Process for measuring the skin surface of an examined person

• US 20040202685A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1981
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Manzo
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Manzo
• Inventors: Manzo, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/401
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2044/007 Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/00 Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks features common to containers for handling powdery or liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D33/00-A45D37/00; cosmetic or like preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; sample tables or the like G09F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/00 Other cosmetic or toiletry articles, e.g. for hairdressers' rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/444 Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 9/04 starting from solid material, e.g. by crushing, grinding or milling C22C1/1084 takes precedence; crushing, grinding or milling, in general, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B02C
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 9/12 starting from gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/61 Micrometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 micrometer
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/84 one phase coated with the other
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/60 Optical properties, e.g. expressed in CIELAB-values
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/62 Metallic pigments or fillers C09C1/0015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0005 Separation of the coating from the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a process of determining individual skin structure and function at a point in time for the purpose of determining and formulating skin care products that remedy the deficiencies observed in the skin. Objective and repeatable dermal biometric instrumentation techniques can be used to measure skin moisture content, sebum content, firmness and elasticity properties, skin thickness, transepidermal water loss, skin pH and to perform a photo analysis of the face with UV and visible light. By customizing the skin care products, the individually added active ingredients can be controlled, the diluents can be modified, dermal penetration rates can be controlled, the surfactant systems can be adjusted, and the stability of the product can be controlled. To prevent the loss of active materials in the product, the skin care product is manufactured for an individual consumer and is only sold in a quantity of a three months supply. Additionally, a variety of ingredients can be combined that a mass produced product cannot contain due to stability/compatibility issues. This invention overcomes the limitations in formulating skin products for the mass market by providing a product designed with objective biometric data and created for the specific clinical condition of an individual'"'"'s skin.

Claims

1. A process for formulating a customized skin care product comprising:

(a) obtaining at least one biometric measurement on an individual'"'"'s skin to form a data set; and

(b) creating said skin care product for said individual based on said data set.

2. A process according to claim 1 comprising obtaining at least three biometric measurements on an individual'"'"'s skin to form a data set.

3. A process according to claim 1 comprising obtaining at least five biometric measurements on an individual'"'"'s skin to form a data set.

4. A process according to claim 1 comprising obtaining at least seven biometric measurements on an individual'"'"'s skin to form a data set.

5. A process according to claim 1 comprising obtaining at least nine biometric measurements on an individual'"'"'s skin to form a data set.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein said biometric measurements are selected from the group consisting of:

a) measuring skin moisture content via corneometry;

b) measuring sebum content via sebumetry;

c) measuring firmness and elasticity properties via cutometry;

d) measuring skin thickness via sonography;

e) measuring barrier function via trans-epidermal water loss;

f) measuring skin color via chromametry;

g) measuring skin roughness via profilometry;

h) measuring blood flow via laser-doppler flowmetry;

i) measuring wrinkles, texture and pore size via visible light imaging;

j) measuring photo-damage, oil balance and bacteria via ultra-violet light imaging; and

k) measuring relative acid-alkaline property of the skin via skin pH.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein said process for forming said data set comprises, prior to step (a), the steps of:

acclimating the subject'"'"'s skin to a known temperature and humidity while acquiring the results of a lifestyle questionnaire.

8. A process according to claim 7, wherein said questionnaire comprises at least three of the following parameters:

a) age;

b) sex;

c) ethnicity;

d) current skin care product usage;

e) past skin care product usage;

f) known allergies;

g) known reactions to skin care products;

h) water intake habits;

i) smoking habits;

j) relevant medical history;

k) diet;

l) formulation preferences relative to product aesthetics; and

m) the subject'"'"'s perception of their skin.

9. A process according to claim 8, wherein said questionnaire comprises at least five said parameters.

10. A process according to claim 8, wherein said questionnaire comprises at least seven said parameters.

11. A process according to claim 8, wherein said questionnaire comprises at least nine said parameters.

12. A process according to claim 1, wherein creation of said skin care product comprises a formulation selected from the group consisting of:

a) controlling individually added active ingredients,

b) controlling individually added base ingredients;

c) controlling dermal penetration rates;

d) modifying diluents;

e) adjusting surfactant systems; and

f) controlling a level of stability of said skin care product.

13. A process according to claim 1, wherein the first measurements are recorded, and the process is repeated and compared to said first measurement.

14. A process for formulating a customized skin care product comprising:

(a) obtaining at least one biometric measurement on at least one individual'"'"'s skin to form a data set; and

(b) creating said skin care product for said at least one individual based on said data set.

15. A process for formulating a customized skin care product according to claim 14 comprising:

(a) obtaining at least one biometric measurement on two to five individuals'"'"' skin to form a data set; and

(b) creating said skin care product for said at least one individual based on said data set.

16. A process for formulating a customized skin care product according to claim 14 comprising:

(a) obtaining at least one biometric measurement on said two to five individuals'"'"' skin to form a data set; and

(b) creating said skin care product for said two to five individuals based on said data set.

17. A process for formulating a customized skin care product according to claim 14 comprising:

(a) obtaining at least one biometric measurement on said at least one individual'"'"'s skin to form a data set; and

(b) creating said skin care product for said two to five individuals based on said data set.