JP7597706B2 - Method for determining skin condition by UPE measurement - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for measuring UPE occurring across the entire face. It also relates to a method for determining the skin condition of each part of the face by measuring the UPE of each part.

UPE (Ultra-weak photon emission) is a weak light emitted from living organisms, a luminescence phenomenon that accompanies biochemical reactions within the organism. It is light emitted during biochemical reactions, including energy metabolism, that mainly involve active oxygen, and its mechanisms are diverse. UPE is also sometimes called biophotons, biological photons, extremely weak bioluminescence, and extremely weak biochemiluminescence.

In other words, luminescence by UPE is mainly produced by the energy generated by redox reactions in biochemical reactions. In particular, luminescence by UPE occurs in biochemical reactions that involve the production of reactive oxygen and free radicals, and the actual luminescence is due to the excitation of molecules that occurs during the oxidative modification process of the various substances that make up living organisms.

The production of reactive oxygen species in the body is closely related to metabolic processes within the body and to oxidative stress caused by external factors such as ultraviolet light, radiation, drugs, and environmental pollutants. Furthermore, an increase in UPE due to the production of reactive oxygen species in the body is related to stress such as oxidative damage; for example, when oxidation of the skin progresses due to exposure to electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet light, the amount of UPE released increases. In particular, UPE that increases due to external stimuli is called delayed luminescence.

As part of research into the effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays on the skin, research results have been reported that measured the transmittance of UV rays through the stratum corneum and epidermis (Non-Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, as a technology for measuring UPE, a method using an ultra-high sensitivity CCD (Charge Coupled Device) has been introduced (Non-Patent Document 2), and a method using a photon counter equipped with a photomultiplier tube (PMT) has also been introduced (Non-Patent Document 3).

Photochemistry and Photobiology Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 485-494, 1984 Electrochemistry, 82(4), 294-298 (2014) J Photochem Photobiol B. 2014 Oct 5;139:63-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2013.10.003. Epub 2013 Oct 26. Medical Instrumentation, vol. 68, No. 8 1998 Journal of the Japanese Dermatological Society: (2008) 118(1)17-21

UPE is a weak light emitted from living organisms and is a luminous phenomenon that accompanies biochemical reactions within the body. It has been measured locally. However, because UPE is an extremely weak luminous phenomenon, it has been difficult to measure UPE over a wide area, such as the entire face. In addition, since the skin is constantly exposed to ultraviolet light in daily life, the impact of delayed luminescence based on external stimuli such as ultraviolet light is large. However, no attempt has been made to eliminate external stimuli and examine the impact of biochemical reactions alone on a wide area of the skin.

The inventors discovered that by undergoing an acclimation process in a darkroom, it is possible to eliminate the influence of external stimuli, and thus to detect only UPE, which is generated as a result of biochemical reactions that naturally occur in the skin, over a wide area such as the entire face. By using UPE imaging over the entire face, the inventors discovered that the detected UPE intensity differs significantly for each part of the face, and that the detected UPE intensity represents the oxidation state of the skin for each part of the face, which led to the present invention.

