DE102017205587A1 - "Method and Apparatus for Determining a Skin Barrier Condition" - Google Patents

Abstract

In various embodiments, a method for determining a skin barrier condition is provided. The method may include contacting the at least one skin area by means of electrodes of a skin barrier function measurement device for at least one skin area of a user, wherein the skin barrier function measurement device may be part of a wearable device, detecting a permeability provided during operation of the skin barrier function measurement device the skin-dependent signal, and associating the skin barrier state with the sensed signal by comparing the sensed signal with reference signals for known skin barrier conditions.

Description

Various embodiments generally relate to a method and apparatus for determining a skin barrier condition and a method for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation.

The skin, especially the uppermost layer of skin, also referred to as the epidermis, can provide a physical barrier to the exchange of atoms, ions, molecules and even larger aggregates such as viruses or bacteria through the skin.

Integrity of a skin barrier can be crucial to healthy skin. On the one hand, it can protect the body from externally penetrating stressors such as bacteria, viruses and environmental toxins, and on the other hand it can prevent or reduce the loss of water through the skin. Skin barrier integrity may depend on various factors such as a person's age or use of care products.

Cosmetic products and / or skin care instructions may be suitable to varying degrees for skin having a given skin barrier condition. For example, products and care instructions may be provided which may be especially suitable for skin with impaired skin barrier function.

Without expert dermatological or cosmetic advice, it may be difficult for a user to determine their individual skin condition (e.g., the condition of their skin barrier) and cosmetics suitable for their skin condition.

If the user still consume cosmetic products, it may be virtually impossible to understand a treatment success, because it the user, for. At home, there is a lack of opportunities to assess a treatment outcome in a standardized and objective way.

As a result, it may be difficult for the consumer to judge the individual effectiveness of a cosmetic, which may result in a motivation to carry out a corresponding cosmetic treatment, for example in the longer term, being impaired. This may be the case even if a cosmetic product were capable of achieving an objectively detectable desired effect.

In many areas of daily life, there has been a trend towards personalized programs that can respond to individual requirements and needs, for example in a nutrition or health sector, but also in a field of personalized cosmetics. This can enable a user to find targeted cosmetic products and / or to obtain care instructions that are tailored to the individual needs of his skin, and thus enable a particularly high effectiveness.

In various embodiments, an apparatus and method for determining a skin barrier condition may be provided. The determination of the skin barrier condition and a continuous checking of changes can offer the user an added benefit of an individualizable treatment in various embodiments.

In various embodiments, to determine the skin barrier condition, a sensor may be used which measures a transepithelial resistance of the skin (also referred to as TEER (for the English term "transepidermal electrical resistance" or "transepithelial electrical resistance"), for which a special device may be used which can be connected to or integrated into a smartphone, a tablet or another data processing device (eg a computer or a SmartMirror).

In various embodiments, the detected skin barrier condition may be determined by means of an app or other software and provided in the form of a value (e.g., with arbitrary units), a graphical representation, and / or an audible message.

In various embodiments, the skin barrier condition may be recorded over an extended period of time (e.g., minutes, hours, days, or the like).

In various embodiments, an individualized cosmetic treatment to optimize the condition may be recommended based on the skin barrier condition.

The device can be designed in various embodiments low and small (eg portable). The device may be applied to a (live) user, for example, the user at home, in / at a point of sale for cosmetics, in a beauty salon and / or a (skin) doctor. In various embodiments, the device may comprise a smartphone, a tablet, an iPad or similar electronic circuit device (eg, a data processing device and / or a data transfer device), and an integrated device or attachment attachable to and / or with the electronic circuit device, for example connectable (eg can be connected by means of a data connection). The integrated device or attachment (or even the entire device as the case may be) may be of a size which allows it to be easily accommodated in a hand or trouser pocket, for example less than 36 cm ^{2 in area} and less thick than 2 cm.

In various embodiments, for determining the skin barrier condition of the user, a plurality of electrodes may be brought into contact with the skin of the user. An alternating voltage may be applied to the electrodes (the voltage level may be chosen to be harmless to the skin) and a signal dependent on a permeability of the skin, e.g. an impedance of the skin between the electrodes is determined in a manner which is generally known to the person skilled in the art.

In various embodiments, the signal provided using the skin barrier function measuring device may be compared to reference signals for known skin barrier states (a set of reference data, eg, the reference signals and the associated skin barrier states, possibly also other information such as the position of the skin area) which the reference measurement has been made, etc., may be referred to as reference data) and from which a skin barrier state of the user can be determined, wherein the reference signals and the known skin conditions may be provided in a database in various embodiments. The reference data may have been previously determined in various embodiments, for example in laboratory experiments.

In various embodiments, comparing the signal to the reference signal and / or determining the skin barrier condition therefrom may be done by the electronic circuit device (eg, directly), for example by means of an app or other software program provided by the electronic circuit device (eg, a smartphone, a tablet, etc.) , an iPad or similar).

