Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Discrimination Between Cutaneous Pigmentation and Erythema: Comparison of the Skin Colorimeters Dermacatch and Mexameter

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Agache's Measuring the Skin

  • 236 Accesses

Abstract

Background/purpose: Reproducibility and specificity of the present skin colorimeters are still limited as alterations in erythema can bias the measurement of melanin and vice versa. Here, Dermacatch®, a new colorimeter covering the visible light spectrum, has been compared with Mexameter®, an established narrow-band reflectance spectrophotometer.

Methods: Repeated measurements with both devices were initially collected on color charts. Then, measures were compared on 12 human volunteers before and after exposure to UVB, and/or modulation of skin erythema.

Results: In vitro sensitivity of Dermacatch to erythema/melanin covered a broader wavelength spectrum than Mexameter, while in vivo sensitivity of both devices was similar. Interestingly, Mexameter’s melanin and erythema values were falsely affected by an increase in erythema or variation in pigmentation, respectively. On the contrary, Dermacatch’s melanin and erythema values remained constant in the same circumstances. Furthermore, as Mexameter was at least twice less reproducible than Dermacatch, Mexameter showed an increased risk of a confusion over the detection of erythema or melanin fluctuations.

Conclusion: The analysis of more than 18,000 measures indicated that even though the sensitivity of both colorimeters was similar on the skin, Dermacatch showed a significantly higher specificity and reproducibility than Mexameter in the measurement of skin pigmentation and erythema.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 649.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 899.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson PH. In vivo cutaneous assays to evaluate topical corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs using reflectance spectroscopy. In: Berardesca E, Elsner P, Maibach HI, editors. Bioengineering of the skin: cutaneous blood flow and erythema. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 1995. p. 281–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson PH, Bjerring P. Remittance spectroscopy: hardware and measuring principles. In: Berardesca E, Elsner P, Maibach HI, editors. Bioengineering of the skin: cutaneous blood flow and erythema. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 1995. p. 231–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biniek K, Levi K, Dauskardt RH. Solar UV radiation reduces the barrier function of human skin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012;109:17111–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bjerring P. Spectrophotometric characterization of skin pigments and skin colour. In: Serup J, Jemec G, editors. In vivo examination of the skin: a handbook of non-invasive methods. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 1995. p. 373–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan SY, Li Wan Po A. Quantitative evaluation of drug induced erythema by using a tristimulus colour analysis. Skin Pharmacol. 1993;6:298–312.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clarys P, Alewaeters K, Lambrecht R, Barel AO. Skin color measurements: comparison between three instruments: the Chromameter(R), the DermaSpectrometer(R) and the Mexameter(R). Skin Res Technol. 2000;6:230–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DermaSpectrometer. Operation manual. Hadsund: Cortex Technology ApS; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diffey BL, Farr PM. Quantitative aspects of ultraviolet erythema. Clin Phys Physiol Meas. 1991;12:311–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diffey BL, Oliver RJ, Farr PM. A portable instrument for quantifying erythema induced by ultraviolet radiation. Br J Dermatol. 1984;111:663–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Draaijers LJ, Tempelman FR, Botman YA, Kreis RW, Middelkoop E, van Zuijlen PP. Colour evaluation in scars: tristimulus colorimeter, narrow-band simple reflectance meter or subjective evaluation? Burns. 2004;30:103–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elsner P. Chromametry: hardware, measuring principles and standardization of measurements. In: Berardesca E, Elsner P, Maibach HI, editors. Bioengineering of the skin: cutaneous blood flow and erythema. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 1995. p. 247–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erythema Meter. Operation manual. Andover: Diastron; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farr PM, Diffey BL. Quantitative studies on cutaneous erythema induced by ultraviolet radiation. Br J Dermatol. 1984;111:673–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farr PM, Diffey BL. The erythemal response of human skin to ultraviolet radiation. Br J Dermatol. 1985;113:65–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gabard B, Juch R, Treffel P, Bieli E, Clarys P, Barel AO. Quantification of the skin blanching assay by color measurement with the Minolta Chromameter: influence of the vehicle and of the corticosteroid concentration. In: Brain KR, James VJ, Walter KA, editors. Prediction of percutaneous penetration methods, measurements, modelling, vol. 3b. Cardiff: STS Publishing; 1993. p. 511–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mexameter MX 16. Operation manual. Koeln: Courage-Khazaka Electronic; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Queille-Roussel C, Poncet M, Schaefer H. Quantification of skin colour changes induced by topical corticosteroid preparations using the Minolta Chromameter. Br J Dermatol. 1991;124:264–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubegni P, Cevenini G, Stanghellini E, Andreassi M, Sbano P, Fabiani P, Andreassi L. A new device for objective assessment of skin type in Caucasians by violet light reflectance. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2002;4:187–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seitz JC, Whitmore CG. Measurement of erythema and tanning responses in human skin using a tristimulus colorimeter. Dermatologica. 1988;177:70–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takiwaki H, Serup J. Measurement of erythema and melanin values. In: Serup J, Jemec G, editors. In vivo examination of the skin: a handbook of non-invasive methods. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 1995. p. 377–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takiwaki H, Overgaard L, Serup J. Comparison of narrowband reflectance spectrophotometer and tristimulus colorimetric measurements of skin color. Skin Pharmacol. 1994;7:217–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waring MJ, Monger L, Hollingsbee DA, Martin GP, Mariott C. Assessment of corticosteroid skin blanching: evaluation of the Minolta Chromameter CR-200. Int J Pharm. 1993;94:211–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westerhof W. CIE colorimetry. In: Serup J, Jemec G, editors. In vivo examination of the skin: a handbook of non-invasive methods. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 1995. p. 385–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westerhof W, Van Hasselt BA, Kammeijer A. Quantification of UV induced erythema with a portable computer controlled chromameter. Photodermatology. 1986;3:310–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilhem KP, Maibach HI. Evaluation of irritation tests by chromametric measurements. In: Berardesca E, Elsner P, Maibach HI, editors. Bioengineering of the skin: cutaneous blood flow and erythema. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 1995. p. 269–79.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scientis Pharma SA, 23, rue Joseph-Girard, 1227, Geneva, Switzerland

    Mathurin Baquié & Behrooz Kasraee

Authors
  1. Mathurin Baquié
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Behrooz Kasraee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Behrooz Kasraee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France

    Philippe Humbert

  2. Center for Study and Research on the Integuments, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France

    Ferial Fanian

  3. Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

  4. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France

    Pierre Agache

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this entry

Cite this entry

Baquié, M., Kasraee, B. (2017). Discrimination Between Cutaneous Pigmentation and Erythema: Comparison of the Skin Colorimeters Dermacatch and Mexameter. In: Humbert, P., Fanian, F., Maibach, H., Agache, P. (eds) Agache's Measuring the Skin. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32383-1_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32383-1_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-32381-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-32383-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation