EEMCO GUIDANCE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF SKIN COLOR

General description Colour assessment of skin by visual inspection alo ne may be precise for a given individual although comparison between c olours is only possible when they a-e viewed simultaneously, Subjectiv e colour expression is also difficult to communicate with consistency, The limitations of visual observations may be overcome by colour-orde r systems and by instrumental measurements using either reflectance sp ectrophotometry or reflectance colorimetry following the CIE (Commissi on Internationale de l'Eclariage) recommendations. Image analysis usin g sensitive colour video cameras is another accurate method to record and compare skin colours. The current instrumental methods have proven both sensitive and reliable. Numerical colour communication expresses colours more precisely than words and allows exact analysis of skin p igmentation and skin colour changes. Learning objective The reader wil l be introduced to the origins of skin colours and with basic principl es of their measurements. Methods of colour reading are reviewed with particular insight into practical procedures, pitfalls and correct int erpretation of data. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.