EP3595511A1

EP3595511A1 - Method and device for determining a level of colonisation of acne bacteria on skin

Info

Publication number: EP3595511A1
Application number: EP18708658.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Bock; Thomas Welss; Claudia Hundeiker; Marianne Waldmann-Laue
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 2017-03-16
Filing date: 2018-03-01
Publication date: 2020-01-22
Also published as: US20200000397A1; WO2018166804A1; DE102017204365A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a method with different embodiments for determining a level of colonisation of acne bacterial on skin. The method can comprise the following steps: for at least one area of the skin of a user, when the area of the skin is illuminated with ultraviolet and/or blue light, recording the skin area using a camera, wherein the camera is designed to capture at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of fluorescence means generated by the acne bacteria; in the recording, determining a captured amount of light which has been emitted as fluorescence as a result the illumination by the fluorescence means; and allocating a level of colonisation of the skin with the determined detected amount of light, wherein the allocation of the level of colonisation of the skin to the determined detected amount of light takes place using a data base stored in a processor cloud architecture.

Description

"Method and device for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria"

Various embodiments generally relate to a method and apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria (also abbreviated to "colonization level," "degree of colonization of the skin" or "degree of colonization with bacteria") and a method of determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation.

Bacteria that colonize the skin, such as the bacterium Propionibacterium acne, can be the cause of redness and inflammation in the skin. You may be responsible for the development of blackheads (comedones) and pimples to acne.

For care of skin with acne, various special facial and / or body cosmetic products may be available, for example, hiding makeup and masking care products, anti-inflammatory and / or breathable decorative cosmetics, etc. However, the effectiveness of the cosmetic products may be greatly enhanced an individual physiology of the skin, for example, a degree of colonization of the skin with acne bacteria, which can correlate with a degree in which acne can manifest.

Users want a smooth skin without disturbing irregularities like redness, blackheads or pimples.

Without expert dermatological or cosmetic advice, it may be difficult for a user to determine their individual skin condition and cosmetics suitable for their skin condition.

If the user still uses cosmetic products, it may be virtually impossible to understand a treatment success, because it allows the user, e.g. 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 specifically address 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, a device for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria (hereinafter also sometimes abbreviated as a degree of colonization or degree of colonization of the skin) may be provided. The determination of the degree of colonization of the skin and a continuous checking of changes can offer the user, in various embodiments, an added benefit of an individualizable cosmetic treatment.

In various embodiments, to determine the degree of colonization of the skin with acne bacteria, a sensor can be used which can quantify the content of bacteria on the skin. The quantification of the bacteria can be determined indirectly via a content of endogenous porphyrin. The quantification can be done via the orange-red fluorescence of the endogenous porphyrin. For this, excitation of porphyrin contained in the bacteria (e.g., Propionibacterium acne) may be necessary by means of a light emitting device which emits light in a long wavelength UV-A and / or blue light (e.g., a so-called Wood lamp).

In various embodiments, the sensor may include a camera that may be configured to detect fluorescent light that may be emitted by the excited porphyrin.

In various embodiments, the apparatus for determining the degree of colonization of skin may include an electronic circuit device that may be configured to determine the detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescence due to the exposure in the photograph, and to assign a degree of colonization the skin to the detected detected amount of light by means of a database.

In various embodiments, a device may be provided which may be connected to or integrated with a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other computing device.

In various embodiments, the device may communicate via a data link with a processor cloud architecture (also referred to as "cloud" for brevity). For example, by means of the processor cloud architecture, a database may be provided which allocates a respective amount of light of one of the acne bacteria produced fluorescence agent is provided to provide bacterial colonization of the skin, wherein the database may have been determined as a reference database, eg in laboratory experiments, and possibly can be updated by means of measurement data of other users

In various embodiments, a degree of colonization of the skin with acne bacteria 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 acoustic message.

In various embodiments, a degree of colonization of the skin with acne bacteria may be recorded over an extended period of time, and control / tracking of the degree of colonization of the skin may be enabled by (e.g., plotting) the measurement results over time.

