Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40965876›Full record

ArticleJournal of cosmetic dermatology2025

Development and Validation of Photo-Numerical Scales for Facial Wrinkles on Chinese Population.

Xiaomin Zhao, Yang Yang, Yan Zhong, Hao Ouyang, Claude Saliou, Lily I Jiang

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

6 authors.

Xiaomin ZhaoChina Innovation Labs, Estee Lauder Companies Innovation R&D (China) Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2724-3836
Yang YangSGS CSTC Standards Technical Services, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Yan ZhongChina Innovation Labs, Estee Lauder Companies Innovation R&D (China) Co., Ltd, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Hao OuyangThe Estée Lauder Companies, Melville, New York, USA.
Claude SaliouThe Estée Lauder Companies, Melville, New York, USA.
Lily I JiangSGS Testing & Control Services Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVarious ethnicities age differently due to intrinsic genetic factors and inherent responses to UV exposure. The unique facial skeletal structure and function of Chinese skin can result in distinct aging signs compared to those observed in Caucasians. Additionally, there are limited published photo-numerical scales for cosmetic treatments, which often yield relatively low efficacy compared with aesthetic surgery. Therefore, appropriate and sensitive clinical evaluation tools are needed to accurately assess signs of aging and the efficacy of cosmetic treatments for the Chinese population.

aimsDevelop a new set of photo-numerical scales to evaluate facial wrinkles specifically based on a Chinese population. PATIENTS/

methodsFour photo-numerical wrinkle scales were developed based on Visia-CR images from 5310 Chinese females aged 18-69, focusing on forehead, glabella, crow's feet, and nasolabial fold wrinkles. These 10-point (0-9) scales were rigorously validated for repeatability, reliability, and usability through inter- and intra-grader assessments conducted by multiple clinical research labs. Additionally, the correlation between these scales and objective 3D measurements from the Primos 3D instrument was analyzed. It was further assessed whether the scales were more appropriate and relevant in assessing Chinese skin wrinkles severity when compared to Caucasian skin or mixed population skin scales.

resultsForehead, glabellar, crow's feet, and nasolabial fold wrinkle scales were established based on the Griffith principle with a 10-point harmonious scale. Inter- and intra-grader validation data among 5 graders from different regions in China showed very high correlation scores, with ICC > 0.9 for intra-grader and ICC > 0.8 for inter-grader validation. The results indicate that the scales are highly reproducible and reliable when used by trained graders. Moreover, the grading results by naïve graders correlated well with those by expert graders, suggesting that the scales are user-friendly and easy to apply. A comparison between grading scores and Primos data revealed a strong correlation between wrinkles' volume and grading scores (r = 0.79) and between wrinkles' depth and grading scores (r = 0.82). This crucial validation confirmed that the core range of the scales (mild to moderate, the general target population for cosmetic products) is particularly effective. When compared to previously used Caucasian skin scales, the grading scores obtained from the Chinese wrinkle scales showed significantly higher mean wrinkle severity values (p < 0.001) for the same set of photos, indicating that the new scales are scientifically sound, practical, and suitable for a Chinese population.

conclusionsIn conclusion, the photo-numeric wrinkle scales have demonstrated strong repeatability and reproducibility, high practicality, and reliable correlation with objective measurement. Given the tremendous sample size covering various regions in China, these scales are beneficial tools to evaluate the effectiveness of cosmetic products in a Chinese population.

Indexed as

FacePhotographySkin AgingAdolescentAdultAgedChinaEast Asian PeopleFemaleHumansImaging, Three-DimensionalMiddle AgedReproducibility of ResultsSkinYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40965876
PMCPMC12445401

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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.