Study of the characteristics of facial skin tone status in 1092 young Chinese females according to the ITA

Background The ITA° is the gold standard for skin tone classification. Different skin tones are often associated with different skin characteristics and issues. Different skin types are often associated with different skin characteristics and issues in China. Aims To study the population's skin color distribution and accompanying skin problems according to the ITA° classification standard. Methods A total of 1092 women aged 22-42 years were recruited in 7 cities in China. All biophysical parameter measurements (SM, CM, TWEL, pH, R2, GLOSS_DSCT, MEXA, ERYTH, ITA°; 9 indexes total) were quantified with noninvasive instruments. All volunteers provided consent before enrollment. Result The main skin color categories were light (II), very light (I), intermediate (III), and tan (IV). The results demonstrated that the characteristics of the facial skin based on the ITA° were significantly different among cities and age groups and were associated with different skin issues. Conclusions Lighter skin was associated with worse skin elasticity; intermediate skin was associated with worse skin hydration content and was most prone to being oily; and darker skin was associated with poor barrier function. Established principal component regression (PCR) indicated that pH, gloss GLOSS_DSC, MEXA, ERYTH, TEWL, and SM had significant effects on the ITA°.