Analysis of Skin Color Variation using CIELAB Index: An Empirical Study from Delhi, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jiafm.2024.46.1.18Keywords:
Skin pigmentation, Skin color, CIELAB index, Chromophores, Melanin.Abstract
Skin color is a conspicuous trait regulated by complex metabolic processes and its significant diversity among Indian populations is quite remarkable making it an ideal choice for dermatological investigation. To elucidate skin pigment variation with respect to age, we studied 714 healthy individuals (aged 20-70 years) using CIELAB system. Skin reflectance was measured from the volar surface of upper arm using DSM II ColorMeter (Cortex Technology, Hadsund, Denmark) among population of Delhi, India to provide CIELAB color space values, L* (light/dark), a* (red/green), and b* (yellow/blue) followed by statistical analysis to examine the correlation between age and gender on skin on constitutive skin pigmentation. The studied parameters were observed to vary widely {L* (Range: 24.98-51.62, M=38.66, SD=4.41), a* (Range: 4.61-17.16, M=10.18, SD=2.03), and b* (Range: 20.16-34.83, M=28.93, SD=2.30)} across all age groups. ANOVA results suggest a statistically significant effect of age on skin lightness {F(4,709)=124.1332, p<0.001}, redness {F(4,709)=20.0594, p<0.001} and yellowness {F(4,709)=95.1434, p<0.001}. Positive correlation was observed between age and both hue (ho) {r(712)=0.9027, p<0.001} and chroma (C) {r(712)=0.9224, p<0.001}. Significant effects of gender were noticed on skin lightness among all age groups, along with skin redness below the age of 40 years (p<0.001). Notable color differences (∆Ε∗ab) were witnessed among males and females across all age groups in the studied population. The age group 21-30 years was found to have the highest ∆Ε∗ab value (3.5987), followed by 51-60 years (2.98), 31-40 years (2.5579), 61-70 years (2.1837), and 41-50 years (1.6639). We would like to highlight that skin lightness, redness, and yellowness differs significantly with age. Females were observed to be lighter in color as compared to males across all age groups. The findings of the current study would provide better understanding of skin color variation among Indian population.
Downloads
References
Jablonski NG. The evolution of human skin pigmentation involved the interactions of genetic, environmental, and cultural variables. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2021;34(4):707-729. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.12976.
pigmentation. Biotechnol Bioproc E. 2008;13:383-395. doi:10.1007/s12257-008-0143-z.
Sturm RA. Molecular genetics of human pigmentation diversity. Hum Mol Genet 2009;18(R1):R9-R17. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddp003.
Yamaguchi Y, Hearing VJ. Physiological factors that regulate skin pigmentation. Biofactors 2009;35(2):193-199. doi:10.1002/biof.29.
Banerjee S. The inheritance of constitutive and facultative skin color. Clin Genet 1984;25(3):256-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1399- 0004.1984.tb01986.x.
Choe YB, Jang SJ, Jo SJ, Ahn KJ, Youn JI. The difference between the constitutive and facultative skin color does not reflect skin phototype in Asian skin. Skin Res Technol 2006;12(1):68-72. doi:10.1111/j.0909-725X.2006.00167.x.
Scafide KR, Sheridan DJ, Campbell J, Deleon VB, Hayat MJ. Evaluating change in bruise colorimetry and the effect of subject characteristics over time. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2013;9(3):367-76. doi: 10.1007/s12024-013-9452-4.
Nandakumar N, Prasannan K, Nisha TR. Validation of age related changes in contusions by gross examination and objective analyses. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2021;43(3):198-203. doi: 10.5958/0974-0848.2021.00051.8
Ly BCK, Dyer EB, Feig JL, Chien AL, Del Bino S. Research Techniques Made Simple: Cutaneous Colorimetry: A Reliable Technique for Objective Skin Color Measurement. J Invest Dermatol. 2020;140(1):3-12.e1. doi:10.1016/j.
jid.2019.11.003.
Kim JC, Park TJ, Kang HY. Skin-Aging Pigmentation: Who Is the Real Enemy? Cells 2022;11(16):2541. doi:10.3390/ cells11162541.
