Objective: To observe the facial spectrum and color of different points, the positions of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of traditional Chinese medicine reflecting on the face, in healthy participants and those with a sub-health status, so as to provide an objective basis for health evaluation.
Methods: The health condition of 470 subjects without acute and chronic conditions was assessed using the Health Evaluating Questionnaire H20 V2009. The subjects were diagnosed with health (more than 80 score) or sub-health (score between 60 and 80) status according to the questionnaire score. The subjects with a subhealth status were also analyzed using the five-viscera syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine using the form for collecting information according to the four examinations. Then for gathering the facial color information, CIE L*a*b and C values and reflections of wavelengths ranged from 400 to 700 nm were measured using a CM-2600D spectrophotometer on 8 points of the face, including the frontal part, glabella, nose, mandible, two cheeks and eyelids.
Results: L value of the sub-health group was higher than that of the health group (P<0.05), and a, b and C values were lower than those of the health group (P<0.05), suggesting that the facial complexion of the sub-health group was pale/whiter than the health group. The reflectance rates of wavelengths (from 400 to 550 nm) of the sub-health group were higher than those of the health group (P<0.05), which suggested that the facial complexion of the sub-health group was partially green. The a, b and C values of the forehead, glabella and nose of subjects in the sub-health group were apparently different from the health subjects. L values of five-viscera types were significantly different from people of a health status (P<0.05). There were some differences in color values among the five-viscera groups: lung group's color values were significantly different from the others in terms of a, b and C values. The spectral reflectance of different viscera groups of the sub-health group also showed certain differences: reflectance of wavelengths at 400 to 490 nm in the lung group and at 520 to 580 nm in the spleen group showed significant difference from the other groups, and the lung group was lower and the spleen group was higher than the others.
Conclusion: There are some differences in facial spectrum and color in different sites of the face in sub-health status of different viscera syndrome types, which can provide an objective basis for health evaluation.