Skin colour, skin redness and melanin biometric measurements: comparison study between Antera(®) 3D, Mexameter(®) and Colorimeter(®)

Skin Res Technol. 2015 Aug;21(3):346-62. doi: 10.1111/srt.12199. Epub 2015 Feb 3.

Abstract

Background: The actual skin colorimeters analyse reflect values from a limited number of broad spectral bands and consequently present limited reproducibility and specificity when measuring skin colour. Here, Antera 3D(®) , a new device which uses reflectance mapping of seven different light wavelengths spanning the entire visible spectrum, has been compared with Mexameter(®) MX-18, an established narrow-band reflectance spectrophotometer and with Colorimeter(®) CL-400, an established tristimulus colorimetric instrument.

Methods: Thirty volunteers were exposed to a controlled ultra-violet B light. Measurements with Antera 3D(®) , Mexameter(®) MX-18 and Colorimeter(®) CL-400 were done before treatment and after 2, 7 and 14 days.

Results: Antera 3D(®) showed to have a better sensitivity and specificity than Mexameter(®) MX-18 regarding the melanin parameter. A similar sensitivity between Antera 3D(®) and Mexameter(®) MX-18 was found for erythema determination and also for the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage L*, a* and b* parameters between Antera 3D(®) and Colorimeter(®) CL-400. Good correlations were observed for all the parameters analysed. Repeatability of Mexameter(®) MX-18 and Colorimeter(®) CL-400 values were lower than that of Antera 3D(®) for all the parameters analysed.

Conclusion: Antera 3D(®) , such as Mexameter(®) MX-18 and Colorimeter(®) CL-400, are robust, sensitive and precise equipment for the skin colour analysis.

Keywords: Antera; Colorimeter; Mexameter; melanin; skin colour; skin redness.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biometry / instrumentation*
  • Colorimetry / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Erythema / diagnosis
  • Erythema / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lighting / instrumentation
  • Male
  • Melanins / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pigments, Biological / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin / metabolism*
  • Skin Pigmentation*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Melanins
  • Pigments, Biological