This pilot prospective observational cohort clinical study was conducted to evaluate and describe the characteristics of healthy perioral tissue in a cohort of young subjects. The study adheres to the STROBE guidelines, which ensure clear and comprehensive reporting of observational research. This study was executed in accordance with the ethical principles articulated in the Declaration of Helsinki (2014). In this study, several confounding factors were controlled through strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Despite these measures, certain confounding factors such as age, gender, sun exposure, skin type, skincare product use, dietary habits, hydration status, stress levels, sleep patterns, physical activity, environmental exposure, genetic predisposition, and hormonal fluctuations were still present and accounted for in the analysis to ensure a rigorous interpretation of the findings.
We chose a sample of 40 participants to improve the reliability of variability estimates for key outcomes, such as perioral skin characteristics, which are essential for informing future larger-scale studies. This sample size also allows for the assessment of the methodology's feasibility across a more heterogeneous group, enhancing the generalizability of the results.
The Horus 1000VMF system used in this study consists of two lightweight probes (approximately 195 grams each) with a contact lens diameter of 2 cm. These probes are designed for dermatoscopic analysis and are equipped with two magnifications:
30x magnification, which provides a field of view (FOV) of 41.07 mm². 150x magnification, offering a FOV of 2.168 mm². The system's software allows for toggling between polarized and white light modes for enhanced observation. The focus of the images is controlled manually for precision in capturing details.
The FAV probe (Fluorescence Advanced Videodermatoscopy) enables imaging at a magnification of 500x, with a FOV of 0.092 mm². This probe utilizes a monochromatic light source with a wavelength of 405 nm to visualize layers of the skin in vivo that typically require biopsy and histological analysis.
For each patient, three anatomical areas of interest were identified and evaluated: the Anterior Chin Area (ACA), The transition zone between the ACA and the labial integument, also known as the Vermilion Border (VB), And the pigmented area of the lip, also known as the Vermilion Zone (VZ). Prior to image acquisition, the perioral region was prepared by cleaning the skin to remove any external residues, such as cosmetics or skincare products, that could affect image quality. When using the FAV mode, glycerol was applied to the skin surface to minimize light scattering and enhance image clarity. . Initially, macro images were acquired to capture a broader view of the region. Following this, a specific sequence was followed for the detailed analysis.
This sequential approach ensured a comprehensive evaluation of both surface and deeper skin structures across the different regions of interest. Once the images were captured, they were stored in the system's dedicated software for further analysis. This allowed the images to be saved and compared to future scans or used for diagnostic purposes.
The acquired dermatoscopic and FAV images were carefully reviewed by two independent investigators, both experienced in using the Horus 1000VMF system for clinical evaluations. The review process was conducted in a blinded manner, without knowledge of the patients' clinical characteristics, to avoid bias. In cases where there was a discrepancy between the two evaluators, a third evaluator was consulted to reach a consensus on the final interpretation of the images.
Others key parameters included age, sex, skin type based on Baumann's classification (Baumann, L. 2006), and Fitzpatrick's phototype (Fitzpatrick, T. B. 1988) classification were considered. Baumann's classification categorizes skin into four main types (normal, oily, dry, and combination). Fitzpatrick's classification, on the other hand, divides skin into six phototypes (I to VI) based on the skin's response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ranging from phototype I (very fair skin, always burns, never tans) to phototype VI (dark skin, never burns, deeply pigmented). These complementary systems provided a detailed characterization of the study population.
Descriptive statistics, such as means, medians, ranges, and relative frequencies, were employed to characterize the study participants and analyze the dermatoscopic and FAV findings.
