Facial Pigmentation Research Articles

Combining Topical and Oral Botanicals for Skin Redness, Pigmentation, Sleep, and Mood: A Randomized Controlled Study.

External and internal stressors have been found to adversely affect skin health and overall wellness. There is growing interest in the use of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant plant-derived ingredients, such as ashwagandha, saffron, l-theanine, and tocopherol, to mitigate the impact of these stressors. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of oral and topical products (InnerCalm and SuperCalm, respectively) that contain naturally derived ingredients on skin redness, skin pigmentation, sleep, and mood in healthy females with Fitzpatrick skin type 1-4 and self-perceived sensitive skin. Subjects were randomized to an oral (oral group), a topical (topical group), or a combination of both the oral and topical interventions (combined group). Standardized photography-based image analysis was used to assess skin redness and pigment. Self-assessments of mood and sleep were measured with the abbreviated profile of mood states (POMS) questionnaire, and the Pittsburgh sleep-quality index (PSQI), respectively. Assessments were made at the baseline, 1-week, 4-weeks, and 8-weeks of the intervention. The average facial redness decreased in the topical group at 8-weeks (p < 0.001) and in the combined group at 4-weeks (p < 0.05) and 8-weeks (p < 0.001), relative to the baseline. The average facial pigmentation decreased in the oral (p < 0.05) and combined (p < 0.05) cohorts at 8-weeks, relative to the baseline. The oral group exhibited an improvement in sleep quality at 1-week relative to the baseline (p < 0.05) and at 8-weeks relative to the baseline (p < 0.05). Finally, the combined group demonstrated improvement in fatigue (p < 0.01) and confusion (p < 0.05) at 8-weeks relative to the baseline, though total mood disturbance increased in all 3 groups over the course of the study. Measured outcomes relating to mood may be confounded with the timing of the study, which ran during the COVID pandemic. Overall, we demonstrate the role of oral and topical herbs and of nutraceuticals for skin health and wellness. Further research will be needed to elucidate synergistic effects in oral and topical combination regimens.

Chicken soup for the skin!

Chicken soup is a worldwide dish used in folk medicine to treat respiratory infections. In ancient and medieval times, it was used to treat leprosy. Anecdotally, it is claimed that chicken soup promotes healthy skin because it is rich in collagen and hyaluronic acid. One clinical study found that consumption of chicken soup by human individuals increased skin elasticity and decreased facial pigmentation. More research is needed to confirm these benefits and better define the role chicken soup consumption might have in promoting healthy, youthful skin.

Use of Retinoids in Topical Antiaging Treatments: A Focused Review of Clinical Evidence for Conventional and Nanoformulations.

Nowadays, numerous skincare routines are used to rejuvenate aging skin. Retinoids are one of the most popular ingredients used in antiaging treatments. Among the representatives of retinoids, tretinoin is considered the most effective agent with proven antiaging effects on the skin and can be found in formulations approved as medicines for topical treatment of acne, facial wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Other retinoids present in topical medicines are used for various indications, but only tazarotene is also approved as adjunctive agent for treatment of facial fine wrinkling and pigmentation. The most commonly used retinoids such as retinol, retinaldehyde, and retinyl palmitate are contained in cosmeceuticals regulated as cosmetics. Since clinical efficacy studies are not required for marketing cosmetic formulations, there are concerns about the efficacy of these retinoids. From a formulation perspective, retinoids pose a challenge to researchers as a result of their proven instability, low penetration, and potential for skin irritation. Therefore, novel delivery systems based on nanotechnology are being developed to overcome the limitations of conventional formulations and improve user compliance. In this review, the clinical evidence for retinoids in conventional and nanoformulations for topical antiaging treatments was evaluated. In addition, an overview of the comparison clinical trials between tretinoin and other retinoids is presented. In general, there is a lack of evidence from properly designed clinical trials to support the claimed efficacy of the most commonly used retinoids as antiaging agents in cosmeceuticals. Of the other retinoids contained in medicines, tazarotene and adapalene have clinically evaluated antiaging effects compared to tretinoin and may be considered as potential alternatives for antiaging treatments. The promising potential of retinoid nanoformulations requires a more comprehensive evaluation with additional studies to support the preliminary findings.

To explore the potential molecular mechanism of complex rose-bergamot essential oil on anti-anxiety with facial spots based on network pharmacology.