Farage MA, Miller KW, Elsner P, Maibach HI. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in skin ageing: a review. Int J Cosmet Sci 2008;30(2):87-95. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2494.2007.00415.x
Hendi A, Brodland D, Zitelli JA. Melanocytic hyperplasia in sun-exposed skin has been defined. Dermatol Surg. 2011;37(4):550. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.01922.x
Zhou J, Ling J, Wang Y, Shang J, Ping F. Cross-talk between interferon-gamma and interleukin-18 in melanogenesis. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2016;163:133-143. doi:10.1016/ j.jphotobiol.2016.08.024.
Jones P, Lucock M, Veysey M, Jablonski N, Chaplin G, Beckett E. Frequency of folate-related polymorphisms varies by skin pigmentation. Am J Hum Biol. 2018;30(2): 10.1002/ajhb.23079. doi:10.1002/ajhb.23079.
Slominski A, Tobin DJ, Shibahara S, Wortsman J. Melanin pigmentation in mammalian skin and its hormonal regulation. Physiol Rev. 2004;84(4):1155-1228. doi:10.1152/ physrev.00044.2003.
Zhou J, Song J, Ping F, Shang J. Enhancement of the p38 MAPK and PKA signaling pathways is associated with the pro-melanogenic activity of Interleukin 33 in primary J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2024 Jan-Mar 46 (1) DOI : 10.48165/jiafm.2024.46.1.18melanocytes. J Dermatol Sci. 2014;73(2):110-116. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2013.09.005.
Zouboulis CC. The human skin as a hormone target and an endocrine gland. Hormones (Athens). 2004;3(1):9-26. doi:10.14310/horm.2002.11109.
Battie C, Jitsukawa S, Bernerd F, Del Bino S, Marionnet C, Verschoore M. New insights in photoaging, UVA induced damage and skin types. Exp Dermatol. 2014;23(l):7-12. doi:10.1111/exd.12388.
Ortonne JP. Pigmentary changes of the ageing skin. Br J Dermatol. 1990;122(35):21-8. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133. 1990.tb16121.x.
Passeron T, Picardo M. Melasma, a photoaging disorder. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2018;31(4):461-5. doi:10.1111/pcmr.12684
Quevedo WC, Szabó G, Virks J. Influence of age and UV on the populations of dopa-positive melanocytes in human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1969;52(3):287-90.
Skoczyńska A, Budzisz E, Trznadel-Grodzka E, Rotsztejn H. Melanin and lipofuscin as hallmarks of skin aging. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2017;34(2):97-103. doi:10.5114/ ada.2017.67070.
Vashi NA, de Castro Maymone MB, Kundu RV. Aging Differences in Ethnic Skin. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016;9(1):31-8.
Sebastián-Enesco C, Semin GR. The brightness dimension as a marker of gender across cultures and age. Psychol Res. 2020;84(8):2375-84. doi:10.1007/s00426-019-01213-2
Roh K, Kim D, Ha S, Ro Y, Kim J, Lee H. Pigmentation in Koreans: study of the differences from caucasians in age, gender and seasonal variations. Br J Dermatol. 2001;144 (1):94-9. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.03958.x.
Dabas P, Khajuria H, Jain S, Dutt S, Saraswathy KN, Nayak BP. Quantitative skin pigmentation analysis among North Indians. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;10.1111/jocd.15403. doi:10.1111/jocd.15403.
Jablonski NG, Chaplin G. The evolution of human skin coloration. J Hum Evol. 2000;39(1):57-106. doi:10.1006/ jhev.2000.0403.
Shegde R, Kanchan T. Forensic Anthropology: An overview of the various avenues in human identification. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 202;43(4):300-1. doi:10.5958/0974-0848. 2021.00077.4
Gupta P, Rai H, Kalsey G, Gargi J. Age Determination from Sternal ends of The Ribs – an Autopsy Study. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2007;29(4)-93-6.
Gupta S, Vaishnav H, Gadhavi J. Establishment of identity: a challenge in mass disaster. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2008;30(4)-224.
Tyagi Y, Kumar A, Kohli A, Banerjee KK. Estimation of age by morphological study of sternal end of fourth ribs in males. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2008;31(2)-87-94.
Dabas P, Jain S, Khajuria H, Nayak BP. Forensic DNA Phenotyping: Inferring phenotypic traits from crime scene DNA. J Forensic Leg Med. 2022;88:102351. doi: 10.1016/ j.jflm.2022.102351.
