Acne and blemish evaluation with the C-Cube 3 by Pixience via FOCUS #10

26 June 2024

Acne is a multifactorial skin disease affecting mainly the pilosebaceous follicles, it represents a common but complex dermatological condition.

Acne can be linked to hormonal imbalances but also to genetic and environmental factors. It affects a wide range of the population, mainly adolescents and young adults, but can also persist into adulthood, thus constituting a major challenge for dermocosmetics.

Given the complexity of this pathology, an accurate evaluation of acne and its effects on the skin requires state-of-the-art tools and analysis methods. In this context, a technology such as the C-Cube represents a significant advance in the clinical world.

The C-Cube 3 has been specifically designed to observe and quantify the effects of your cosmetics ranges. With its CIE L*a*b* measurements, it allows you to image and measure the degree of effectiveness of your active ingredients on the skin and scalp. With the data contained in each pixel and the placement of ROI in the image, you ensure control and accuracy in your studies.

You can also make 3D acquisitions of the surface of the skin. Using a technique called stereo photometric, the C-Cube system analyzes multiple images under different lighting conditions to estimate surface normals. Combined with geometric calibration, the software produces elevation information for each pixel.

By combining rigorous scientific approaches with cutting-edge tools, it becomes possible to better understand the mechanisms of acne, to evaluate the effectiveness of products and thus to optimize its management.

The C-Cube is the ideal tool for measuring all acne characteristics.

Pimple Elevation

Pimples are one of the most common symptoms of acne, manifesting as papules, pustules, or nodules on the skin, resulting from pores and inflammation obstruction. The elevation of the buttons can be reduced by some products.

Thanks to its unique 3D parameter measurement capability, it is possible to measure button elevation with peak height (Sp) and total amplitude (Sz).

An effect of the tested product can be proven if the elevation of the peak decreases over time.

Roughness

The C-Cube is undeniably the best option for assessing even the most subtle changes. Beyond measuring pimple elevation, it is capable of observing very small signs of acne before they worsen with inflammation. This is akin to measuring skin texture, invisible to the eye.

This can provide information about future cysts that may become inflamed in the following days.

Sebum

Acne-prone skin tends to produce a higher amount of sebum than normal. Many products are intended to regulate sebum production.

Thanks to the C-Cube and its sampling reader, it is possible to collect sebum on the skin and analyze it in order to study the sebum-regulating effects of your ranges.

The colour of the sampling area is grey and uniform, so that dark sebum spots can be clearly distinguished. The samples taken from these patches are analyzed with the Pixience sample reader and the C-Cube camera in a standardized and systematic way. The analysis of the intensity levels in the sample area makes it possible to determine a threshold between the “background” (the gray area of the sample) and the intensity of the light “form” (the black area, i.e. sebum).

This makes it easy to distinguish them and measure the relative surface area of sebum in relation to the total area of the spot (expressed as a percentage of the total area).

Blackheads

Blackheads are small heaps of sebum produced by the sebaceous glands and by keratin deposits that clog pores. With the increase in production on acne-prone skin, it is therefore common to be confronted with the appearance of blackheads.

The C-Cube can measure the number of blackheads and the average diameter. Its field of view is constant and calibrated, which means that the surface of the photo is always the same (1.92cm²). The density is therefore obtained by dividing the number of pores by the surface area of 1.92 cm².

Pores

Excessive sebum production can affect pore size. These can expand.

Thanks to its reliable dimensional measurements and metric calibration, the C-Cube can detect the number of pores and measure them, in both 2D and 3D.

In 2D, this consists of color analysis, followed by shape identification to eliminate other objects and preserve only the pores.

The results consist of black-and-white processed images and a spreadsheet with the middle area, median diameter, and pore density of each image.

3D analysis provides an additional dimension of pore depth. The 3D approach improves the sensitivity of pore detection, allowing for the assessment of pore depth and possible pore filling.