In various embodiments, comparing the signal to the reference signal and / or determining the skin barrier condition therefrom may be done indirectly by the electronic circuit device, for example, by providing the electronic circuit device with a (eg, contactless) data communication connection and by means of the data communication connection the signal and / or result of the Comparing the signal with the reference signal of an external data processing device (eg, a processor cloud architecture, also referred to as "cloud") and receives from the external data processing device the skin barrier state determined by means of the signal and / or the result of the comparison.

The external data processing device may in particular comprise a SmartMirror. A SmartMirror is a mirror with additional features and functions that make it "intelligent". These additional features and functions are provided in particular by the use of smart / smart coatings and / or the incorporation of electronic components.

The user may be limited to the determined skin barrier state in various embodiments to any, e.g. user-selectable, kind of provided, e.g. as a numerical value (a skin barrier condition metric), a graphical representation (for example, a representation of the detected value in relation to an entire range of values), an acoustic message, or the like. In various embodiments, the identified skin barrier state provided to the user may be based on how intact the skin barrier is, such as named or quantified barrier integrity or barrier function (e.g., from very low barrier function / barrier integrity to very high barrier function / barrier integrity). Conversely, in various embodiments, the skin barrier condition determined and provided to the user may in turn be based on how damaged the skin barrier is, for example as a named or quantified barrier damage degree (e.g., from very low barrier damage level to very high level of barrier damage).

In particular, in a case where the skin barrier condition is determined for a plurality of skin areas, providing the skin barrier state to the user as a graphical representation may be performed, for example, as a display, e.g. by means of a display device. In the graph, the determined skin barrier state of the plurality of regions may be displayed with a skin barrier state encoding in a representation of the user (e.g., a schematic or a photograph of the user). For example, in a schematic representation of a user's face, areas of different skin barrier condition may be displayed with different colors and / or patterns, e.g. Areas with low skin barrier function red and with high skin barrier function green or similar.

When graphically representing the skin barrier state of the at least one skin area, eg the majority of the skin areas, in According to various embodiments, only the area / areas for which the skin barrier condition has been determined, the skin barrier state are shown. In various embodiments, an area for which a detected skin barrier condition is indicated may be extrapolated beyond the skin area for which the skin barrier condition has been determined, for example, including typical skin barrier function distribution patterns.

Herein, in various embodiments, information about where the skin area (s) is / may be provided to the electronic circuit device, for example, by the user, e.g. by means of an input device (e.g., tapping a touch-sensitive display on which a schematic or photographic representation of the user is displayed, via text input via a keyboard or any other suitable input means).

In various embodiments, the display device may be part of the device, e.g. a (touch-sensitive) screen of a smartphone, tablet, PDA, iPad or SmartMirror. In various embodiments, the display device may be coupled to the device, for example by means of a (e.g., wireless) data connection.

In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device may be configured, itself, i. directly to determine the skin barrier condition, for example by means of software, e.g. an app that can be installed on the electronic circuit device.

In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device may be configured to indirectly determine the skin barrier condition, for example, by the electronic circuit device determining the skin barrier condition using the external data processing device, e.g. by software, e.g. an app that may be installed on the external computing device causes, for example, similar to that described above for determining the skin barrier condition.

In various embodiments, it is intended to enable a user to specifically find cosmetic products and / or to obtain grooming suggestions that can be tailored to the individual needs of the user's skin.

In various embodiments, at least one cosmetic product may be recommended to the user based on the determined skin barrier condition. The cosmetic product may be capable of maintaining or improving the skin barrier condition of the user. In various embodiments, the cosmetic product may comprise a cream, a lotion, an ointment, an oil, an emulsion, a gel, a soap, a mask, an ampoule with an adjuvant care product, a toner, a serum, a spray, or the like.

In various embodiments, based on the determined skin barrier condition, product recommendations for individually tailored care products and / or individual care instructions can be derived. The product recommendations and / or care instructions may be provided, for example, by software, e.g. an app. For example, it may be recommended to the user to apply a cosmetic care product, which acts to strengthen the skin barrier, on the at least one skin area with a low skin barrier effect.

For example, users with an intact skin barrier may be advised to use creams with a high fat content. This fat content preferably includes vegetable oils and waxes such as almond oil and / or shea butter and no mineral oils. Other ingredients that have a positive effect on the skin barrier state are, for example, calendula, calendula and / or camomile. Users with a non-intact skin barrier condition may in particular also be advised to use pH-neutral cleaning products and the use of cosmetic products with no or only small amounts of perfume (s), preservative (s) and / or dyes (s).

In various embodiments, the software / app that determines the skin barrier condition may be the same that determines the product recommendation and / or the care instructions. In various embodiments, different software programs / apps may be used for a portion of the various operations or all of the various operations (determining the skin barrier condition, determining a product recommendation, determining a care indication).

In various embodiments, a treatment success in a cosmetic treatment, which may have a positive effect on the determined skin barrier condition, be monitored. In various embodiments, the software / app may enable control and / or tracking of the results by presenting (e.g., plotting) the measurement results over time.

In various embodiments, when determining the product and care recommendations further information regarding a general health conditions, skin condition, eating habits and other user behaviors (eg daily length of stay outdoors / in the sun / in the water, smoking habits, sports, etc.), eg using the software / app. This information can be requested by the user in various embodiments by means of the software / app.

In various embodiments, literature data may be used to assess suitability of a care product and / or a care label to maintain a skin having a given skin barrier condition.

In various embodiments, a care product and / or a care indication for a skin barrier condition may be evaluated as appropriate when it is expected, e.g. based on literature data, test results or empirical values (which can be updated, for example, also during use of the software / the app by the user, with new experiences of other users, see below) that in a (eg regular) application of the care product and / or the skin care condition of the user is maintained or improved.

In various embodiments, an assessment of a suitability of a care product to improve a skin barrier condition may be confirmed or modified by including experience from other users having the same or a similar skin barrier condition, for example, experience of treatment success. Preferably, the other users besides the same or a similar skin barrier state also have the same or a similar profile in terms of age, sex, general health, general skin condition apart from the skin barrier condition and / or behaviors such as smoking, diet and / or exercise. This can make it possible for the user to always receive an optimal recommendation.

In various embodiments, it may be possible to control and track the effectiveness of a cosmetic treatment in an objective and standardized manner. The cosmetic treatment may, in various embodiments, have the goal of improving a skin barrier condition.

In various embodiments, efficacy of (e.g., cosmetic) treatment may be better understood, thereby facilitating or facilitating selection of an individually suitable product.

In various embodiments, a user's motivation may be increased to perform a cosmetic treatment in the longer term, for example, by comparison with other users, e.g. by information about treatment success provided by the other users.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a skin barrier condition is provided. The method may include contacting the at least one skin area by means of electrodes of a skin barrier function measurement device for at least one skin area of a user, wherein the skin barrier function measurement device may be part of a wearable device, detecting a permeability provided during operation of the skin barrier function measurement device the skin-dependent signal, and associating the skin barrier state with the sensed signal by comparing the sensed signal with reference signals for known skin barrier conditions.

In various embodiments, operating the skin barrier function measuring device may include applying an AC voltage to the electrodes.

In various embodiments, the portable device may be a smartphone, a tablet, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or an iPad or attachable to a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad.

In various exemplary embodiments, the detection of the signal and / or the assignment of the skin barrier state to the detected signal can take place by means of an app.

In various embodiments, after contacting the at least one skin area by means of the electrodes of the skin barrier function measuring device, the detection of the signal and the assignment of the skin barrier state to the detected signal can be performed several times with a time lag or continuously.

In various embodiments, the at least one skin area may include a plurality of skin areas of the user.

In various exemplary embodiments, the comparison of the detected signal with reference signals for known skin barrier states can take place by means of a database in which the known skin barrier states are assigned to the reference signals.

In various embodiments, the database may be stored in a processor cloud architecture, and the method may further comprise updating the database based on new skin barrier state assignments to reference signals from a plurality of other users.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation is provided. The method may include determining a skin barrier condition according to various embodiments and determining the cosmetic product and / or a care instruction based on the determined skin barrier condition and a database having a plurality of skin barrier conditions and a plurality of associated cosmetic products and / or care instructions, each skin barrier condition the plurality of skin barrier conditions at least one suitable cosmetic product and / or at least one care instruction can be assigned.

In various embodiments, the database may be another database, or the database having the reference signals and the associated known skin barrier states may additionally include the cosmetic products and / or grooming instructions associated with the skin barrier conditions.

In various exemplary embodiments, the cosmetic product and / or the care instruction may be suitable for the skin barrier condition if a normalization of the skin barrier condition is to be expected based on empirical values of a plurality of further users with the cosmetic product stored in the further database.

In various embodiments, determining the skin barrier condition and / or determining the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation may include transmitting the signal and / or the skin barrier condition to an external computing device and receiving the skin barrier condition and / or the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation.

In various embodiments, an apparatus for determining a skin barrier condition is provided. The device may include a skin barrier function measuring device which may comprise a plurality of electrodes and may be configured to provide, upon contacting at least one skin area of a user with the electrodes, a signal dependent on a permeability of the skin, the skin barrier function measuring device being part of a portable one Apparatus and an electronic circuit device for detecting the signal provided by the skin barrier function measuring device and assigning a skin barrier state to the detected signal by comparing the skin barrier state to the detected signal by comparing the detected signal with reference signals for known skin barrier states.

In various embodiments, the portable device may include a smartphone, a tablet, or an iPad, or may be attachable to a smartphone, a tablet, or an iPad.

In various embodiments, the portable device may further include a wireless data exchange device for exchanging data between the electronic circuit device and an external data processing device.

In various embodiments, each of the electrodes may have a skin contact area of less than 1 mm ² .

In various embodiments, the portable device may include a breathable carrier.

In various embodiments, the breathable carrier may be designed as an adhesive patch.

