Comparison of facial skin ageing in healthy Asian and Caucasian females quantified by in vivo line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography 3D imaging

• Published in: Skin research and technology 2024-09, Vol.30 (9), p.e13643-n/a
• Main Authors: Ali, Assi, Colombe, Lopez, Mélanie, Pedrazzani, Agnes, Pignol‐Lavoix, Meryem, Nili, Samuel, Ralambondrainy, Guénolé, Grignon, Jean‐Hubert, Cauchard, Rodolphe, Korichi, Franck, Bonnier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging; Algorithms; Artificial intelligence; Asian female; Asian People; Biological activity; Biomarkers; Caucasian female; Cell surface; Epidermis; Epidermis - diagnostic imaging; Face - anatomy & histology; Face - diagnostic imaging; facial ageing; Female; Females; healthy skin; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Imaging; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; In vivo methods and tests; line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; non‐invasive 3D imaging; Nuclei (cytology); Optical Coherence Tomography; Original; Skin Aging - ethnology; Skin Aging - physiology; Standard deviation; Stratum corneum; Thickness; Three dimensional imaging; Tomography; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; White People; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0909-752X; 1600-0846; 1600-0846
• DOI: 10.1111/srt.13643

Background Quantitative biomarkers of facial skin aging were investigated in 109 healthy Asian female volunteers, aged 20 to 70 years. Materials and Methods In vivo 3D Line‐field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography (LC‐OCT) imaging, enhanced by Artificial Intelligence (AI)‐based quantification algorithms, was utilized to compute various metrics, including stratum corneum thickness (SC), viable epidermal (VE) thickness, and Dermal‐Epidermal Junction (DEJ) undulation along with cellular metrics for the temple, cheekbone, and mandible. Results Comparison with data from a cohort of healthy Caucasian volunteers revealed similarities in the variations of stratum corneum and viable epidermis layers, as well as cellular shape and size with age in both ethnic groups. However, specific findings emerged, such as larger, more heterogeneous nuclei in both layers, demonstrated by an increase in nuclei volume and their standard deviation, and increased network atypia, all showing significant age‐related variations. Caucasian females exhibited a flatter and more homogeneous epidermis, evidenced by a decreased standard deviation of the number of layers, and a less dense cellular network with fewer cells per layer, indicated by a decrease in cell surface density. Conclusion Ethnicity‐wise comparisons highlighted distinct biological features specific to each population. Asian individuals showed significantly higher DEJ undulation, higher compactness, and lower cell network atypia compared to their Caucasian counterparts across age groups. Differences in stratum corneum and viable epidermal thickness on the cheekbone were also significant. LC‐OCT 3D imaging provides valuable insights into the aging process in different populations and underscores inherent biological differences between Caucasian and Asian female volunteers.