Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39923103›Full record

ArticleJournal of physiological anthropology2025

A broad assessment of forty-one skin phenotypes reveals complex dimensions of skin ageing.

Jun Yan Ng, Qi Yi Ambrose Wong, Jun Jie Lim, Dingyu Cen, Jia Yi Karen Wong, Yi Ying Eliza Lim, Yang Yie Sio, Kavita Reginald, Yee-How Say, Fook Tim Chew

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of physiological anthropology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jun Yan NgDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2548-397X
Qi Yi Ambrose WongDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-5205-4033
Jun Jie LimDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5485-1749
Dingyu CenDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-9608-564X
Jia Yi Karen WongDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-2800-4451
Yi Ying Eliza LimDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7116-8172
Yang Yie SioDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3549-1706
Kavita ReginaldDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1530-5934
Yee-How SayDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2363-5239
Fook Tim ChewDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore. dbscft@nus.edu.sg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1337-5146

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSkin ageing takes on many different forms. Despite this diversity in skin ageing phenotypes, literature published to date is limited in scope, as many research studies either focus on one single phenotype or just a few specific phenotypes. Presently, phenotypes such as wrinkles, pigment spots, and photo-ageing are receiving most of the research attention. We therefore wonder whether the current discourse on skin ageing places a disproportionate amount of focus on a few selected phenotypes, leaving other skin ageing phenotypes underexplored.

methodsIn this cross-sectional study, we performed a broad assessment of forty-one signs of skin ageing and characterised the phenotypes that constituted key components of skin ageing. We also explored the interrelationship among forty-one skin ageing phenotypes using Spearman's Correlation and Principal Component Analysis.

resultsWe analysed our study population, which is composed of 3281 ethnic Chinese participants from the Singapore/Malaysia Cross-sectional Genetics Epidemiology Study (SMCGES). The first ten principal components cumulatively explain 46.88% of the variance of skin ageing phenotypes in our study population. We discovered that the commonly discussed forms of skin ageing (i.e., wrinkles, pigmentation, and photo-ageing) only accounted for a small portion (24.39%) of the variance of all skin ageing phenotypes in our study population. Telangiectasia, a poor lip fullness, a lighter skin colour, xerosis, ephelides (freckles), ptosis of eyelids (droopy eyelids), eyebags, and a low eyebrow positioning were other key components of skin ageing, accounting for a further 22.49% of the variance of skin ageing phenotypes in our study population. We found that each of these ten skin ageing phenotypes characterises a key and important aspect of skin ageing. In this broad assessment of skin ageing, we first described the prevalence of forty-one signs of skin ageing and then characterised in detail both the prevalence and severity distribution of ten key skin ageing phenotypes.

conclusionsWe presented clear evidence that skin ageing is much more than just wrinkles, pigmentation and photo-ageing. The addition of telangiectasia, poor lip fullness, a lighter skin colour, xerosis, ephelides, ptosis of eyelids, eyebags, and a low eyebrow positioning added more dimensions to skin ageing phenotype presentations.

Indexed as

PhenotypeSkin AgingAdultAgedAnthropology, PhysicalAsian PeopleCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSingaporeSkinSkin PigmentationYoung AdultBroad assessmentChineseCross-sectional studyPrincipal Component AnalysisSaggingSingapore/Malaysia Cross-sectional Genetics Epidemiology StudySkin ageingSkin agingSMCGESWrinkling

Identifiers

PMID39923103
PMCPMC11806859

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.