• FIG. 1A und 1B jeweils eine Vorrichtung zum Ermitteln eines Hautbarrierezustands gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsbeispielen zeigen und ein Verwenden der Vorrichtung veranschaulichen;
• FIG. 2A und 2B jeweils eine Vorrichtung zum Ermitteln eines Hautbarrierezustands gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsbeispielen zeigen;
• FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B und 3C jeweils eine Vorrichtung zum Ermitteln eines Hautbarrierezustands gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsbeispielen zeigen und ein Verwenden der Vorrichtung veranschaulichen;
• 4 Hautregionen zum Anwenden eines Verfahrens und einer Vorrichtung zum Ermitteln eines Hautbarrierezustands gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsbeispielen veranschaulicht;
• 5 ein Flussdiagramm zum Veranschaulichen eines Verfahrens zum Ermitteln einer Hautbehandlungsempfehlung gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsbeispielen zeigt;
• 6 ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Ermitteln eines Hautbarrierezustands gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsbeispielen zeigt; und
• 7 ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Ermitteln einer kosmetischen Hautbehandlungsempfehlung gemäß verschiedenen Ausführungsbeispielen zeigt.

In the drawings, like reference characters commonly refer to the same parts throughout the several views, and for the sake of clarity, partial omission is made to provide reference numerals to all corresponding parts throughout the figures. Parts of the same or similar type may be provided with a trailing digit or a trailing small letter to distinguish them in addition to a common reference numeral. The drawings are not necessarily intended to depict scale, but rather the emphasis is on illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1A and 1B each depict an apparatus for determining a skin barrier condition according to various embodiments and illustrating using the apparatus;
• FIG. 2A and 2 B in each case a device for determining a skin barrier condition according to various embodiments;
• FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and 3C each depict an apparatus for determining a skin barrier condition according to various embodiments and illustrating using the apparatus;
• 4 Skin regions for applying a method and apparatus for determining a skin barrier condition illustrated in accordance with various embodiments;
• 5 FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determining a skin treatment recommendation according to various embodiments; FIG.
• 6 FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a skin barrier condition according to various embodiments; FIG. and
• 7 FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation according to various embodiments.

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings which, by way of example, illustrate certain details and embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.

The term "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, exemplar or illustration." Any embodiments or embodiments described herein as "exemplary" are not necessarily to be interpreted as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or embodiments.

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and 3C each show a device 100 ( 100a . 100b . 100c . 100d . 100e . 100f or 100 g ) for determining a skin barrier condition of a user 102 according to various embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and 3C is shown, the device 100 for determining a skin barrier condition in various embodiments, a skin barrier function measuring device 106 and an electronic circuit device 116 exhibit.

In various embodiments, the skin barrier function measuring device 106 a sensor that measures a transepithelial resistance of the skin. In this case, a structure and a basic mode of operation of the skin barrier function measuring device 106 essentially known to the person skilled in the art.

In various embodiments, the skin barrier function measuring device 106 a plurality of electrodes 106E have (exemplary in 3C shown) and be set, when contacting at least one skin area 102H a user 102 by means of the electrodes 106E to provide a signal dependent on a permeability of the skin. A range of electrodes 106E which is intended to contact the skin may be referred to as the skin contact surface.

To the electrodes 106E In various embodiments, an AC voltage can be applied (wherein the voltage level can be chosen so that it is for the skin or the user 102 harmless) and a signal dependent on a permeability of the skin, eg an impedance between the electrodes 106E skin, are determined in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art.

In various embodiments, the skin barrier function measuring device 106 Part of a portable device, as exemplified in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and 3C shown.

In various embodiments, the one electronic circuit device 116 be configured to detect the of the skin barrier function measuring device 106 provided signal and for assigning a skin barrier state to the detected signal by comparing the skin barrier state to the detected signal by comparing the detected signal with reference signals for known skin barrier states.

In various embodiments, the reference signals and respective associated skin barrier conditions may or may not be provided as a database.

In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device may be part of the portable device.

In various embodiments, the device 100 a carrier 104 on, and / or in which the skin barrier function measuring device 106 arranged, for example, can be attached.

In various embodiments, the carrier may 104 be flexible for example, as a flexible film, for example of a plastic material.

In various embodiments, the carrier may 104 be designed to be breathable and, for example, be provided with openings, which, when the carrier is arranged 104 such that the skin contact surfaces are in contact with the skin, from the skin and / or from above the sensor 106 by the wearer 104 until outside the carrier 104 extend, wherein the openings may be permeable to steam (eg water vapor) and / or for liquids (eg water, sweat).

In FIG. 3A to 3C is the carrier 104 exemplified as a (flexible) patch, which is intended by means of an adhesive to the skin of the user 102 to be attached, taking the pavement 104 in FIG. 3A and 3C are formed breathable.

In various embodiments, the skin contact surface of the plurality of electrodes 106E have a typical area, eg greater than about 1 mm ² (eg per electrode or as the total area for all electrodes 106 ), for example in a range of about 1 mm ² to about 1 cm ² or larger.