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, at a point of sale of cosmetics, and / or in a beauty salon. 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 connectable by means of a data connection) can be. 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, the fluorescence signal detected using the camera and the light emitting device may be compared to reference fluorescence signals for known bacterial colonization levels, and from which a bacterial colonization level of the user's skin may be determined (which comparison may also be made such that the signal is by means of a converted from reference signals and reference data to bacterial colonization level of the user). The reference data may have been previously determined in various embodiments, for example in laboratory experiments, and may be continuously updated by including data from other users, wherein the reference data may be provided in the form of a database.

In various embodiments, comparing the signal to the reference signal and / or determining the bacterial colonization level therefrom may be accomplished by electronic means Circuit device (eg directly), for example by means of an app or other software program, which is operated by the electronic circuit device (eg a smartphone, a tablet, an iPad or the like).

In various embodiments, the database may be provided by means of a processor cloud architecture, for which the electronic circuit device may provide a (e.g., contactless) data communication connection.

In various embodiments, the database may be stored in the electronic circuit device.

In various embodiments, comparing the fluorescence signal with the reference fluorescence signal to determine the bacterial colonization level may be done directly by the electronic circuit device.

In various embodiments, the comparison of the fluorescence signal with the reference fluorescence signal to determine the degree of bacterial colonization can be done indirectly by means of the electronic circuit device, for example by the electronic circuit device providing a (eg contactless) data communication connection and by means of the data communication connection the fluorescence signal of an external data processing device (eg a processor). Cloud architecture) and receives from the external data processing device determined by the fluorescence signal bacterial colonization of the skin.

In various embodiments, to determine the bacterial colonization level of the skin, a (physical) size of a skin area for which fluorescence is detected by means of the camera can be determined. In various embodiments, the size of the skin area, e.g. as described below, on the basis of the image (for example, of structures in the image which have a defined typical size (in a unit of area)). In various embodiments, the size of the skin area may be determined using a distance between the camera and the skin area using camera characteristics (e.g., a magnification and a physical detector size), e.g. as described below. In this case, the distance between the camera and the skin area may be predetermined and / or measured by means of a distance measuring device, e.g. as described below.

In various embodiments, the determined bacterial colonization rate of the skin can be provided to the user in any manner, eg selectable by the user, eg as a numerical value, a graphical representation (for example a representation of the determined value in relation to a total range from sparsely populated to moderately populated to heavily populated), an acoustic message, or the like.

In particular, in a case where the colonization degree is determined for a plurality of skin areas, providing the bacterial colonization degree of the skin to the user may include a graphical representation, for example, a display, e.g. by means of a display device. In the graph, the determined bacterial colonization degree of the skin of the plurality of regions may be displayed with a coding based on the bacterial cell colonization degree in a representation of the user (e.g., a schematic or a photograph of the user). For example, the user's image captured by the camera (e.g., a digital photograph that may, for example, show the user's face or part of the user's face) may be used to superimpose bacterial colonization sites, such as false color representation or superimposed contours of the fluorescence intensity image.

In various embodiments, e.g. If a time course of bacterial colonization is shown, different representations of bacterial colonization may be used for different times, e.g. different colors in the false color representation, a false color representation for a time and a different colored contour for another time, etc.

In various embodiments, the display device may be part of the device, e.g. a display of a smartphone, tablet or iPad. 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 degree of colonization, for example by means of software, e.g. an app that may be installed on the electronic circuit device, wherein the software (e.g., the app) may be configured to use a database for determining the degree of colonization that may or may not be provided by a processor cloud architecture.

In various embodiments, a method and apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria may be provided. The device, the method, and / or the degree of colonization determined by means of the device or method can be used to determine the needs of the skin of the user. 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.

For determining the bacterial colonization level of the skin, various embodiments may utilize software, for example an app, which may be installed, for example, on a portable data processing device (for example a smartphone, a tablet, an iPad or the like). A camera that may be configured to detect a fluorescence signal of a fluorescer generated by acne bacteria may be connected to or integrated with the data processing device. Further, an ultraviolet and / or blue light emitting device may be provided by which the skin of the user may be illuminated to generate the fluorescent signal. An evaluation of the detected fluorescence signal can enable a quantification of the degree of colonization of the skin with acne bacteria, by means of a database, which can be provided by means of a cloud, the fluorescence signal, a colonization of the skin with acne bacteria can be assigned. The use of the database provided by the cloud can make it possible, even after the device has been provided to the user, to improve the statistical reliability of data in the database and, if necessary, to expand a range covered by the data with regard to the degree of colonization.