To explore the potential mechanism of complex rose-bergamot essential oil against anxiety accompanied with facial spots through network pharmacology. The components of rose and bergamot essential oils were determined by GC-MS and obtained from literature, and their action targets were predicted by PubChem, SwissADME and SwissTargetPrediction databases. Using "Anxiety disorder" and "Facial pigmentation" as keywords, the relevant targets of anxiety disorder and facial spots were mined in the databases of DrugBank, TTD, GeneCards, and OMIM. The intersection targets of complex rose-bergamot essential oil and anxiety accompanied with facial spots diseases were obtained by making Venn diagram, respectively. Protein-protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of intersection targets were carried out through STRING platform, Metascape, and KEGG Mapper databases. The "complex essential oil- component- target- pathway" network was constructed by Cytoscape software. The key active compounds and core targets were docked by AutoDock software. A total of 34 active components of complex rose-bergamot essential oil and 405 corresponding targets were obtained. The intersection targets of complex essential oil with anxiety disorder and facial spot were 88 and 34, respectively, and the related KEGG pathways were 137 and 123 items, respectively. Neroli acetate, Neroli alcohol, and Linalool in complex rose-bergamot essential oil could play a therapeutic role in anxiety disorder by regulating key targets such as SLC6A4, GRIN2B and DRD2 to participate in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and serotonergic synapse and other pathways, they also could play a role in the treatment of facial spots by regulating key targets such as EGFR, VEGFA, and PIK3CA in the PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT and other signal pathways. The molecular docking between the key compounds and the core targets showed that the binding energy was less than 0kcal /mol, indicating that the compound and the target could bind stably. Complex rose-bergamot essential oil can play a role in the treatment of anxiety disorder with facial spots through the synergistic mechanism of multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway.

Epidemiological survey of the quantity and anatomical position of facial pigmented spots in relation to age in 454 Japanese women.

Facial pigmented spots are one of the phenotypes of skin aging, but no quantitative analysis of spot features such as color intensity, size, anatomical position, and number on the cheek has yet been performed. In the current study, we conducted an epidemiological survey of 454 Japanese women in their 20s to 70s and analyzed age-related changes and site differences of facial pigmented spots. Using image analysis of high-resolution digital facial photographs, 4912 individual pigmented spots were quantified according to color, size, anatomical position, and total number on the cheek. As a result of color analysis, the color intensity of individual pigmented spots increased with aging, significantly so between ages 30s and 50s. The age-related increase in melanin index of facial spots was confirmed in all sites but did not significantly differ between facial subregions. Regarding the size of pigmented spots, the frequency of large spots increased with age, and large spots were detected in all facial sites. The total number of pigmented spots on the entire cheek increased with aging, significantly so between the 20s and 40s. The number of pigmented spots tended to increase from the region near the canthi to the lower cheeks. The number of spots was markedly increased in the buccal regions compared with the infraorbital and zygomatic regions. The data and methodology presented in the current study can link the state of facial pigmentation with the various factors involved in the histological development of pigmented spots, opening new possibilities in the fields of skin pharmacology and dermatology.

31201 Early treatment initiation improves outcomes in nevus of Ota: A 10-year retrospective study

Background: Nevus of Ota is a psychologically burdensome facial pigmentation disorder common in Asian populations. While laser therapy is currently first-line treatment, guidelines for when to initiate treatment do not exist.

A CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF FACIAL HYPERMELANOSIS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTER, ANANTHAPURAM

Background: A group of heterogenous entities having the common clinical feature of altered facial pigmentation have been informally called as facial melanoses. Since, the cosmetic disgurement is easily visible, it has a lot of impact on the psychological well being of the person. To assess the patients of facial hyper pigmentary disorders for demographic , etiological and clinicalAim: prole. A prospective clinical study was conducted in a tertiary care center in Ananthapuram over period of 6 months. 100 patientsMethods: with facial hyper pigmentary disorders were assessed by detailed history and clinical examination. In our study, most common age groupResults: which sought treatment was 30-50 years. Female were predominantly affected. ve different facial melanosis were observed which included melasma, postinammatory hyperpigmentation, reihl's melanosis, exogenous ochronosis,topical steroid damaged face. Reihl's melanosis was the most common disorder reported by 30 patients out of 100. Limitations: Dermoscopy could not be done to resource constraint. Conclusion: Increase in awareness and concern with appearance has led to an increase in reported incidence of facial melanosis in both sexes. Prior application of over-the-counter products poses difculty in correct evaluation and treatment. Psychological evaluation forms an integral part of the treatment of these patients.