Specifically, the present invention relates to:
[1] A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
A method for determining skin condition, comprising: measuring UPE intensity for each part of a face in a dark room by UPE imaging of the entire face or by a photocounter; and determining the skin condition of each part based on the UPE intensity for each part.
[2] The method according to item 1, wherein the step of determining the skin condition includes normalizing the UPE intensity for each part by the UPE intensity of a control part and comparing it with a threshold value.
[3] The method according to item 2, wherein the control section is a non-exposed section or a chin section.
[4] The method according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the skin condition is an oxidation level of the skin.
[5] The method according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the part is the upper eyelid or the outer corner of the eye, and the skin condition is a skin aging condition.
[6] The method according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the skin condition is a wrinkled condition when the features are the mouth, the corners of the eyes, the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, the cheeks, the space between the eyebrows, and the forehead.
[7] The method according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the part is selected from the group consisting of the corners of the eyes, the cheeks, the forehead, and the nose, and the skin problem is blemishes.
[8] A method for predicting future occurrence of skin trouble in a subject with healthy skin, comprising:
A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
The method includes a step of measuring the UPE intensity for each part of the face in a dark room by UPE imaging of the entire face or by a photocounter; and a step of predicting the occurrence of future skin problems in each part based on the UPE intensity for each part.
[9] The method according to item 8, wherein the step of predicting the occurrence of future skin troubles comprises normalizing the UPE intensity for each part by the UPE intensity of a control part and comparing the normalized UPE intensity with a threshold value.
[10] The method according to item 9, wherein the control section is a non-exposed section or a chin section.
[11] The method according to any one of items 8 to 10, wherein the part is selected from the group consisting of the mouth, the corners of the eyes, the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, the cheeks, the space between the eyebrows, and the forehead, and the skin trouble is wrinkles.
[12] The method according to any one of items 8 to 10, wherein the part is selected from the group consisting of the corners of the eyes, the cheeks, the forehead, and the nose, and the skin trouble is age spots.
[13] A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
measuring UPE intensity for each part of the face by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter in a dark room;
A method for estimating a porphyrin amount in the skin, comprising: a step of determining a porphyrin amount in each part based on the UPE intensity for each part.
[14] The method according to item 13, wherein the step of determining the amount of porphyrin is based on a graph showing the relationship between the amount of porphyrin in each part and the UPE intensity.
[15] The method according to item 13 or 14, wherein the part is a cheek, a nose, a lower eyelid, between the eyebrows, or a forehead.
[16] A skin care pack containing a predetermined antioxidant component at a predetermined concentration determined for each part of the face in an area corresponding to each part of the face,
The skin care pack, wherein the components and their concentrations determined for each part are determined based on the UPE strength of each part of the face.
[17] The skin care pack according to item 16, wherein the UPE intensity for each facial part is determined by UPE imaging of the entire face in a darkroom or by a photocounter.
[18] A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
measuring UPE intensity for each part of the face by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter;
A step of determining a cosmetic ingredient and its concentration suitable for each part based on the UPE strength of each part;
A method for producing a skin care pack, comprising: providing a skin care pack containing ingredients determined for each part at determined concentrations in an area of the skin care pack corresponding to the part.
[19] A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
measuring UPE intensity for each part of the face by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter in a dark room;
determining the skin care and sun care products and their usage methods suitable for each part based on the UPE strength of each part;
and a method for providing a skin care and/or sun care product and a method for using the same.
[20] The method according to item 19, further comprising a step of standardizing the UPE intensity for each part with the UPE intensity of a control part.
[21] The method according to item 20, wherein the control section is a non-exposed section or a chin section.
[22] The method according to any one of items 19 to 21, wherein the step of determining skin care and sun care products and their usage methods is based on a correspondence relationship between skin care and sun care products and their usage methods according to UPE strength.

The present invention makes it possible to determine the skin condition for each facial part.

FIG. 1 shows the classification of facial features for UPE strength analysis. FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the photon generation intensity of the entire face taken by UPE imaging. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the average UPE intensity across all age groups for each part of the face (forehead, between the eyebrows, corners of the eyes, upper eyelids, lower eyelids, nose, nose ridge, under the nose, cheeks, lips, and chin). FIG. 4 shows the UPE intensity of other parts when the UPE intensity of the jaw is set to 100. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the correlation between UPE intensity and skin aging state in the upper eyelid and corner of the eye. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the correlation between UPE intensity and the number of wrinkles per region in the region from the lower eyelid to the corner of the eye for subjects in their 20s to 40s. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the correlation between UPE intensity in the cheek, nose, lower eyelid, glabella, and forehead and the number of porphyrins per region.