In various embodiments, by means of the portable data processing device, e.g. by means of the software / app, the determined colonization degree as a value (e.g., with arbitrary units), as a verbal message, as a graphic representation (e.g., as a schematic pictorial representation indicating skin areas with acne bacterial colonization), or the like. be presented or communicated.

In various embodiments, based on the determined degree of colonization, the user can be recommended at least one cosmetic product that meets his individual needs. The cosmetic product may be capable of maintaining or improving the skin condition of the user (e.g., reducing or at least not increasing a degree of colonization with acne bacteria). In various embodiments, the cosmetic product may comprise a cream, a lotion, an ointment, an oil, an emulsion, a gel, a soap or the like, for example a make-up, a powder, a concealer, a concealer or a covering care product such as Example a tinted day cream.

In various exemplary embodiments, the product recommendations and / or care instructions can be provided, for example, by means of software, for example an app. For example, the user may be advised to apply a cosmetic care product which has a relatively high coverage to a skin area which is relatively heavily populated by acne bacteria. apply and a cosmetic care product, which has a relatively low coverage, to apply to a skin area that is not or only slightly colonized by acne bacteria, to apply.

For example, the user may be advised to use or avoid products with certain ingredients. For example, the user may be advised to apply a cosmetic care product containing benzoyl peroxide to a skin area that is relatively heavily populated by acne bacteria. In addition to benzoyl peroxide care products, users may be advised to use antiseptic care products such as a combination of ammonium dodecylsulfate and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, sodium bituminosulfonate (shale oil), salicylic acid, retinoids or antibiotics. Conversely, the user can be advised against the use of care products with a high content of comedogenic ingredients.

In various embodiments, the software / app that determines the bacterial colonization rate 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 bacterial cell colonization rate, determining a product recommendation, determining a care indication).

In various embodiments, a treatment success in a cosmetic treatment, which may be aimed at reducing the determined bacterial colonization level of the skin with anchoring bacteria, may be monitored. In various embodiments, the software / app may enable control and / or tracking of the results by means of a representation (e.g., a graphical representation, such as shown above) of the measurement results over time.

In various embodiments, in determining the product and care recommendations, information may also be used regarding general health, skin condition, dietary habits, and other user behaviors (e.g., daily outdoor / sun / water dwell, smoking habits, etc.), e.g. by means of 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 indication for maintaining a skin having a given skin condition. In various embodiments, a care product and / or a care indication for a skin condition may be considered appropriate, for example, based on literature data, test results, or empirical values (eg, ongoing, eg, during use of the software / app by the user , can be updated with new experiences of other users, see below), that with a (eg regular) application of the care product and / or the care instructions, the bacterial colonization of the user's skin is reduced, or at least not increased.

In various exemplary embodiments, an assessment of a suitability of a care product to improve a skin condition can be confirmed or modified by including experience values of other users with the same or a similar degree of colonization, for example, empirical values with regard to a treatment success. This can make it possible for the user to always receive an optimal recommendation. It is advantageous if the other users whose empirical values are recorded also have a similar profile with regard to age, gender, weight, general health and / or living habits in addition to the same or a similar degree of colonization.

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, aim to reduce the degree of bacterial colonization of the skin, and / or to achieve a different cosmetic effect, e.g. a decorative effect without increasing the bacterial colonization of the skin.

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 degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria is provided. The method may include: for at least one skin area of a user during exposing the skin area to ultraviolet and / or blue light; capturing the area of the skin by means of a camera, the camera being configured to at least generate light in a fluorescence wavelength range of one of the acne bacteria Detecting fluorescence means, determining a detected amount of light, which of the fluorescent agent is emitted as fluorescence due to the exposure, by means of the recording, and assigning a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light, wherein the assignment of the degree of colonization of the skin to the detected detected amount of light by means of a database stored in a processor cloud architecture ,

In various embodiments, the method may further comprise updating the database based on new allocations of the degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light from a plurality of other users.

In various embodiments, the method may further include capturing a background light image of the skin area by the camera while the skin area is not exposed to the ultraviolet and / or blue light, wherein determining the detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescence medium as fluorescence due to the exposure was, a determination of a difference of the recording and the difference recording can have.

In various embodiments, the fluorescer may comprise a porphyrin, preferably coprophorphyrin III.

In various embodiments, the fluorescence wavelength range may range from 560 nm to 780 nm.

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

In various embodiments, the camera and a lighting device for generating the ultraviolet and / or blue light may be parts of at least one portable device.

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 exemplary embodiments, the determination of the detected amount of light and / or the assignment of the degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light can be carried out by means of an app.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation is provided. The method may include determining a skin condition according to various embodiments, and determining the cosmetic product and / or a care instruction based on the determined degree of colonization of the skin and a further database stored in the processor cloud architecture having a plurality of colonization levels and a plurality of associated cosmetic products and / or grooming instructions, wherein each skin condition of the plurality of skin conditions is at least a suitable cosmetic product and / or at least one care instruction can be assigned.

In various exemplary embodiments, the cosmetic product and / or the care instruction may be suitable for the degree of colonization of the skin if a reduction in the degree of colonization of the skin 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 degree of colonization of the skin and / or determining the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation may include transferring the uptake and / or colonization level of the skin to an external data processing device and receiving the degree of colonization of the skin and / or the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation.

In various embodiments, an apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria is provided. The apparatus may include a light emitting device for exposing at least one skin area of a user to ultraviolet and / or blue light, a camera for picking up the skin area during exposure of the skin area by means of the light emitting device, the camera being configured to at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of detecting fluorescence generated by the acne bacteria, an electronic circuit device which may be configured to detect a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescence as fluorescence due to the exposure by means of the photograph, and to assign a degree of colonization of the skin to the detected one detected amount of light by means of a database; and a data exchange device for exchanging data between the electronic circuit device and a processor cloud architecture, wherein by means of the data exchange device, the database stored in the processor cloud architecture for allocating the degree of colonization to the amount of light can be provided.

In various embodiments, the fluorescence wavelength range may range from 590 nm to 760 nm.

In various embodiments, the ultraviolet and / or blue light may be in a wavelength range between 380 nm and 500 nm. In various embodiments, the ultraviolet and / or blue light may be in a wavelength range between 315 nm and 380 nm.

In various embodiments, the device may further comprise a filter whose permeability may be arranged and arranged such that the ultraviolet and / or blue light of the lighting device is prevented from being detected by the camera, whereas the filter may be permeable to the light in the fluorescence wavelength range.

In various embodiments, the lighting device, the camera, and the electronic circuit device may be parts of at least one portable device.

In various embodiments, the camera and the electronic circuit device may be parts of an integrated handheld device.

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

In various embodiments, the data exchange device may comprise a data exchange device for contactless data exchange.

In various embodiments, an apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria is provided. The apparatus may include a light emitting device for exposing at least a skin area of a user to ultraviolet and / or blue light, a camera for picking up the skin area during exposure of the skin area by means of the light emitting device, the camera being adapted to at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range detecting a fluorescence generated by the acne bacteria, a distance measuring device for measuring a distance between the distance measuring device and the skin area, and an electronic circuit device which may be configured to detect a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescence as fluorescence due to the exposure; by recording, determining a size of the skin area taking into account camera characteristics, the measured distance between the distance measuring device and the skin area, and a distance between the distance ndsmessvorrichtung and the camera, and to assign a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light by means of a database, taking into account the size of the skin area.

In various embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise a distance measuring device for measuring a distance between the distance measuring device and the skin area, wherein determining the size of the skin area may be based on Distance Device Skin Area Distance, Camera Distance Device Distance and Camera Features. The camera properties may include, for example, a magnification and a physical size of a camera detector.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria is provided. The method may include, for at least one skin area of a user, capturing the skin area by means of a camera during exposure of the skin area to ultraviolet and / or blue light, wherein the camera may be configured to at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of a fluorescer generated by the acne bacteria detecting, in the taking, a detection, a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescence due to the exposure and a size of the skin area, and assigning a colonization degree of the skin to the detected detected amount of light taking into consideration the size of the skin area by means of a database.

