Analyzing 16,000 facial images to uncover area-specific aging patterns and associated genes
LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H) has scientifically identified differences in facial aging speed by area using Vision AI technology. The findings were published online in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, a leading international journal in the field of dermatological science.
The paper, titled “Large-Scale Facial Image Analysis and GWAS Unravel the Genetic Architecture of Facial Morphological Aging,” is part of LG H&H’s ongoing “Skin Longevity” research project. By analyzing facial images of 16,000 Korean women, this study is regarded as the largest AI-based facial aging analysis ever conducted in Korea.
The research team collected high-resolution facial images of women in their 20s to 60s and analyzed 68 facial landmarks using Facial Landmark Detection technology. This data was then trained into an AI system to quantify micro-level changes in specific facial regions—such as the eye area, lips, and facial contours—revealing distinct aging speeds depending on age group.
According to the analysis:
- The eye area showed rapid sagging even before age 50,
- The lip area exhibited more noticeable changes after age 50,
- The facial contour gradually changed across all age groups.
Based on these findings, LG H&H proposed an age-customized skincare roadmap, recommending that:
“Individuals in their 30s–40s focus on managing wrinkles around the eyes, while those in their 50s and beyond should emphasize enhancing lip and perioral elasticity.”
