Background
Artificial Intelligence (A.I) and deep learning-based algorithms are increasingly being used in dermatology following the emergence of powerful smartphones with high-resolution cameras.
Objectives
To use an A.I-based algorithm, validated by dermatologists, to compare the evolution of the skin ageing process among Chinese and European women.
Methods
Selfie images were taken by 465 587 European and 79 016 Chinese women ranging from 18 to 85 and 18 to 69 years old, respectively, without facial skin diseases and who had access to a smartphone with a high-resolution camera (≥4 Megapixels). The selfies were analysed by facial skin diagnostic using a smartphone application to grade the severity of 9 facial signs (including wrinkles, sagging, vascular, pigmentation signs, pores).
Results
Wrinkles/texture, ptosis and sagging increased linearly with age in European women compared to lower scores and more gradual increase in the younger age-classes in Chinese women. In Chinese women, pigmentation signs increased regularly between 18 and 40 years, plateaued between 40 and 60 years, then increased in the over 60s compared to lower scores and a slower more regular increase with age in European women. Vascularization signs increased steadily with age in European women compared to no significant change in Chinese women.