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 FIG. 1 B each show an apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria according to various embodiments and illustrating use of the apparatus;

FIG. Figure 2 shows an apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3A and 3B each show an apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria according to various embodiments, wherein FIG. 3A further illustrates using the device;

FIG. Figure 4 illustrates a representation of a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria determined according to various embodiments; FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of determining a skin care cosmetic product according to various embodiments;

FIG. FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a method for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria according to various embodiments; FIG.

FIG. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria according to various embodiments; FIG. and

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart 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. 2, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B each depict an apparatus 100 (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, and 100e, respectively) for determining a bacterial colonization level of skin of a user 102 according to various embodiments.

The skin of a user 102 (in FIGURE 1A, FIGURE 1B, and FIGURE 3A, by way of example, a skin region 102H is shown) may be populated by bacteria. The bacteria may also contain acne bacteria, e.g. Propionibacterium acne. Although typically a variety of different bacteria may colonize a human's skin, the methods and devices described herein, according to various embodiments, only refer to those bacteria that are capable of causing and causing blemishes, redness and inflammation (eg, acne) Porphyrin (eg coproporphyrin III and / or protoporphyrin IX) have (eg form). That is, terms such as "bacterial colonization level of skin" and the like herein refer to only the described (acne) bacteria, and not colonization with any kind of bacteria.

In various embodiments, the device 100 for determining a bacterial colonization level of a user's skin 102 may include a camera 108 that may be configured to receive the skin area 102H, thereby capturing a photograph of the user Skin area 102H can be generated. For example, the camera 108 may be a digital camera that images the skin area 102H that it detects. In various embodiments, instead of the camera 108, another light measuring device may be used, which only provides a signal integrated with respect to the surface, for example a photometer, for the skin area 102H detected by it. Hereinafter, the term "camera" is used to simplify the description, although in many embodiments (aside from those using special forms of representations of the results in which the imaging characteristic of the camera is used, see below), instead of (Imaging) camera also the other light measuring device can be used.

In various embodiments, the camera 108 may be configured to detect at least light in a fluorescence wavelength region of a fluorescence generated by the acne bacteria. For example, the camera 108 may include a detector which may be susceptible to at least the fluorescence wavelength range of the fluorescer produced by the acne bacteria. The fluorescer may be or may be a porphyrin, e.g. Coproporphyrin III and / or protoporphyrin IX. The fluorescence wavelength range, i. the wavelength range in which the fluorescent agent emits fluorescent light may range from about 590 nm to about 760 nm, e.g. between about 600 nm and about 740 nm, i. in a yellow-red to red or red wavelength range of visible light.

In various embodiments, the device 100 for determining a bacterial colonization level of skin of a user 102 may include a lighting device 106.

In various embodiments, the lighting device 106 may be configured to expose the at least one skin area 102H of the user 102 to ultraviolet and / or blue light 110. One wavelength or wavelength range of the ultraviolet and / or blue light 110 may be selected to be at least one overlap results in fluorescence with an excitation wavelength of the fluorescer (eg, porphyrin). For example, the wavelength of the ultraviolet and / or blue light 110 emitted by the light emitting device may be in a wavelength range between about 315 nm and about 450 nm, e.g. between about 315 nm and 380 nm, e.g. between about 340 nm and 380 nm or e.g. between about 355 nm and about 380 nm.

In various embodiments, as shown schematically in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1 B and FIG. 3A, the light emitting device 106 and the camera 108 may be disposed relative to each other and to the skin area 102H such that the light emitting device 106 may illuminate the skin area 102H with the ultraviolet and / or blue light 110 which may be present therein Acne bacteria) possibly present porphyrin for the emission of fluorescent light 1 12 can excite, and that fluorescent light 1 12 can be at least partially detected by the camera 108, ie, that at least a portion of the fluorescent light 1 12 reach the detector of the camera 108 and can be detected there.

In various embodiments, the device 100 for determining a bacterial colonization level of skin of a user 102 may further include an electronic circuit device 16. The electronic circuit device 1 16 may be configured in various embodiments to determine a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescent light 1 12 due to the exposure (this amount of light may also be referred to herein as a fluorescence signal), by the acquisition, and to a Assigning a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light by means of a database, wherein the database an assignment of reference light levels and known bacterial colonization levels of the skin, eg for comparison with the fluorescent signal.

As shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1 B and FIG. 3A is depicted as a skin area 102H, in various embodiments, the skin area 102H may be part of a facial skin of the user 102, which typically may be most frequently affected by impurities, redness, inflammation, etc. Alternatively or additionally, another or further skin region 102, for example on a user's back, can be used to determine the degree of colonization with bacteria.

In various embodiments, the lighting device 106 and the camera 108 may be coupled to the electronic circuit device 16, e.g. by means of a (wired or wireless) data connection 1 14 or 1 18.

The detection of a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescence means as fluorescent light 1 12 as a result of the exposure may, in various embodiments, have a benefit of a measurement value provided by the camera 108 as the amount of light quantity (fluorescence signal) representing the amount of light, for example in one case in which the camera 108 is an integrating light measuring device which is so arranged, for example by means of a filter 104 arranged between the skin area 102H and the camera (see FIGS. 2 and 3B) which is permeable only to light from a wavelength range, in which the fluorescence typically clearly outweighs other light entries from the skin area 102H, eg has a proportion of at least 75% (eg in a range of about 640 nm to about 650 nm), and / or in a case in which other light entries from the Skin area 102H is minimized or eliminated are, for example, by carrying out the process in the dark or almost dark (ie, while no or almost no Light, except for the ultraviolet or blue light 110 from illuminator 106, illuminates skin area 102H).

The determination of a detected amount of light which was emitted by the fluorescence means as fluorescent light 12 as a result of the exposure can, in various embodiments, integrate measured intensity values over a surface area in an image provided by the camera 108 (eg, over the entire image ), eg summing up pixel values, and utilizing the integrated value as the amount of light amount (fluorescence signal) representing the amount of light, for example, in a case where the camera 108 is an imaging (digital) camera thus arranged, for example, by means of one between the two Skin portion 102H and the camera 108 arranged filter 104 (see FIG 2 and FIG 3B), which is permeable only to light from a wavelength range in which the fluorescence is typically significantly outweighs other light entries from the skin area 102H, eg has a proportion of at least 75% (eg in a range from about 640 nm to about 650 nm), and / or in a case in which other light entries from the skin area 102H are minimized or eliminated, for example by performing the procedure in the dark or almost dark (ie, while no or almost no light, except for the ultraviolet or blue light 110 from illuminator 106, illuminates skin area 102H).

The acne bacteria typically colonize skin pores of the skin, so that the fluorescence emission of the porphyrin seems to originate from the colonized skin pores, so that in an imaging uptake of colonized skin, the colonized skin pores can represent point or substantially circular areas of increased emission. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the area over which the measured intensity values are integrated (e.g., summed up) may be composed of the point or substantially circular areas with the increased emission.

The determination of the detected amount of light emitted by the fluorescence means as fluorescent light 12 as a result of the exposure, in various embodiments, may further comprise determining the other light entries from the skin area 102H, and subtracting the other light entries from the integrated intensity values.

Determining the other light inputs from the skin region 102H may include taking a backlight image in various embodiments as shown in FIG. 1 B (top) is shown. During the recording of the background light recording, the lighting device 106 may be switched off. For subtracting the other light entries from the integrated intensity values, the background light recording can be integrated over the same area as the recording, for example over the entire picture or, for example, over the point or point essentially circular areas in which the skin pores with the acne bacteria are imaged.

Determining the other light entries from the skin area 102H may, in various embodiments (not shown), comprise determining the other light entries from the receptacle, e.g. For example, in integrating only the point or substantially circular areas in which the pores of the skin with the acne bacteria are imaged, areas in which no skin pores are imaged with the acne bacteria (eg, annular outside the point or substantially circular areas) may be determined which no fluorescence emission is present), and one of these areas (which may have a total of another area, eg a different number of picture elements than the accumulated point or substantially circular areas) by integrating (eg summing) obtained intensity value can be normalized in that it corresponds to the area of the point or substantially circular areas, and the normalized intensity value is subtracted from the integrated value for the point or substantially circular areas. In various embodiments, this method can also be performed individually for each point or substantially circular area, and the difference values for the point or substantially circular areas are added up to the determined amount of light.