In various embodiments, the skin contact surface of the plurality of electrodes 106E a (very small) area of less than 1 mm ² (eg per electrode or as the total area for all electrodes 106 ) exhibit. A very small skin contact area can help to prevent the formation of a film of sweat between the skin and the skin contact surface 106 to reduce or prevent. This can be used in particular when the device for determining the skin barrier condition 100 is intended to remain for a long period of time, as described elsewhere for a repeated or continuous measurement of the skin barrier condition.

In various embodiments, preventing or reducing the accumulation of moisture (perspiration) between the skin contact surface and the skin may allow the barrier state of the skin to be measured rather than moisture on the skin surface, i. erroneous measurements can be avoided.

In various embodiments, by means of a continuous determination of the skin moisture, a control and follow-up of the (or the development of) the skin barrier state can be provided, eg by providing the measurement results over time, eg by means of the software / app, which displays the information, for example, on a display can represent (or any of the other options described above, the user 102 to provide the measurement results). Furthermore, in various embodiments, the device 100 be prepared to warn the user in the event of an imminent or existing damage or deterioration of the skin barrier and to advise at least one countermeasure for improving or restoring an integrity of the skin barrier, eg applying a skin care product.

In various embodiments, to improve a signal-to-noise ratio, an overall skin contact area (which may be formed as a sum of the skin contact areas) may be increased by providing a plurality of spaced electrode pairs. By way of example, the device 100 g or the skin barrier function measuring device 106 a pair of electrodes 106E with skin contact surfaces, which in a lower, enlarged picture of the 3C a carrier formed as a patch 104 with the sensor contact areas arranged thereon 106 represents a top view from below, ie from a side during use of the device 100f the skin of the user 102 is facing.

The skin barrier state may in various embodiments for at least one skin area 102H of the user 102 be determined. As shown in FIG. 1A and 1B as a skin area 102H can be shown in various embodiments of the skin area 102H a part of a facial skin of the user 102 be. Alternatively or additionally, as in 4 is shown which skin regions 102H for applying a method and apparatus for determining a skin barrier condition, according to various embodiments, another skin area 102 For example, on an arm (skin area 102H6), a leg (skin area 102H4), a trunk (area 102H3), and / or a user's hand (area 102H5) may be used to determine a skin barrier condition of that skin area.

In various embodiments, the skin barrier function measuring device 106 with the electronic circuit device 116 be coupled, for example by means of a (wired or wireless) data connection 118 as exemplified in FIG. 2B and 3C shown.

The electronic circuit device 116 may be configured in various embodiments as described above by means of comparing the skin barrier function measuring device 106 signal generated a skin barrier condition of the skin of the user 102 (at measurement a plurality of skin areas 102H the skin barrier condition of the respective skin area), eg a very low, moderately low, moderately high or very high skin barrier function. In various embodiments, the skin barrier state may be otherwise described or quantified, eg, as a skin barrier state number (eg, with any entity) or the like.

The device 100 For determining a skin barrier condition according to various embodiments, a wearable device 100 be.

The electronic circuit device 116 may include a processor and memory in various embodiments. The electronic circuit device 116 In various embodiments, it may be coupled to the skin barrier function measuring device, for example in such a way that detection of the signal generated between the electrodes is made possible, for example by means of a data connection 118 , The data connection 118 For example, a data cable, an internal conductive connection and / or a wireless transmission, for example by means of WLAN, thread, ZigBee or Bluetooth have. The electronic circuit device 116 may for example be a smartphone, an iPad, a tablet, a laptop, a SmartMirror or similar.

In various embodiments (such as in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B and 3C shown), the skin barrier function measuring device 106 and the electronic circuit device 116 to form a portable integrated unit.

For example, the skin barrier function measuring device 106 and the electronic circuit device 116 as a portable integrated unit, the skin examination device 100 form, as shown in FIG. 2A for a smartphone with a skin barrier function measuring device integrated into a housing of the smartphone 106 shown.

In another example, the skin barrier function measuring device may 106 and the electronic circuit device 116 a portable integrated unit 330 form (see FIG 2B, 3A, 3B and 3C ), which with an external data processing device 222 , For example, a smartphone or the like, may be coupled, for example by means of a wireless data transmission 224 eg as described elsewhere herein (alternatively, another form of data transmission may be used, eg, a wired one). It can be a combination of the integrated unit 330 and the external data processing device 222 in various embodiments, the device 100d . 100e . 100f respectively. 100 g to determine the skin barrier condition.

In various embodiments, the integrated device 100c . 100d have a size that makes it possible to accommodate them in a hand or trouser pocket. For example, the integrated device may have an area of less than 36 cm ² and a thickness of less than 2 cm.

The electronic circuit device 116 may be configured in various embodiments based on the skin barrier function measuring device 106 measured signal to determine a skin barrier condition. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device 116 be set up, ie directly, to determine the skin barrier state of the skin.

For determining the skin barrier condition, software such as an app can be used in various embodiments, which can be installed, for example, on a portable data processing device, wherein the portable data processing device, for example, the electronic circuit device 116 may be, as shown in FIG. 1A and 2A represented, or an additional, eg external, data processing device 222 may be, as shown in FIG. 1B, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and 3C shown.

