Effects of seasonality and a daily sun-protection upon some facial signs of Chinese women

Abstract

Objectives

These were two-fold: i) to record through standardized pictures, the possible changes in 31 facial signs induced, in a 6-month period, by the periodical shift from winter to summer in a group of 43 Chinese women and ii) to appraise the preventive effects of a strong photo-protective product, daily applied to the faces of an additional group (N=40) of women of same age-range and presenting same severities of facial signs in winter.

Methods

Facial signs (structural and pigmentation-related) were scored in blind by a panel of 12 experts from photographs taken under standard conditions. Scorings were performed under specific scales as established by a previously published referential Skin Atlas of Asian skin.

Results

A significant seasonal impact was found for more than 60% of facial signs, i.e. presenting a higher severity in summer in the unprotected group. Some changes are of a low or subtle extent whereas some others show significant amplitudes. The latter comprise 8 signs, among the 31, that became, far above scoring threshold, indeed affected during this 6-month period. The observed changes in 6 of these 8 signs, in majority related to pigmentation, appeared efficiently alleviated in the photo-protected group.

Conclusion

The shift from winter to summer exposure is confirmed in altering some facial pigmented signs among Chinese women. Such changes appear much alleviated by a daily strong photo-protective regimen.

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