In various embodiments, for example, as an alternative to, or in addition to, using a digital color camera, only a red portion of the intensity value may be used to determine the amount of light emitted from the fluorescer as fluorescent light 12 as a result of the exposure become. For example, in the case of coding (customary in digital color cameras) in an RGB color space, an evaluation of the intensity values may be restricted to an R channel (the red color channel). Analogously, when using other color spaces that color channel for determining the detected amount of light which has been emitted by the fluorescence means as fluorescent light 12 as a result of the exposure can be used, in which the fluorescence wavelength range (ie the range between about 560 nm and about 780 nm ) predominantly falls.

The electronic circuit device 1 16 may be arranged in various embodiments, on the basis of the determined amount of light, for example by comparing with a database, which may have an assignment of reference amounts of light to known Baktenenbesiedelungsdenden the skin, a bacterial colonization of the skin of the skin of the user 102 to determine, eg a very high, moderately high, normal, moderately low or very low bacterial colonization rate of the skin. In various embodiments, the bacterial colonization level of the skin may be otherwise described or quantified, eg, as a numerical bacterial colonization level (eg, with any unit) or the like. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device 16 may further be configured to determine a size (ie, a physical size, eg, a length and width, a diameter, or the like in a unit length, eg, centimeter) of the detected skin area 102H.

In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device 16 may be configured to determine the size of the detected skin area 102H based on the shot, for example, based on a size of the substantially circular areas that the bacteria-colonized skin pores may be imaged (if displayed in a spatially resolved manner). in comparison to typical sizes of skin pores, based on an average distance between several (eg adjacent) of the punctiform or substantially circular areas where the bacteria-colonized skin pores can be imaged compared to typical pore spacings and / or other face structures eg can be recognized by conventional methods in the image, compared with typical values for the structures, e.g. an iris diameter (which may be relatively constant from human to human, about 12 mm), a distance between the pupil and / or nostrils of the user 102, a nasal tip chin distance, or similar structures.

In various embodiments, the apparatus 100 may be used to determine a bacterial colonization level of a user's skin 102, such as e.g. in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B for the devices 100d and 100e, respectively, have a distance measuring device 332 for measuring a distance d between the distance measuring device 332 and the skin region 102H. In that case, the electronic circuit device 1 16 may be configured to detect the detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescence due to the exposure by taking the image, determining the (physical) size of the skin area 102H taking into account camera characteristics, measured distance d between the distance measuring device 332 and the skin area 102H and a distance (parallel to a direction camera - skin area) between the distance measuring device 332 and the camera 332, and assigning a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light by means of a database under consideration the size of the skin area 102H.

The camera characteristics may include a magnification and physical dimensions of the detector (eg, length and width in millimeters), or other suitable combinations of camera characteristics that allow for calculating the size of the skin area 102H, including the distance between the camera 108 and the skin area 102H. As a distance measuring device 332 may be used in various embodiments, a conventional triangulation device, for example using a light emitting diode and a detector, or other suitable distance measuring device. In various embodiments, for example, when using a smartphone, tablet or iPad, etc. with an integrated camera, for example, the integrated camera can be used both as the camera 108, and possibly also provided by an autofocus system of the camera 108 information for determining the distance between the camera 108 and the skin area 102H.

In various embodiments, the distance between the camera 108 and the skin area 102H may be determined only when there is a photograph (to be evaluated). In various embodiments, the distance between the camera 108 and the skin area 102H may be continuously determined while the device 100 is used to determine a bacterial colonization level of a user's skin 102. In this case, the distance determination can be used, for example, to allow the user 102 to set a preferred distance, for example by means of an optical signal, e.g. For example, the lighting device 106 may be operated at intervals, with a frequency that changes with approaching the preferred distance, and operated constantly when the preferred distance (e.g., approximately) is reached, or for example by means of an acoustic signal, e.g. when approaching the preferred distance, it sounds less frequently and stops when the (for example, approximate) preferred distance is reached.

Alternatively or in addition to the distance measuring device and / or determining the distance from the receptacle, the device 100 may be provided with a spacer (not shown). By means of the spacer, a preferred distance between the camera 108 and the skin area 102H can be adjustable so that the camera physical properties can be used to determine the (physical) size of the skin area 102H without the distance between the camera 108 and the skin area 102H or the sizes mapped structures.