The present invention relates to a method for determining skin condition using full face UPE imaging or photocounting, specifically comprising the following steps:
A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
The method includes the steps of: measuring the UPE of each part of the face by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter in a dark room; and determining the skin condition of each part based on the UPE intensity of each part. The method of the present invention allows the skin condition of each part to be determined individually. In the present invention, the skin condition refers to the oxidation level of the skin. Skin troubles such as wrinkles, age spots, and acne can be determined according to the oxidation level of the skin depending on the part of the face.

The acclimation process in a dark room can eliminate the influence of delayed luminescence caused by ultraviolet light. The acclimation time can be selected from 5 minutes or more, more preferably 10 minutes or more, and even more preferably 15 minutes or more, from the viewpoint of eliminating the influence of delayed luminescence caused by ultraviolet light. From the viewpoint of simplifying the method, the acclimation time is usually within 1 hour, more preferably 15 minutes or less. To avoid external influences, acclimation can also be performed in a double dark room. The UPE intensity when the influence of delayed luminescence caused by ultraviolet light is eliminated reflects the luminescence phenomenon associated with biochemical reactions in the body that involve the production of active oxygen and free radicals. In the skin, the higher the biochemical reaction, the higher the oxidation level, so the UPE intensity measured after the acclimation process indicates the oxidation level of the skin (Non-Patent Document 4: Medical Instruments, vol. 68, No. 8 1998).

A charge-coupled device camera can be used as the imaging device for UPE imaging. The charge-coupled device camera is preferably a cooled CCD camera. By using the imaging device for UPE imaging in a darkroom, UPE can be measured for the entire face. Examples of the parts of the face include the forehead, glabella, nose, under the nose, lips, chin, corners of the eyes, upper eyelids, lower eyelids, cheeks, and nose crease, and can be further classified into right and left areas (Figure 1). Instead of using a charge-coupled device camera, a photon counter equipped with a photomultiplier tube (PMT) can be used to measure the UPE intensity for each part. It was shown that the UPE intensity varies greatly depending on the part of the face (Figure 2). The high UPE intensity was observed in the nose, nose crease, and eyebrows, indicating that the oxidation level is high in these parts. Although it is not intended to be limited by theory, it is known that these parts have a high lipid production, and it is believed that stress due to lipid peroxides contributes to the oxidation level.

The UPE intensity for each part can be standardized based on the UPE intensity of a control part. The control part can be a non-exposed part such as the arm, abdomen, or back, or any part of the face. As an example, the chin can be used from the viewpoint of using a part of the face with low UPE intensity. By using a non-exposed part, the effects of ultraviolet rays in daily life can be examined.

It is known that reactive oxygen in the skin affects epidermal and dermal cells. In keratinocytes in the epidermis, the rate of division slows due to the influence of reactive oxygen, resulting in thinning of the stratum corneum. In addition, melanocytes in the epidermis are activated by reactive oxygen, and the amount of melanin produced increases. As a result, areas with a high amount of reactive oxygen are more likely to develop age spots. In fibroblasts in the dermis, the rate of division slows due to the influence of reactive oxygen, and the production of interstitial components such as collagen and elastin decreases. In addition, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are activated by the influence of reactive oxygen, which destroys the dermal matrix and causes wrinkles to form. As a result, the influence of reactive oxygen can cause wrinkles and sagging (Non-Patent Document 5: Journal of the Japanese Dermatological Association: (2008) 118(1)17-21).

As mentioned above, active oxygen is closely related to the occurrence of age spots and wrinkles, but the areas where they are most likely to occur are different. Age spots can appear anywhere on the face, but the corners of the eyes, cheeks, forehead, and nose are particularly common areas for age spots. Therefore, high UPE intensity in these areas is associated with the occurrence of age spots.

On the other hand, wrinkles often form in areas where the skin moves, particularly around the mouth, corners of the eyes, between the eyebrows, cheeks, forehead, upper eyelids, and lower eyelids. Therefore, high UPE intensity in these areas is associated with the development of wrinkles.