LB942 Prospective randomized controlled trial on the effects of almonds on the gut microbiome in association with the gut-skin axis and skin related effects

Almonds are a rich source of fatty acids, phytochemical polyphenols, and antioxidants such as vitamin E. We previously showed that 24 weeks of almond consumption significantly decreased facial wrinkle severity and pigmentation. Sebum excretion increased in the control group while there was no increase in the almond group. Here, we analyze how the gut microbiome was altered after almond consumption and how this may contribute to the gut-skin axis. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study included postmenopausal women (n=56) who consumed 20% of their daily energy consumption in either almonds (n=28) or calorie-matched snacks (n=28) for 24 weeks. Stool samples were analyzed with whole-genome sequencing to detect microbial abundance as well as functional gene expression. In the almond intervention group, there was a significant increase in Bacteroidetes phylum and in Butyricimonas virosa abundance (p<0.05), which are known short-chain fatty acid producers. The functional analysis demonstrated an increase in microbial queuosine biosynthesis, glycolysis VI, and mannitol cycle, and decrease in formaldehyde assimilation II (RuMP cycle) and superpathway of L-serine and glycine biosynthesis I in the almond intervention group (p<0.05). On the other hand, control snack supplementation was augmented for microbial glycogen degradation I (p<0.05), suggesting that there was an increased load of glucose to the gut in the control group, in agreement with the increased glucose content in the control group. The daily consumption of almonds may beneficially alter the gut microbiome in association with previously noted changes in the skin. Changes in the gut microbiome may also reflect the glycemic load of the food interventions.

Intradermal injection of tranexamic acid combined with topical hydroquinone cream versus topical hydroquinone cream alone in the treatment of melasma

Background: Melasma is a common acquired skin disorder that presents as a bilateral, blotchy, brownish facial pigmentation due to a dysfunction in melanogenesis. It is most common in people who tans easily or have naturally brown skin (Fitzpatrick’s skin phototypes III, IV). Although several treatments are currently used, it remains a great challenge. Aim: This study aims to compare the efficacy of intradermal injection of tranexamic acid (TA) combined with topical hydroquinone cream versus hydroquinone (HQ) cream in the treatment of melasma. Materials and Methods: In thisinterventional prospective comparative clinical trial study, 31 patients with facial melasma were divided randomly into 2 groups, A (16 patients) and B (15 patients). Group A received the combination treatment of intralesional tranexamic acid and topical hydroquinone cream, while group B received topical hydroquinone cream alone. Both groups were assessed by MASI score at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. Results: Thirty-one patients (16 in group A and 15 in group B) completed the study. According to the decline in MASI score, the combination of tranexamic acid and hydroquinone was more effective than hydroquinone alone in the treatment of melasma. Conclusion: Injection of TA intradermally combined with topical HQ cream can be an effective treatment for melasma.

The history of melasma: Its roots and evolution

AbstractMelanosis or “black degeneration” was the first term used to describe a diseased state involving darkening of visceral structures. In 1910, melanosis localized to the skin was described and years subsequent to that the term chloasma was coined to describe dark facial pigmentation. Melasma and chloasma were used interchangeably for many years until melasma became the more widely used term to describe dark facial pigmentation in a butterfly distribution. For decades, there have been various theories regarding the etiology of melasma. In the 1930s, it was theorized to have been caused by perfume application to the upper cutaneous lip and was associated with vitamin C deficiency. It was thought to only occur in women until cases arose of in men around 1988. It was also thought to occur exclusively in white skin until studies in the early 1960s found the incidence of chloasma to be as high as 34% among Puerto Rican women taking contraceptives. It was not until 1963 that a study found an association between melasma and oral contraceptive use, tying the cause of the pigmentation to underlying hormonal exposure. To date, there has been a significant increase in the understanding of the pathogenesis of melasma as well as treatment options to keep it in remission, though no cure exists at this time. The purpose of this study is to provide a historical overview of the evolution of melasma as a clinical condition as well as an understanding of its pathogenesis and treatment options.

Current Landscape of Generative Adversarial Networks for Facial Deidentification in Dermatology: Systematic Review and Evaluation.

