Skin-Colorimeter CL 400

• The absorption and reflection behaviour of skin differs very much from other materials, as the skin consists of different, translucent layers, which makes colour measurements of the skin very complex. The Skin-Colorimeter probe is specially designed to detect smallest colour changes in the skin, thus ideal for comparison measurements.
• The probe features a large illumination area, so that sufficient light reaches the skin surface for the measurement keeping the measuring area small enough to ensure only surface colour is measured and not the colour of deeper layers.
• Very reproducible, economic alternative to other colour measurement devices for colour comparison measurements on the skin surface.
• Very quick and easy measurement (only 1 second)
• Automatic calculation of ITA (Individual Typology Angle) for each measurement. ITA uses L* (luminescence) and b* (yellow chromatic) to classify 6 skin colours from very light to dark.
• Light, constant pressure of the probe on the skin surface with minimized effect on the surface (pressure on the skin leads to changes in microcirculation and thus more reddish colour).
• The accuracy of the Skin-Colorimeter probe can be checked easily anytime.

 

The Skin-Colorimeter CL 400 is available as a stand-alone device, connectable to the MPA systems, or as a wireless probe (please see details in Basic Probe Systems).

The probe sends out white LED light, arranged circularly to uniformly illuminate the skin. The emitted light is scattered in all directions, some parts travel through the layers and some is scattered out of the skin, the light reflected from the skin is measured in the probe and expressed accordingly.

The raw data (XYZ-values) of the probe are corrected with a special colour matrix to be as close as possible to norm values. The measured colour can be calculated into different colour spaces.

RGB colour space: can be understood by thinking of it as all possible colours that can be made from three coloured lights for red, green, and blue.

L*a*b:

The CIELAB color space (also known as L*a*b*) is a color space defined by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). Each letter represents an axis. Correlation between the color space and the human skin:

• L* gives information about the black-white-axis, the brightness/ lightness, the higher L*, the brighter the skin.
• The a*-value located on green-red axis is proportional to the erythema (microcirculation/redness of the skin). A higher a* value corresponds to higher erythema.
• The b*-value located on the blue-yellow axis in literature often describes the pigmentation.

In addition the Individual Typology Angle ITA° is automatically calculated from L* (luminance) and b* (yellow chromatic). ITA° is an established tool to objectify skin colour for predicting the biological consequences of UV exposure on the skin (the lighter the skin, the higher the consequences).

• ITA° > 55°                  “very-light”
• 55° > ITA° > 41°         “light”
• 41° > ITA° > 28°         “intermediate”
• 28° > ITA° > 10°         “tan”
• 10° > ITA° > - 30°       “brown”
• - 30° > ITA°                “dark”

The probe has been developed especially for the needs of measuring changes in the skin & hair color.

Cosmetic and pharmaceutical efficacy tests, like sun screen products, self-tanners, make-ups, whitening products, patch-testing, decorative cosmetics, hair and carotene food supplements.

Typical claims (examples) substantiated with the Skin-Colorimeter: sun protecting, whitening/brightening, skin tone correcting, soothing, micro circulation increasing, vitalising, anti-allergic, anti-irritation, safe, anti-pollution, for sensitive skin, self-tanning, colouring, colour protection, improves healing, concealing, anti-aging, against dark-spots/age-spots/couperosis/dark-circles, non-photosensitive, and many more.

Probe only:

Dimensions: 13 cm, Core measuring area: Ø 5 mm, Illuminated area: approx. 17 mm Ø,

Cable length: approx. 1.3 m, Weight: 85 g

Measurement principle: reflection, Light: 8 white LEDs arranged circularly, range of emitted wavelengths: 440-670 nm, Units: XYZ, RGB, L*a*b* index values (due to the unique structure of the skin and the special light source the values do not fully correspond to ISO standards and are therefore expressed as index values), calibration to skin colours with a special correction matrix

Measurement uncertainty: ± 5 %

For the technical data of the wireless probe, please see Basic Probe Systems.

Technical changes may be made without prior notice.