If a healthy subject who does not currently have wrinkles or age spots has a high UPE, it can be said that the risk of developing wrinkles or age spots in the future is high. Therefore, in a healthy subject who does not currently have wrinkles or age spots, by detecting the amount of UPE in a region where age spots or wrinkles frequently occur, it is possible to predict age spots or wrinkles. Therefore, in another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for predicting the occurrence of future skin troubles in subjects with healthy skin conditions. The method for predicting the occurrence of future skin troubles specifically includes the following:
A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
The method includes a step of measuring the UPE of each part of the face in a dark room by UPE imaging of the entire face or by a photocounter; and a step of predicting the occurrence of future skin problems in each part based on the UPE intensity of each part.

The process of predicting the occurrence of future skin troubles can be specifically performed by comparing the measured UPE intensity for each part with a threshold value. Multiple threshold values can be set for each part, and the possibility of trouble occurring can be predicted. As an example, when the UPE intensity at the corners of the eyes is 2 or more, more preferably 2.5 or more, and even more preferably 3.0 or more, it indicates that there is a high possibility of future wrinkle formation, and that the possibility of wrinkle formation increases as the threshold value increases.

Skin troubles predicted by UPE strength vary depending on the area of the skin. Areas where blemishes frequently occur are the corners of the eyes, lower eyelids, cheeks, and nose, and skin troubles in these areas will result in blemishes. On the other hand, areas where wrinkles frequently occur are the area around the mouth, corners of the eyes, cheeks, between the eyebrows, forehead, upper eyelids, and lower eyelids, and skin troubles in these areas will result in wrinkles.

The UPE strength of each part can also be standardized by the UPE strength of a control part. Standardization using a control part can eliminate the influence of physical constitution. For example, when the chin is used as a control, it is useful in that it can eliminate the influence of an individual's physical constitution, such as high or low UPE amount, and identify areas of the face that are prone to skin problems.

Furthermore, the amount of UPE in the cheeks, nose, lower eyelids, glabella, and forehead was correlated with the amount of porphyrin (Figure 7). Therefore, in a further aspect of the present invention, the present invention relates to a method for estimating the amount of porphyrin in the skin. The method for estimating the amount of porphyrin in the skin can determine the amount of porphyrin in each part based on the amount of UPE for each part measured by performing UPE imaging of the entire face or using a photocounter in a darkroom. More specifically, the amount of porphyrin in each part can be determined based on a graph showing the relationship between the amount of UPE and the amount of porphyrin for each part. Porphyrin in the skin is mainly produced by Propionibacterium acnes. Therefore, by determining the amount of porphyrin, it is possible to determine the likelihood of acne. For example, when the UPE intensity is 2.5 or more, more preferably 3.0 or more, in the cheeks, nose, lower eyelids, glabella, forehead, etc., it indicates that there is a high possibility of acne formation. For subjects who are judged to have a high possibility of acne formation, face washing instructions and information about products such as face washes containing acne prevention drugs can be provided.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also relates to a skin care pack. The skin care pack is a beauty product that administers beauty ingredients to the skin by sticking it to the face. The skin care pack of the present invention relates to a skin care pack that contains a predetermined beauty ingredient determined for each part at a predetermined concentration in an area corresponding to each part of the face. Here, the beauty ingredient and its concentration determined for each part are determined based on the amount of UPE for each part of the face. As a result, by blending a beauty ingredient with high efficacy in an area with a high amount of UPE, such as the forehead and cheeks, a better beauty effect can be expected. In addition, the concentration of the beauty ingredient can be increased in an area with a high amount of UPE, such as the forehead and cheeks. The amount of UPE for each part of the face can be determined by UPE imaging of the entire face in a darkroom, or can be determined using a photocounter.