Deidentifying facial images is critical for protecting patient anonymity in the era of increasing tools for automatic image analysis in dermatology. The aim of this paper was to review the current literature in the field of automatic facial deidentification algorithms. We conducted a systematic search using a combination of headings and keywords to encompass the concepts of facial deidentification and privacy preservation. The MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase (via Elsevier), and Web of Science (via Clarivate) databases were queried from inception to May 1, 2021. Studies of incorrect design and outcomes were excluded during the screening and review process. A total of 18 studies reporting on various methodologies of facial deidentification algorithms were included in the final review. The study methods were rated individually regarding their utility for use cases in dermatology pertaining to skin color and pigmentation preservation, texture preservation, data utility, and human detection. Most studies that were notable in the literature addressed feature preservation while sacrificing skin color and texture. Facial deidentification algorithms are sparse and inadequate for preserving both facial features and skin pigmentation and texture quality in facial photographs. A novel approach is needed to ensure greater patient anonymity, while increasing data access for automated image analysis in dermatology for improved patient care.

The role of patch and photopatch tests in facial melanoses: A cross-sectional, observational study

Background: Facial pigmentation includes various entities such as melasma, lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP), and pigmented contact dermatitis. The pathogenesis may involve certain allergens, which may be responsible for causing a disturbance in the dermoepidermal junction. The elimination of such inciting allergens may aid in the successful treatment of these patients. Objective: The aim was to detect contact allergens with patch and photopatch testing in facial pigmentary disorders. Methods: Fifty patients with facial pigmentary disorders were enrolled. After taking a demographic profile and detailed clinical history and performing an examination, patch and photopatch testing was done using a common suspected allergen series. Results: Out of the fifty patients tested, 28 (56%) showed a positive patch test, while 2 (4%) showed a positive photopatch test. The most common allergen found was a fragrance mix in 17 (34%) patients, followed by paraphenylenediamine (PPD) in 11 (22%). Other allergens showing positivity were nickel sulfate, benzocaine, parthenium, benzophenone-3, octyl methoxycinnamate, etc. Conclusion: Patients with facial pigmentation may have an underlying component of contact dermatitis, which may be a causative or aggravating factor. The avoidance of these allergens may help in increasing the efficacy of treatment in these patients.

Avocado Consumption Increased Skin Elasticity and Firmness in Women - A Pilot Study.

Avocados are a rich dietary source of monounsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. Clinical studies have demonstrated that oral consumption of carotenoids improved skin aging. However, no studies have investigated whether oral intake of avocado will reduce skin aging. We therefore performed this pilot study to assess whether oral consumption of one avocado daily for 8weeks can reduce skin aging in healthy overweight women assessing skin physical characteristics and resistance to UVB radiation. Thirty-nine female participants (age 27-73years) with Fitzpatrick skin type II-IV were randomly assigned to consume either one avocado daily or continue habitual diet for 8weeks. Facial skin elasticity, firmness, pigmentation, sebum, and hydration were determined using a cutometer on the forehead and under eye. Minimal erythema dose (MED) was determined by standardized protocol at inner arm. Elasticity and firmness were increased at forehead comparing 8weeks to baseline in the avocado group. Comparing avocado to control, change in firmness marker from baseline to week 8 indicated a significant increase in forehead skin firmness in the avocado group. We did not observe any change in hydration, pigmentation, sebum, and UVB resistance between the avocado and control group, although changes in melanin and erythema were observed in both groups over time. Our findings suggest that daily oral avocado consumption may lead to enhanced elasticity and firmness of the facial skin in healthy women. Further studies of other skin locations are required to establish the connection between avocado consumption and skin aging.

Non-tumorous facial pigmentation classification based on multi-view convolutional neural network with attention mechanism

Diagnosis of non-tumorous facial pigmentation is an important and difficult issue in the field of dermatology (For example, chloasma and freckles are too similar to distinguish, but they often appear at the same time). In this paper, different from other studies, we used images with nine different forms (views) to comprehensively diagnose these diseases for the first time. In detail, firstly, we collected and published the first multi-view non-tumorous facial pigmentation (MVNFP) dataset provided as the benchmark for classification and segmentation problems: MVNFP, where each face consists of 9 images: 1) Standard Image, 2) Polarization Image, 3) Oil Secretion Image, 4) Sunshine Damage Image, 5) Pigmentation Image, 6) Physiological Aging Image, 7) Sensitive Image, 8) Brown Image, 9) Pigmentation Trend Image. MVNFP has a total of 10,719 images, 5 categories which brings great convenience for the follow-up research. Secondly, to make full use of the informations behind these images described from different views, we use multi-view convolutional neural network to diagnose these indistinguishable diseases. In addition, we introduced the attention mechanisms, and at the same time deeply studied the many influencing factors of multi-view non-tumorous facial pigmentation diagnosis. All experimental results show our method has achieved state-of-the-art results on the MVNFP dataset. Code and MVNFP dataset are released at:https://github.com/sunshiding/MVNFP.git.

