimeters. These devices compute the intensity of light reflected from skin and correlate with pigmentation and erythema. Cutaneous color and color changes can be quantified under color organization systems, such as the CIELAB color space, which is standardized by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE). The CIELAB expresses color's lightness, red/green intensity, and yellow/blue intensity, as L*, a*, and b* values, respectively. Additionally, skin color's full spectral characteristics and cutaneous physiology can be measured with spectrophotometers. This article outlines basic principles of the CIELAB color system and how to optimally use colorimetric devices as a skin research tool.

Transgender persons face unique burdens of dermatologic conditions related to cutaneous effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy and procedures. Skin diseases in transgender patients often underdiagnosed and underrecognized despite potential for significant impairments quality of life and mental health from skin diseases. We discuss basic pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of common skin diseases in the transgender populations. For transmasculine patients, common conditions include acne vulgaris and male pattern hair loss. For transfeminine patients, common conditions include hirsutism, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and melasma. Post-procedural keloids and other cutaneous complications are discussed. Unique aspects of skin health in transgender persons should be considered in the context of multidisciplinary gender-affirming care.

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Wrinkling is the hallmark of skin ageing. We previously reported that perioral wrinkling is more severe in females; however, the molecular basis is unknown. This study assessed sex differences in the molecular expression of key ageing regulators in perioral skin. Twelve subjects (n = 6 male/female) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study and biopsies were taken from the perioral and periocular regions. RNA expression of collagen I, collagen III, cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) and insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was assessed by qPCR. There was no difference between females' and males' Griffith's grades (6 and 5.67, respectively, p = 0.092) or periocular How to cite this article: Brown ID, Dillen C, Ly BC, Shyam N, Kang S, Chien AL. Sex-specific differences in oxidative stress markers and collagen expression in perioral skin wrinkling.