In various embodiments, the skin barrier condition may be time dependent (eg, several times a day, daily, weekly, or with any other temporal dependency) and / or under various environmental conditions (eg, in a high or low humidity environment, cold or heat, etc.) become.

In various embodiments, the skin barrier condition can be determined continuously.

In various exemplary embodiments, calibration measurements (also referred to as reference measurements), which can be performed, for example, in a laboratory, and their results, for example, in the electronic circuit device 116 and / or in the external data processing device 222 and / or another external data processing device 228 For example, as part of the software / app, such as a processor cloud architecture may be stored to be used by the skin barrier function measuring device 106 Assign measurable signal to a skin barrier condition.

In various embodiments, determining the skin barrier condition, for example, as described above, may be directly by means of the portable electronic circuit device 116 be executed, for example by means of the software / app, which on the portable electronic circuit device 116 can be installed, such as in 1A shown.

In various embodiments, determining the skin barrier condition, for example, as described above and in FIG. 1B, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and 3C represented indirectly by means of the portable electronic circuit device 116 done, for example, by the electronic circuit device 116 determining the skin barrier condition by means of an external data processing device 222 and or 228 causes. The electronic circuit device 116 For example, in various embodiments, it may include a relatively simple electronic circuit device, which may be configured, for example, substantially only the signal of the skin barrier function measuring device 106 to capture (possibly compare it with the reference signals) and the external data processing device 222 transferred to. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device 116 a more powerful, versatile circuit device (eg, a smartphone, a tablet, or an iPad) that can not only be configured to receive the signal of the skin barrier function measuring device 106 to capture (and possibly to compare with the reference signals) and the external data processing device 222 but may additionally be configured to perform various other functions, eg inputs from the user 102 to ask and save, to present results, a photo of the user 102 to provide the results (eg by means of a camera) and process, etc.

In various embodiments, the detected signal and / or the comparison result may be from the portable electronic circuit device 116 , as in 1B represented, directly or indirectly (eg by means of the external data processing device) of the (possibly further) external data processing device 228 For example, a central computer or a processor cloud architecture (also abbreviated to "cloud"), for example, a higher computing power and / or a larger storage capacity than the electronic circuit device 116 may be provided, for example, be transmitted to this. The external data processing device 228 can be configured to determine the skin barrier state from the provided data, such as the signal or the result of the comparison, for example by means of a software, such as an app, for example, as described above. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device 116 Further, set the skin barrier state of the external data processing device 228 to receive and provide, for example, as described above. Alternatively, the external data processing device 222 be established, the skin barrier state of the external data processing device 228 to receive and provide. For data exchange with the external data processing device 222 and or 228 can the electronic circuit device 116 in various embodiments have a device for wireless data transmission device, for example by means of WLAN, Thread, ZigBee or Bluetooth. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device 116 be set up the data with the external data processing device 222 and or 228 replace with a cable connection.

For data exchange with the external data processing device 228 and the electronic circuit device 116 can the external data processing device 222 in various embodiments have a device for wireless data transmission device, for example by means of WLAN, Thread, ZigBee or Bluetooth. In various embodiments, the external data processing device 222 be set up the data with the electronic circuit device 116 and / or the external data processing device 228 replace with a cable connection.

The database may be implemented in various embodiments in the portable electronic circuit device 116 and / or in the external data processing device 222 and / or in the (possibly further) external data processing device 228 be saved.

When determining the skin barrier state, the skin barrier state can be determined as the skin barrier state of the user for whom the measurement of the skin barrier function measurement device 106 shows the smallest deviations from the measured value assigned in the database.

In various embodiments, by means of the electronic circuit device 116 , eg by means of the software / app, the skin barrier condition can be provided. For example, the skin barrier state may be presented as a value (eg, with arbitrary units), a verbal message, a graphical representation, or the like. be communicated, eg displayed, eg by means of advertisements, eg on one Screen of the portable electronic circuit device 116 ,

In particular in a case in which the skin barrier condition is determined for a plurality of skin areas, the provision of the skin barrier state to the user may comprise a graphical representation, for example a display, eg by means of a display device (eg a screen / display), eg by means of a display device the electronic circuit device 116 or the external data processing device 222 , For this, in various embodiments, a representation of a body or a body region (eg of the face) can be used, for example as a symbolic representation or as a photo of the user 102 , The illustration may be superimposed on an illustration of the skin barrier state, eg by means of different symbols / markings / hatching for regions of different skin barrier state.

In various embodiments, the device 100 Furthermore, it may be set up to determine a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation based on the determined skin barrier condition and to the user 102 provide.

In various embodiments, at least one suitable care product and / or at least one care instruction may be assigned to each of the plurality of skin barrier states. The assignment may be experimental, e.g. in laboratory tests.

In various embodiments, literature data may be used to assess suitability of a care product and / or a care label to maintain a skin having a given skin barrier condition.