Clinico-investigative Study of Facial Acanthosis Nigricans.

Background:Facial acanthosis nigricans (FAN) is an underrecognized and underdiagnosed entity. The typical presentation of acanthosis nigricans (AN) seen elsewhere on the body like axillae and groins is not seen on the face, making it mimic other pigmentary disorders. Moreover, FAN is seldom not accompanied with AN on the classical sites making the diagnosis challenging. The aims of this study were to determine clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathological features of FAN and to estimate the prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance (IR) in FAN.Methods:Forty cases of FAN and forty healthy nonobese individuals with comparable ages and gender were included in the study. Body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, and serum fasting lipid levels were used to evaluate obesity, whereas serum fasting insulin and Homeostatic Model of Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were used to evaluate IR. Dermoscopy was performed in all cases. Histopathological features of the skin biopsies were reviewed.Results:Out of the 40 cases, 24 were male and 16 were female. The patterns of facial pigmentation in addition to the classic pattern were a hyperpigmented band over forehead (55%), periorbital darkening (25%), perioral (10%), and generalized darkening (10%). Dermoscopy in all cases revealed linear crista cutis, sulcus cutis, and hyperpigmented dots in crista cutis. Biopsy of 20 cases showed mild hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis, and increase in basal melanin. Clinico-dermoscopic-histological correlation showed that milder (light brown) variants of FAN had follicular plugging and subtle sulci pattern with irregular brown globules and perifollicular pigmentation on dermoscopy and mild hyperkeratosis and hypermelanization of the basal layer with minimal acanthosis and papillomatosis on histopathology. On the other hand, chronic variants (dark brown and black) showed prominent sulci, larger brown globules, and perifollicular hyperpigmentation on dermoscopy and moderate hyperkeratosis and hypermelanization of the basal layer with moderate to severe acanthosis and papillomatosis on histopathology. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, fasting serum triglyceride, and total cholesterol were statistically significantly high in cases in comparison with controls (P-value <0.05).Conclusions:Varied clinical presentations of FAN were observed. Dermoscopy and histopathology provide a good aid. FAN may be considered as a cutaneous marker of obesity and IR. Thus, FAN should be suspected in patients presenting with facial melanosis who are obese and have AN over other sites, although FAN can also present de novo.

Pigmented demodicidosis - an under-recognized cause of facial hyperpigmentation.

There is a paucity of data regarding demodicidosis-associated facial hyperpigmentation. To delineate the clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathologic features of demodicidosis-associated facial hyperpigmentation. Clinical and diagnostic data were collected from the medical files of patients who were referred to our outpatient dermatology clinic in 2006-2019 for evaluation of facial hyperpigmentation and were diagnosed with demodicidosis. The cohort included 19 patients (13 male) aged 42-76 years, all with Fitzpatrick skin type 3-4. All presented with mostly asymptomatic dusky, brown-gray, facial pigmentation, localized or diffuse with background erythema in 36.8% of cases, and skin roughness in 26.3%. Dermoscopy yielded characteristic findings of white gelatinous or opaque protrusions from hair follicles or infiltration of follicular openings with an amorphic material. A specific finding was perifollicular and reticulated pigmentation of the affected areas. Findings were confirmed on microscopic (n = 7) and histopathologic (n = 5) studies. Anti-demodectic treatment led to complete (73.6%) or partial (23.4%) resolution of pigmentation within 2 years. We describe unique clinicopathological and dermoscopic findings associated with an under-recognized type of facial hyperpigmentation caused by demodex for which we propose the term "pigmented demodicidosis." Demodicidosis should be added to the list of causes of facial hyperpigmentation.

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Herbal Drugs Used as Adjunctive Therapy for Melasma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Background Melasma is an acquired disorder of facial pigmentation. Its etiology is multifactorial; thus, the management is usually challenging. As a complementary therapy, herbal drugs are often used in the management of melasma. This work was aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of herbal drugs on melasma in female patients. Methods This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted, and all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of oral herbal drugs as complementary therapy for melasma in female patients were included. A meta-analysis was conducted according to the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration using Review Manager 5.4. Results Ten eligible trials, with 1015 female melasma patients, were included. All of the included RCTs had some concerns for risk of bias for different reasons, especially for that most of included trials were unblinded. Pooled data suggested phytotherapy plus routine therapy had significantly better efficacy on melasma than routine therapy, in terms of response rate (OR: 4.49, 95% CI: 3.25 to 6.20, p < 0.00001), reduction of skin lesion score (SMD: −0.56, 95% CI: −0.79 to −0.33, p < 0.00001), and improvement of serum E2 levels (SMD: −1.58, 95% CI: −2.62 to −0.55, p 0.003). In addition, there was no significant difference in the incidence of AEs between phytotherapy plus routine therapy and routine therapy (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.53 to 1.58; p 0.76). Overall, herbal drugs used as an adjunct to routine therapy significantly enhanced the efficacy for the treatment of melasma but with a comparable safety profile. Conclusion These findings have implications for recommending herbal drugs as a viable complementary treatment option for melasma.

