Yellowness in skin complexion: Analysis of self-perception of women in China evaluated against clinical parameters of yellowness.

Background: Skin "yellowness" is an abstract and subjective term, without a definitive measurement protocol. Objectives were to analyze Chinese women's self-perception of skin yellowness and associated parameters and identify objective clinical measurements that correlate with these perceptions.

Methods: Following focus group discussions, criteria for skin yellowness were defined, and validated by volunteer rankings of facial images. A typology study of 185 women was performed. Participants were grouped into yellow (Color Uniformity, Brightness and Transparency (CUBT) yellow scale grade > 3, chromameter b* value > 16) and non-yellow (CUBT yellow scale grade < 2, b* value < 14) groups. Participants self-evaluated their skin on yellowness, transparency, skin uniformity, dullness, radiance, oiliness, and texture. Expert assessments were performed to grade sebaceous pores, ocular area pigmentation, pigmentary spots and CUBT scores. Instrumental analysis of the skin was employed using corneometer, sebumeter, mexameter chromameter, and AGE reader.

Results: Women in the yellow group self-evaluated their skin as significantly duller, less uniform, and less radiant than women in the non-yellow group (P ≤ 0.05). Higher levels of ocular area pigmentation and lower facial skin uniformity and brightness (P < 0.001) were observed in women with yellow skin. CUBT expert grading showed lower pink skin color, but significantly higher beige, yellow, and olive pigmentation (P ≤ 0.05) in women in the yellow skin group. Melanin and b* values were significantly higher in women with yellow skin while L value was significantly lower.

Conclusion: Self-perceived skin yellowness in Chinese women correlates to chromameter and mexameter measurements, as well as expert evaluation of ocular pigmentation and CUBT parameters.