Background and objective: To assess an objective method evaluating the effects of a retinaldehyde-based cream (RA-cream) on solar lentigines; 29 women randomly applied RA-cream on lentigines of one hand and a control cream on the other, once daily for 3 months.
Methods: A specific method enabling a reliable visualisation of the lesions was proposed, using high-magnification colour-calibrated camera imaging. Assessment was performed using clinical evaluation by Physician Global Assessment score and image analysis. Luminance determination on the numeric images was performed either on the basis of 5 independent expert's consensus borders or probability map analysis via an algorithm automatically detecting the pigmented area.
Results: Both image analysis methods showed a similar lightening of ΔL* = 2 after a 3-month treatment by RA-cream, in agreement with single-blind clinical evaluation.
Conclusion: High-magnification colour-calibrated camera imaging combined with probability map analysis is a fast and precise method to follow lentigo depigmentation.
Keywords: chromametry; colorimetry [MeSH]; colour measurement; depigmenting agent; lentigo [MeSH]; skin ageing [MeSH]; skin imaging; skin-lightening agent; skin-lightening preparations [MeSH].
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.