Self‐recording the skin hydration and Trans‐Epidermal Water Loss parameters: A pilot study

Abstract

Three recent papers 1-3 described a new Instrument-GPkSin ® (GPOWER) represented in Figure 1-that records, in vivo, both the skin hydration status and the TEWL on the same skin site (a small skin area, ≈1 cm 2) within seconds, since integrating two probes within the same body. As this instrument is connected to a smartphone application via a Bluetooth system, the provided data are immediately transferred, together with date, time of the recording and environmental Temperature (C°). Not only the skin hydration status and TEWL values given by the GPSkin ® were found highly correlated to other validated instruments 4,5-Corneometer ® (Courage and Khazaka Company ™), Tewameter ® (Courage and Khazaka Company ™), Aquaflux AF200 ® (Biox systems ™)-but they were accurate enough to significantly differentiate two formulae containing slightly different and low Glycerol contents (eg, 7% and 10% w/w). In addition, as important finding, this instrument showed that the skin hydration provided by a formula with a very high glycerol content (40%), reduced the TEWL by about 50% on the same skin site. Although of an easy handling (ergonomic, light, etc), the GPSkin ® body has nevertheless to be gently applied perpendicularly onto the skin surface, a positioning needed by the TEWL probe to fully perform. Such verticality is less a limiting factor in the recording of the skin hydration as the two impedance-measuring electrodes (located in the skin-contacting crown) are always closely connected to the skin surface. These conditions were met in two previously quoted studies 1,3

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“…32 During this study, we also used the GPSB, a novel instrumental device to assess skin hydration and TEWL. 27,29 Results from our study confirm that GPSB was able to show that skin hydration had improved. However, and even though the device has proven its reliability in the past, the study could not confirm that the device was able to show that TEWL had decreased following the use of M89 as observed with the tewameter.…”

“…GPSB has been tested and validated as a novel instrumental device for assessing skin hydration and TEWL. [27][28][29] Study evaluations were carried out in a temperature and humidity-controlled room (24 ± 2°C; 50 ± 10% r.h) after an acclimation period of 30 minutes.…”

Changes in facial signs due to age and their respective weights on the perception of age and skin plumpness among differently aged Korean women

“…New gratifications assessments could then benefit from innovative nomad methods to measure skin water content [25][26][27] or facial clinical signs [28][29][30] away from research facilities at different moments of the day (during routine, after outdoor activities, morning/evening…) that therefore could "predict" the perception of PA or plumpness (skin hydrated/nourished). This flexibility will allow to decrypt or detect very early some new trends and/or needs from Asian experienced consumers.…”

“…Skin hydration, measured biophysically or clinically assessed, is a major concern in Asia, especially in northern countries with different wordings or concepts like “Mul‐gwang” in Korea, describing dewy aspect of faces after routines of skincare and make‐up products. New gratifications assessments could then benefit from innovative nomad methods to measure skin water content 25‐27 or facial clinical signs 28‐30 away from research facilities at different moments of the day (during routine, after outdoor activities, morning/evening…) that therefore could “predict” the perception of PA or plumpness (skin hydrated/nourished). This flexibility will allow to decrypt or detect very early some new trends and/or needs from Asian experienced consumers.…”

Comparing the self‐perceived effects of a facial anti‐aging product to those automatically detected from selfie images of Chinese women of different ages and cities

“…Such objectives lead many skin care cosmeticians to investigate on the possible input of connected or nomadic devices such as telemedicine, different connected devices or analysis of selfie images taken by sophisticated smartphones. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] All these approaches were obviously made possible by the tremendous progresses in imaging techniques coupled to continually more powerful hardware.…”