Daily Fluctuation of Facial Pore Area, Roughness and Redness among Young Japanese Women; Beneficial Effects of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate Containing Antioxidative Skin Care Formula

Abstract

Young women often complain about the daily fluctuation of their facial skin conditions. However, no objective study has been carried out on such changes. This study is aimed at quantitatively elucidating daily skin fluctuation and evaluating the efficacy of cosmetic skin care treatment. We developed the first portable and self-guided facial skin imaging device (eMR Pro) to reproducibly capture facial images at home. Two 8 week clinical studies were then conducted to analyze daily skin fluctuation of facial pore areas, roughness and redness in young Japanese women (n = 47 in study 1 and n = 57 in study 2) by collecting facial images three times a day, during the morning after wake-up, during the morning after face wash, and during the evening after face wash. After a 4 week baseline measurement period (week -4 to week -1), all subjects applied Galactomyces ferment filtrate (GFF, Pitera^®) skin care formula twice a day for 4 weeks (week 1 to week 4). These three skin conditions did exhibit different fluctuation patterns. The pore area and roughness showed the "morning after wake-up"-largest fluctuation pattern, whereas redness showed the "evening after face wash"-largest fluctuation pattern. GFF treatment significantly reduced the net values and delta fluctuation of pore area, roughness, and redness, which were consistently observed in two studies. In conclusion, the daily fluctuation of facial skin conditions is potentially a new target field for investigating healthy skin maintenance.

Keywords: Galactomyces ferment filtrate; facial imaging; fluctuation; pore area; redness; roughness; young women.

Figure 1

eMR Pro self-guided facial imaging system. The subjects took facial images using their own smartphones with the plastic face attachment (A). The facial images (B) were then sent to the eMR Pro server (C).

Figure 2

Calculation of pore area and redness variation. Facial pores at cheek (A) were analyzed by the image analysis algorithm to detect circular pore-like shapes via edge-enhanced binary images (B). Redness variation of cheek (C) was based on the variation and brightness of hemoglobin chromophore tone distribution by a Fourier transformation (D).

Figure 3

Study protocol in Studies 1 and 2. All subjects took their facial images using eMR Pro three times a day: during the morning after wake-up, during the morning after face wash and during the evening after face wash. Baseline data were collected from week -4 to week -1. Then, the GFF skin care formula was used from week 1 to week 4.

Figure 4

Daily fluctuation of pore area. Facial pore area is significantly larger during the morning after wake-up than during the morning after face wash or during the evening after face wash in both Study 1 and Study 2 at baseline period week -4 to week -1. ** p < 0.01.

Figure 5

GFF treatment alleviates daily fluctuation of pore area. The “Morning after wake-up”-largest fluctuation pattern of pore area is depicted at baseline period through week -4 to week -1. GFF treatment significantly reduces the fluctuation of the pore area during week 1 to week 4. *: p < 0.05 compared with “morning after wake-up” at week -4”. *: p < 0.05 compared with “morning after face wash” at week -4”. *: p < 0.05 compared with “evening after face wash” at week -4”. (A); Study 1, (B); Study 2.

Figure 6

Delta fluctuation of pore area. Delta fluctuation of the pore area is significantly ameliorated by GFF treatment from week 1 to week 4 compared with baseline period from week -4 to week -1. **: p < 0.01.

Figure 7

Daily fluctuation of roughness. Facial roughness is significantly larger during morning after wake-up than that during the morning after face wash or during the evening after face wash both in Studies 1 and 2 at the baseline period week -4 to week -1. **: p < 0.01.

Figure 8

GFF treatment decreases daily fluctuation of roughness. The “Morning after wake-up”-largest fluctuation pattern of roughness is demonstrated at baseline period through week -4 to week -1. GFF treatment significantly reduces the fluctuation of roughness during week 1 to week 4. *: p < 0.05 compared with “morning after wake-up” at week -4”. *: p < 0.05 compared with “morning after face wash” at week -4”. *: p < 0.05 compared with “evening after face wash” at week -4”.

Figure 9

Delta fluctuation of roughness. Delta fluctuation of roughness is significantly ameliorated by GFF treatment from week 1 to week 4 compared with baseline period from week -4 to week -1. *: p < 0.05. **: p < 0.01.

Figure 10

Daily fluctuation of redness. Facial redness is significantly larger during the evening after face wash than that during the morning after wake-up or during the morning after face wash in both Studies 1 and 2 at baseline period, week -4 to week -1. **: p < 0.01.

Figure 11

GFF treatment alleviates daily fluctuation of redness. The “evening after face wash”-largest fluctuation of redness is shown at baseline period through week -4 to week -1. GFF treatment significantly improves the fluctuation of redness during week 1 to week 4. *: p < 0.05 compared with “morning after wake-up” at week -4”. *: p < 0.05 compared with “morning after face wash” at week -4”. *: p < 0.05 compared with “evening after face wash” at week -4”.

Figure 12

Delta fluctuation of redness. Delta fluctuation of redness is significantly decreased by GFF treatment from week 1 to week 4 compared with baseline period from week -4 to week -1. **; p < 0.01.