In various embodiments, a skin barrier condition maintenance advice may be considered appropriate if, for example, based on literature data, test results, or empirical values, the skin barrier state of the user is used in a (eg, regular) application of the care product and / or care advice 102 is maintained or improved, in other words, integrity of the skin barrier is maintained or improved.

In various embodiments, as in 5 (and in FIGS. 1B, 2A, 2B and 3B for a case that the other users 1020 not only contributing new signal-to-skin barrier condition assignments, but also experiences regarding a skin care recommendation suitable for their skin barrier condition), an assessment of a care product's ability to enhance a skin barrier condition may be confirmed or modified by including experience of the other users 1020 with the same or similar skin barrier condition, for example, experience of treatment success. The experience can from the other users 1020 for example, the external data processing device 228 be provided, for example by means of a wireless data transmission 226 , Alternatively, a transmission of the data by means of cable can be used. Based on the empirical values, the database in the external data processing device 228 and / or in the portable electronic circuit device 116 to be updated. This may allow the user 102 always receives an optimal recommendation.

In various embodiments, when determining product and / or care recommendations, information may also be used regarding general health, skin condition, eating habits, and other user behaviors (eg, daily outdoor / sun / water, smoking habits, sports, etc.) eg by means of the on-board electronic circuit device 116 and / or on the external data processing device 222 installed software / app. The information may be provided in various embodiments by means of the portable electronic circuit device 116 by the user 102 be asked what they are in the electronic circuit device 116 can input, for example by means of a keyboard, as a voice message, as a selection of one of the portable electronic circuit device 116 displayed menu, or similar.

For example, if the user 102 as an additional information provides that he spends a lot of time in the water or outdoors, in the product and / or care advice recommendation based on the skin barrier condition of the user 102 For example, those associated care products to the user 102 recommended, which are not only suitable for its skin barrier condition, but also, for example, waterproof and / or provided with a UV filter.

In various exemplary embodiments, the product recommendation and / or the care instructions may be for the user 102 be provided, for example by means of the electronic circuit device 116 , eg by means of the screen of the electronic circuit device 116 , For example, a graphical representation can be supplemented by (eg text) messages (not shown), eg the determined product recommendations and / or care instructions.

5 shows a diagram 500 to illustrate a method for determining a skin care cosmetic product according to various embodiments. 5 In essence, it may illustrate those processes described elsewhere in the context of the method of determining a skin care cosmetic product according to various embodiments.

The method may include, in various embodiments, determining a skin barrier condition (at 510), for example, as described above.

Based on the identified skin barrier condition, a product or care recommendation may be determined (at 560). In various embodiments (as path 515 In addition to the skin barrier state, literature data (labeled 530), personal data (eg, labeled 540 as described above), and / or other users' data, eg, their experience values (labeled 550) may be consulted.

Further, in various embodiments, as with path 580 by monitoring the skin barrier condition (at 510), a treatment outcome is monitored (at 590). This may be useful, for example, during and after a cosmetic treatment based on the product recommendation (at 560). A treatment success documented by the method for determining the skin barrier condition on the basis of objective values can increase a motivation for the user (at 599).

In various embodiments, as described above, based on the determined skin barrier condition, product recommendations may be made for the individual for the user 102 appropriate cosmetic products and / or individual care instructions are derived. The product recommendations and / or care instructions can be provided, for example, by means of software, for example an app.

In various exemplary embodiments, the user can be introduced to the use of cosmetic products which are produced individually for the user, and an order process can be initiated, preferably by calling up a website of a manufacturer of individual cosmetic products.

Customers always want a product that is individually tailored to their needs. This can be a product manufactured especially for the customer or a so-called "mass customized" product. In the case of a "mass customized" product, an individualization can be achieved by varying a few characteristics of a product that are decisive from the customer's point of view. Preferably, these "mass customized" products are based on the concept of modularization, that is, the product can be assembled individually from various modules / building blocks.

Often, there are many dependencies between the many different features / ingredients of a product, which can be expressed as "commandments" or "prohibitions." In order to obtain a clear product definition, it may be advantageous for the ordering process to proceed with the aid of a product configurator. This configurator helps the customer to select the characteristics / ingredients and draws attention to the permitted / inadmissible combinations of features, the latter then can not be selected.

In the case of skin products, the relevant product characteristics include, in particular, the chemical ingredients of the compositions, the physical properties of the compositions and the manner of preparation of the compositions. With the aid of a product configurator, for example, the selection of chemically and / or physically incompatible ingredients or the selection of the ascertained skin barrier state of unsuitable ingredients can be avoided. Conversely, the selection for the determined skin barrier condition of suitable ingredients may be predetermined or suggested by the product configurator.

In various embodiments, visiting a dermatologist or a cosmetician may be recommended. In various embodiments, a booking process can be initiated directly via the software / app, which determines the skin barrier condition and / or the product recommendation and / or the care instructions. For this purpose, for example, the contact details of dermatologists and / or cosmeticians can be stored in the software / app and these are displayed to the user. In addition, the selection can be restricted via filters, such as the postal code. In various embodiments, an appointment booking can be made directly via the software / app. Alternatively, the booking of a dermatologist appointment, massage appointment and / or a cosmetic appointment can be made via a separate software / app, such as Treatwell.

