Development of the facial glycation imaging system for in situ human face skin glycation index measurement

Abstract

Background The accumulation of advanced glycation end products has been proposed as a causative agent of skin aging, but there are no conventional devices for quantifying advanced glycation end‐product accumulation in facial skin. Aims This study aimed to develop a convenient and accurate in situ advanced glycation end‐product measurement system for the human face. Methods We developed a facial glycation imaging system, which consisted of illumination (white light‐emitting diode, ultraviolet light‐emitting diode) and image acquisition modules to capture face images. Advanced glycation end product–related autofluorescence and total skin reflectance were calculated to obtain the skin glycation index using an image analysis algorithm. Correlations between the skin glycation index and facial skin elasticity and age were examined in 36 healthy Korean women. Results The facial glycation imaging system was validated against a volar forearm skin autofluorescence measurement device, that is, the AGE Reader mu, with forearm skin glycation index (R = 0.64, P < .01). Cheek elasticity was negatively correlated with cheek skin glycation index (R = −0.56, R = −0.57, and R = −0.61, P < .01 for R2, R5, and R7, respectively). Age was significantly correlated with forearm skin glycation index (R = 0.44, P < .01) and cheek skin glycation index (R = 0.48, P < .01). Conclusion We successfully developed a novel in situ facial skin glycation index measurement device. Our convenient and accurate system enables in situ skin glycation index monitoring for skin aging studies such as those on anti‐glycation cosmetics.

Advanced Glycation End Products in the Skin: Molecular Mechanisms, Methods of Measurement, and Inhibitory Pathways

“…The facial glycation imaging system (FGIS) was developed by Lee et al ( 88 ) for the determination of the human facial skin glycation index. After the system collects facial images, it uses image analysis algorithms to calculate the autofluorescence of AGEs and the total skin reflectance to give the skin glycation index.…”

“…After collagen and AGEs are cross-linked, the fibre deformation reaches more than 80% of all tissue deformation, resulting in a loss of obvious stress relaxation behaviour ( 86 ). The full-thickness restructuring skin model of Lee et al ( 88 ) showed that the yellowness of the skin increases with increasing AGEs (CML). Laughlin et al ( 87 ) collected female skin samples to determine the content of AGEs, and the number of AGEs was significantly higher in people with dull and yellow skin.…”

“…Elastin cannot avoid cross-linking with AGEs. Lee et al ( 88 ) developed a face glycation imaging system to study the correlation between facial skin elasticity and AGEs in healthy women, and the results showed that facial elasticity was negatively correlated with the cheek skin glycation index. The reasons may be thinning of the elastin fibres saccharified under confocal microscopy, a decrease in hardness, and the loss of elastin’s biological properties ( 89 ).…”

Research Advances on the Damage Mechanism of Skin Glycation and Related Inhibitors

“…Over time, glycation in vivo causes skin AGEs to accumulate, resulting in wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dullness, and decreased function of skin, which is one of the main mechanisms of skin aging [ 67 ]. AGEs cause pathological changes in the skin through three processes.…”

“…The most important concentrations of AGEs in the skin are (from the highest to the lowest concentrations) glucosepane, CML, pentosidine, and CEL [ 68 ]. Skin autofluorescence (SAF) has been shown to be a biomarker of cumulative skin AGEs [ 69 ], and measuring facial fluorescence intensity allows for an assessment of the skin glycation index [ 67 ]. SAF is also a powerful and independent predictor for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (T2D) [ 70 ].…”