Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41939261›Full record

ArticleClinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology2026

Bridging Accessibility and Precision: Evaluating the Reliability and Validity of a Smartphone-Based Skin Colorimeter.

Hongfei Ouyang, Jungang Yang, Xiaoli Ning, Qingyue Xia, Xianbo Zuo, Jingkai Xu, Yujun Sheng, Jinyan Song, Zitao Ma, Liang Wu and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

12 authors.

Hongfei OuyangChina-Japan Friendship Hospital (Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-6046-112X
Jungang YangDepartment of Dermatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Xiaoli NingDepartment of Dermatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-2924-6034
Qingyue XiaChina-Japan Friendship Hospital (Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Xianbo ZuoDepartment of Dermatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Jingkai XuDepartment of Dermatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Yujun ShengDepartment of Dermatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Jinyan SongHangzhou C2H4 Internet Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Zitao MaHangzhou C2H4 Internet Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Liang WuHangzhou C2H4 Internet Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Xuejiao SongDepartment of Dermatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Yong CuiChina-Japan Friendship Hospital (Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Accurate quantification of skin color is essential for dermatologic research and clinical practice. Conventional methods rely on specialized equipment, trained operators, and high costs. Smartphone-based technologies provide a promising alternative for accessible skin color assessment. Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the smartphone-based skin colorimeter application, You Look Good Today (YLGTD), for facial skin color assessment compared with two validated devices, VISIA and DermaLab Combo. Methods: A total of 105 Chinese participants with healthy facial skin were enrolled. Cheek skin color measurements were obtained using YLGTD (user self-assessment and physician measurement modes), VISIA, and DermaLab Combo. Inter-rater reliability between YLGTD measurement modes was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. Criterion validity was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficients between YLGTD measurements and the reference devices. Results: YLGTD demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability across all parameters (ICC: 0.85-0.95). Bland-Altman analysis showed small biases between the two measurement modes for the L, a, and b (-0.05, 0.18, and -0.99, respectively). For criterion validity, YLGTD in user mode showed strong correlations with DermaLab Combo for L* (r = 0.71), individual typology angle (ITA°, r = -0.81), and chroma (C*, r = 0.78), and moderate correlations for b* (r = 0.59) and hue (h°, r = 0.57). Correlations were consistently stronger in physician mode (L*: r = 0.77; b*: r = 0.75; C*: r = 0.84; ITA°: r = -0.87). VISIA showed a stronger correlation for a* (r = 0.55) but weaker correlations for L* (r = 0.56) and ITA° (r = -0.68) compared with YLGTD. Conclusion: The smartphone-based application YLGTD demonstrated excellent reliability and acceptable validity for facial skin color assessment, particularly for pigmentation-related parameters. Its standardized measurement workflow and integrated algorithms enable consistent skin color evaluation across devices and real-world conditions, providing a convenient and cost-effective approach for objective skin color assessment.

Indexed as

device validationreliabilityskin colorskin colorimetrysmartphone applicationYLGTD

Identifiers

PMID41939261
PMCPMC13050169

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.