In various embodiments, the software / app that determines the skin barrier condition of the skin may be the same that determines the product recommendation and / or the care instructions. In various embodiments, different software programs / apps may be used for a portion of the various operations or all of the various operations (determining the skin barrier condition, determining a product recommendation, determining a care indication).

In various embodiments, a treatment success in a cosmetic treatment, which may have a positive effect on the determined skin barrier condition, be monitored. In various embodiments, the software / app may enable control and / or tracking of the results by presenting (e.g., plotting) the measurement results over time.

6 shows a flowchart 600 a method of determining a skin barrier condition according to various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a skin barrier condition is provided. The method may include contacting the at least one skin area by means of electrodes of a skin barrier function measuring device for at least one skin area of a user, wherein the skin barrier function measuring device is part of a wearable device (at 610), detecting a one provided during operation of the skin barrier function measuring device, from a permeability of the skin dependent signal (at 620) and associating the skin barrier state with the sensed signal by comparing the sensed signal with reference signals for known skin barrier states (at 630).

7 shows a flowchart 700 a method for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation according to various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation is provided. The method may include: determining a skin barrier condition according to various embodiments (at 710) and determining the cosmetic product and / or care instruction based on the determined skin barrier condition and a database having a plurality of skin barrier conditions and a plurality of associated cosmetic products wherein each skin barrier condition of the plurality of skin conditions may be associated with at least one suitable cosmetic product and / or at least one suitable care instruction (at 720).

Some of the embodiments are described in the context of devices, and some of the embodiments are described in the context of methods. Further advantageous embodiments of the method will become apparent from the description of the device and vice versa.

Claims (18)

A method of determining a skin barrier condition comprising: for at least one skin area of a user, contacting the at least one skin area by means of electrodes of a skin barrier function measuring device, the skin barrier function measuring device being part of a wearable device; Detecting a skin permeable signal provided during operation of the skin barrier function measuring device; and Associating the skin barrier condition with the sensed signal by comparing the sensed signal with reference signals for known skin barrier conditions. Method according to Claim 1 wherein operating the skin barrier function measuring device comprises applying an AC voltage to the electrodes. Method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the portable device comprises a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad or attachable to a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the detection of the signal and / or the assignment of the skin barrier state to the detected signal is carried out by means of an app. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein, after contacting the at least one skin region by means of the electrodes of the skin barrier function measuring device, the detection of the signal and the assignment of the skin barrier state to the detected signal is carried out several times at a time interval or continuously. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the at least one skin region comprises a plurality of skin regions of the user. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the comparing of the detected signal with reference signals for known skin barrier states is effected by means of a database in which the reference skin signals are associated with the known skin barrier states. Method according to Claim 7 wherein the database is stored in a processor cloud architecture, and wherein the method further comprises updating the database based on new skin barrier state assignments to reference signals from a plurality of other users. A method for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation, comprising: determining a skin barrier condition according to any one of Claims 1 to 8th ; and determining the cosmetic product and / or a care instruction based on the determined skin barrier condition and a database having a plurality of skin barrier conditions and a plurality of associated cosmetic products and / or care instructions, wherein each skin barrier condition of the plurality of skin barrier conditions comprises at least one suitable cosmetic product and / or at least a maintenance instruction is assigned. Method according to Claim 9 wherein the cosmetic product and / or the care instruction is suitable for the skin barrier state, if a normalization of the skin barrier state is to be expected based on empirical values of a plurality of further users with the cosmetic product stored in the further database. Method according to one of Claims 9 or 10 wherein determining the skin barrier condition and / or determining the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation comprises transmitting the signal and / or the skin barrier state to an external data processing device and receiving the skin barrier condition and / or the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation. A device for determining a skin barrier condition, comprising: a skin barrier function measuring device having a plurality of electrodes and configured to provide, upon contacting at least one skin area of a user with the electrodes, a signal dependent on a permeability of the skin, the skin barrier function measuring device being part of a portable device; and an electronic circuit device for detecting the signal provided by the skin barrier function measuring device and assigning a skin barrier state to the detected signal by comparing the skin barrier state to the detected signal by comparing the detected signal with reference signals for known skin barrier conditions. Device according to Claim 12 wherein the portable device comprises a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad or attachable to a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad. Device according to one of the Claims 12 or 13 wherein the portable device further comprises a wireless data interchange device for exchanging data between the electronic circuit device and an external data processing device. Device according to Claim 12 to 14 wherein each of the electrodes has a skin contact area of less than 1 mm ² . Device according to one of the Claims 12 to 15 wherein the wearable device comprises a breathable carrier. Device according to Claim 16 wherein the breathable carrier is designed as an adhesive patch. Device according to Claim 12 to 14 , wherein the external data processing device is a SmartMirror.

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