Оценка эффективности лечения мелазмы по биофизическим показателям кожи

This article presents an assessment of the effectiveness of treatment of melasma according to the biophysical indicators of skin 176 patients who applied to the DIVA EFFECT private cosmetology clinic in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) in 2018–2020. The control group included 85 women without facial skin pigmentation. Criteria for inclusion in the study of patients: age 20–60 years, skin pigmentation for 1–12 years, residence in Kyrgyzstan, informed consent and consent to procedures for diagnosis, treatment. Amounts of sebum on skin surface, level of skin moisture and pigmentation, acid-alkaline balance of skin are determined. Despite the lack of sebum in all types of melasma, greater fat content was detected at 20–29 years old, including in the control group. The treatment helped to increase skin humidity, but with different intensities. Treatment slightly increased skin humidity, but only dry skin was characteristic of patients, both in the experimental and control groups. In patients of the control group, skin pH was from 4.1±0.5 to 4.8±0.5. The acid-alkaline balance of the skin in patients was mainly lower than normal, with the exception of the age group of 20–29 years, 30–39 years with dermal melasma. After treatment, the melanin content was within normal range at all types of melasma compared to the control group. The treatment performed reduced skin greasiness in epidermal and dermal type, acid-alkaline skin balance in dermal and mixed type. Melanin levels decreased and skin humidity increased slightly with all types.

Classification of Non-tumorous Facial Pigmentation Disorders Using Generative Adversarial Networks and Improved SMOTE.

The diagnosis of non-tumorous facial pigmentation disorders is crucial since facial pigmentations can serve as a health indicator for other more serious diseases. The computer-based classification of non-tumorous facial pigmentation disorders using images / photographs allows automated diagnosis of such disorders. However, the classification performance of existing methods is still not satisfactory due to the limited real-world images available for research. In this paper, we proposed a novel approach to applying generative adversarial network (GAN) with improved synthetic minority over-sampling technique (Improved SMOTE) to enhance the image dataset with more varieties. With the application of Improved SMOTE, more data is provided to train GAN models. By utilizing the GAN to perform data augmentation, more diverse and effective training images can be generated for developing classification model using deep neural networks via transfer learning. A significant increase in the classification accuracy (>4%) was achieved by the proposed method compared to the state-of-the-art method.

Early Treatment Initiation Improves Outcomes in Nevus of Ota: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.

Nevus of Ota is a psychologically burdensome facial pigmentation birthmark common in Asian populations. Laser therapy is currently the first-line treatment, but no guidelines on when to initiate treatment have yet been established. Our objective was to determine the correlation between treatment efficacy and safety, risk of recurrence, and age of treatment initiation in patients receiving laser therapy for nevus of Ota. We conducted a 10-year (2008-2018) retrospective cohort study of all patients who completed a minimum of five laser treatments at Siriraj Skin Laser Center, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 84 patients (aged 4 months-50 years) with nevus of Ota lesions were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated with a 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG or a 755-nm or 1064-nm picosecond-domain laser (or a combination thereof). Our analysis identified that initiation of laser therapy before the age of 5 years was a significant factor in reducing the number of sessions necessary to achieve aesthetic improvement (P < 0.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-3.21). In total, 18 patients (21.4%) initiating treatment before the age of 5 years required an average of 2, 4, and 7 treatment sessions to achieve > 25, 50, and 75% of pigment lightening, respectively, whereas 66 patients (78.6%) initiating treatment after the age of 5 years required an average of 3, 7, and 11 sessions to achieve comparable clearance. The risk of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was significantly lower in patients starting treatment before the age of 5 years (P < 0.01; 95% CI - 43.76 to - 11.94). Recurrences were not observed in patients achieving >95% clearance. In our patient cohort, initiation of laser treatment for nevus of Ota before the age of 5 years significantly improved therapeutic outcomes and reduced the risk of adverse events and recurrence. ClinicalTrials.gov PRS number: NCT04481178.