Age-related facial skin structure in Chinese women measured with line-field confocal OCT

A Quantitative, Cross-Sectional and Observational Study to Characterize Age-Related Structural Changes in Facial Skin of Chinese Women Using Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography (LC-OCT)

This project will use a safe, non-invasive imaging method to see how facial skin structure changes with age in Chinese women aged 20 to 70.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 20 Years to 70 Years
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: ChinaNorm (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT07415798 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This single-center, non-interventional, cross-sectional study will enroll about 100 Chinese female participants aged 20–70 to capture quantitative and qualitative skin properties. Data collection includes LC-OCT imaging, standardized photography, questionnaires, clinical assessments, and non-invasive biophysical measurements to build a histomorphometric database. The study focuses on Fitzpatrick skin phototypes II–III and excludes recent facial procedures, active tanning, or pregnancy to reduce confounding factors. Results will be used to characterize skin color, visible aging signs, and biomechanical properties and to support development and validation of ordinal photographic scales for aging research.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Chinese women aged 20 to 70 with Fitzpatrick skin types II or III who can attend the Shanghai site, provide consent, and follow pre-visit care restrictions are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People outside the 20–70 age range, of non-Chinese ethnicities or different skin phototypes, those pregnant or breastfeeding, or those with recent facial procedures or interfering tattoos/piercings are unlikely to benefit from this specific dataset.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve understanding of facial aging in Chinese women and provide validated imaging and photographic scales to guide skincare, cosmetic research, and clinical comparisons.

How similar studies have performed: Previous imaging and biophysical studies have characterized skin aging, but applying LC-OCT to build a histomorphometric and photographic scale database for Chinese women is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Chinese female, aged between 20 and 70 years (inclusive) at the time of signing consent.
2. Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
3. Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype II or III.
4. Willing to comply with all study procedures, including removal of facial makeup and avoidance of intensive skincare (e.g., retinoids, strong acids) on the test areas for 3 days prior to the visit as per instructions.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding (as hormonal changes significantly affect skin properties).
2. Presence of temporary tanning, sunburn, or significant erythema on the face or measurement areas.
3. Presence of facial piercings, tattoos, too much fluff or significant scarring that would interfere with imaging or measurements in the areas of interest.
4. History of any aesthetic or surgical procedure on the face (e.g., laser therapy, chemical peels, injectable fillers, botulinum toxin, plastic surgery) within the past 12 months.
5. Current diagnosis or visible signs of a skin disease (e.g., psoriasis, eczema, active acne, rosacea) or a systemic disease known to affect the skin (e.g., diabetes, lupus) on the face or measurement areas.
6. Use of systemic medications known to affect skin physiology (e.g., oral retinoids, immunosuppressants, long-term corticosteroids) within the past 3 months, or for a cumulative duration of ≥6 months within the past 2 years.
7. Participation in another clinical study on the face or arms within the past 1 month.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality

• HKRI Centre One — Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Yanwen Jiang

Conditions Female; Facial Skin