One example of a beauty ingredient is an antioxidant. Examples of antioxidant ingredients that can be incorporated into cosmetics include vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene, astaxanthin, and derivatives thereof. In addition, some plant extracts are known to exhibit antioxidant effects. Examples of such plant extracts include aloe extract, ginkgo extract, oolong tea extract, turmeric extract, turmeric rhizome extract, asarum rhizome/root extract, edelweiss extract, olive leaf extract, hydrolyzed silk powder, artemisia capillaris extract, artemisia capillaris flower extract, licorice extract, rubus extract, gardenia extract, mulberry extract, gentiana root extract, geranium herb extract, tea extract, coffee extract, sesame extract, rice bran extract, Averrhoa carambola leaf extract, asarum extract, cherry leaf extract, white fungus polysaccharide, star fruit leaf extract, yarrow extract, sage extract, sage leaf extract, cnidium rhizome extract, corn extract, Houttuynia cordata extract, tomato extract, parsley extract, grape seed extract, safflower extract, peony extract, mulberry root bark extract, Madonna lily root extract, evening primrose seed extract, lily extract, rooibos extract, and rosemary extract.

The present invention may further relate to a method for producing a skin care pack. The method for producing a skin care pack of the present invention comprises the steps of:
A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
measuring UPE intensity for each part of the face by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter;
A step of determining a cosmetic ingredient and its concentration suitable for each part based on the UPE strength of each part;
and providing a skin care pack containing a determined beauty ingredient for each part in a determined concentration in an area of the skin care pack corresponding to the part. This makes it possible to provide a skin care pack suitable for an individual's skin.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for providing a skin care and/or sun care product and a method for using the same, the method comprising the steps of:
A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
measuring the UPE of each facial part by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter in a dark room;
determining the skin care and sun care products and their usage methods suitable for each part based on the UPE strength of each part;
This method can provide information about skin care and/or sun care products suitable for an individual's skin, as well as information about methods of use suitable for an individual's skin.

In the present invention, UPE imaging is performed in a darkroom, and therefore can generally be performed at a department store or a beauty counter in a store. The method for determining skin condition, the method for predicting the occurrence of skin trouble, and the porphyrin estimation method of the present invention can be performed, and beauty counseling can be performed based on the results. At that time, a skin care pack can be manufactured and provided that is customized for each part according to the individual's skin condition and future troubles. In addition, skin care packs for people with various skin conditions and troubles can be patterned and prepared. In addition, appropriate skin care products and/or sun care products can be provided along with their usage instructions based on the UPE strength of each part. As an example, for a subject with high UPE strength at the corners of the eyes, a beauty serum for the eyes containing a large amount of cosmetic ingredients with antioxidant effects can be provided along with information on the frequency of use. In addition, for a subject with high UPE strength on the cheeks, forehead, etc., a cosmetic such as a foundation containing an anti-UV agent can be provided along with the usage instructions. The skin care and sun care products and their usage instructions are determined based on the correspondence between the skin care and sun care products and their usage instructions according to the UPE strength. The correspondence between the UPE strength for each part and the corresponding skin care and sun care products and their usage methods may be written in advance in a correspondence table, for example. Such correspondence is determined by subdividing the skin care and sun care products and their usage methods for the UPE strength for each part according to the subject's age, location information, skin type, sex, etc., and appropriate skin care and sun care products and their usage methods can be provided based on the correspondence.

Example 1: UPE imaging of the whole face Fifty women in their 20s to 60s were used as subjects. After washing the face, the subjects were allowed to acclimate for 15 minutes in a double darkroom, and the whole face was photographed for 15 minutes using a cooled CCD camera (Spectral Instruments, Inc.: 600S Series). The photographic results are shown in Figure 2. The photon emission intensity was strong in the nose, nose edge, and between the eyebrows, indicating strong UPE generation. The amount of UPE was averaged for each site for all subjects in their 20s to 60s (Figure 3).

To evaluate the level of oxidation in the face based on the amount of UPE, each area was compared using the UPE in the chin area as an indicator (Figure 4).

Example 2: Correlation between photon generation intensity and other indices When the correlation between photon generation intensity and age was examined for the upper eyelid and corner of the eye, the correlation coefficients were r=0.50 and 0.46, respectively (FIG. 5).

Wrinkles around the eyes and lower eyelids were analyzed using VISIA Evolution (Canfield Scientific) in subjects in their 20s to 40s. The correlation between wrinkles and photon generation intensity was examined, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.52 (Figure 6).

The amount of porphyrin on the face of all subjects (50 people) was measured using VISIA (Canfield Scientific). The correlation between the measured amount of porphyrin and the photon generation intensity was examined, and the correlation coefficient r was 0.44 (Figure 7).

Claims (19)

A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
A method for determining skin condition, comprising the steps of: measuring the UPE intensity for each part of the face in a darkroom by UPE imaging of the entire face or by a photocounter; and standardizing the UPE intensity for each part with the UPE intensity of a control part, and determining the skin condition for each part by comparing the standardized UPE intensity for each part with a threshold value. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control portion is a non-exposed portion or a portion having low UPE strength. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the skin condition is the oxidation level of the skin. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the skin condition is a skin aging condition when the part is the upper eyelid or the corner of the eye. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the skin condition is a wrinkled condition when the features are the mouth, corners of the eyes, upper eyelids, lower eyelids, cheeks, between the eyebrows, and forehead. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the part is selected from the group consisting of the corners of the eyes, cheeks, forehead, and nose, and the skin problem is blemishes. A method for predicting future occurrence of skin trouble in a subject with healthy skin, comprising:
A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
The method includes the steps of: measuring the UPE intensity for each part of the face in a dark room by UPE imaging of the entire face or by a photocounter; and standardizing the UPE intensity for each part by the UPE intensity of a control part, and predicting the occurrence of future skin problems in each part by comparing the standardized UPE intensity for each part with a threshold value. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of predicting the occurrence of future skin problems includes normalizing the UPE intensity for each part with the UPE intensity of a control part and comparing it with a threshold value. The method according to claim 8, wherein the control area is a non-exposed area or an area with low UPE intensity. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the part is selected from the group consisting of the mouth, corners of the eyes, upper eyelids, lower eyelids, cheeks, between the eyebrows, and forehead, and the skin problem is wrinkles. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the part is selected from the group consisting of the corners of the eyes, cheeks, forehead, and nose, and the skin problem is blemishes. A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
measuring UPE intensity for each part of the face by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter in a dark room;
A method for estimating the amount of porphyrin in the skin, comprising a step of normalizing the UPE intensity for each part with the UPE intensity for a control part, and determining the amount of porphyrin in each part by comparing the normalized UPE intensity for each part with a threshold value. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of determining the amount of porphyrin is based on a graph showing the relationship between the amount of porphyrin in each part and the UPE intensity. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the part is a cheek, a nose, a lower eyelid, between the eyebrows, or a forehead. A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
measuring UPE intensity for each part of the face by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter;
A step of standardizing the UPE intensity for each part based on the UPE intensity for a control part, and comparing the standardized UPE intensity for each part with a threshold value to determine a cosmetic ingredient and its concentration suitable for each part;
A method for producing a skin care pack, comprising: providing a skin care pack containing ingredients determined for each part at determined concentrations in an area of the skin care pack corresponding to the part. A step of acclimating the entire face in a dark room;
measuring UPE intensity for each part of the face by UPE imaging of the whole face or by a photocounter in a dark room;
A process of standardizing the UPE intensity for each part based on the UPE intensity for a control part, and comparing the standardized UPE intensity for each part with a threshold value to determine skin care and sun care products suitable for each part and their usage methods;
and a method for providing a skin care and/or sun care product and a method for using the same. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of normalizing the UPE intensity for each part with the UPE intensity of a control part. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the control area is a non-exposed area or an area with low UPE intensity. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18 , wherein the step of determining skin care and sun care products and their usage methods is based on a correspondence relationship between skin care and sun care products and their usage methods according to UPE strength.

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