In various embodiments, knowledge of the (physical) size of the skin area 102H may allow for improved quantification of the bacterial colonization level, for example, by correlating the detected detected amount of light to the size of the skin area 102H, e.g. as amount of light per square centimeter, and / or by taking into account the physical size of the skin area when comparing the amount of light with the plurality of reference light quantities.

In various exemplary embodiments, the database can have a plurality of reference light quantities and a respectively associated bacterial colonization level, which can be determined at least partially by means of laboratory measurements, and in each case under Regarding the physical size of the reference skin area can be normalized to a unit area (eg as amount of light per square centimeter or similar), with values for comparable degrees of colonization can be averaged, regardless of how large the reference skin area.

As degrees of colonization, qualitative descriptions can be used in various embodiments, e.g. "Heavily populated", "sparsely populated", etc. In various embodiments, alternative or additional quantitative degrees of colonization can be used, which can be determined for example by means of laboratory measurements, e.g. an average number of bacteria per square centimeter or similar.

In various embodiments, in addition to a plurality of reference light quantities and the respectively associated bacterial colonization level, which may be determined, for example, at least in part by means of laboratory measurements, the database may also specify a respective (physical) size (eg in square centimeters or square millimeters) of the reference skin area for which the reference light amount has been detected, and for comparing the amount of light with the reference light amount to determine the associated bacterial colonization degree, the physical size of the skin area 102H may be taken into account, eg by only comparing those entries of the database (i.e., light quantity / bacterial colonization assignments) that were based on mappings due to similarly sized skin areas 102H. Thus, it may be possible to consider that a range of commonly measurable amounts of light at a given bacterial colonization level may depend on the (physical) size of the skin area 102H. For example, even with a very high degree of colonization, it may not be possible to determine values as high as determining the amount of light per unit area for, for example, an entire face, such as the amount of light per unit area for only one e.g. one square centimeter skin area 102H on the chin (because some areas of the skin are typically typically bacteria-free or poor even with heavy bacterial colonization, e.g., areas under the eyes), and vice versa.

In various embodiments, the device 100 for determining a bacterial colonization level of skin of a user 102 may be a portable device 100, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3B, wherein the portable device 100 is not limited to a smartphone.

The electronic circuit device 16 may comprise a processor and a memory in various embodiments. The electronic circuit device 16 may in various embodiments be coupled to the camera 108 and the lighting device 106, for example such that a transmission of a signal detected by the camera (eg a recording, for example, a digital image or a value of a photometer) is possible, for example by means of a data connection 1 18. The data link 1 18, for example, a data cable, an internal conductive connection and / or a wireless transmission, eg by means of WLAN, thread, ZigBee or Bluetooth. The electronic circuit device 16 may, for example, be a smartphone, an iPad, a tablet, a laptop or the like.

In various embodiments (as illustrated, for example, in Figures 2 and 3B for the devices 100c and 100e, respectively), the camera 108 and the electronic circuit device 16 may form a portable integrated unit.

In various embodiments, the lighting device 106 and the camera 108 may form a portable integrated unit.

In various embodiments, the device 100 may have a size that allows it to be accommodated in a hand or trouser pocket. For example, the device 100 may have an area of less than 36 cm ² and a thickness of less than 2 cm.

The electronic circuit device 16 may be configured in various embodiments to determine a degree of bacterial colonization of the skin as described above. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device 16 may be configured itself, i. directly to determine the degree of bacterial colonization of the skin.

For determining the bacterial colonization rate of the skin, various embodiments may utilize software, such as an app, which may be installed on a portable data processing device, for example, the portable data processing device may be the electronic circuit device 16, e.g. in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3B, or an additional, e.g. For example, the camera 108 and lighting device 106 may form an integrated unit that may be coupled to the external computing device, such as a smartphone, a tablet, an iPad, or the like).

In various embodiments, the degree of bacterial colonization of the skin may be dependent on time (eg, several times a day, daily, weekly, monthly, or any other temporal dependency) and / or under various environmental conditions (eg, in a high or low humidity environment, in cold or hot weather) or low sunshine, etc.). In various embodiments, the reference measurements, which may be provided, for example, in the form of a database, may be used as part of the software / app to associate the determined detected amount of light with a bacterial colonization level of the skin.

In various embodiments, the database may be stored in the memory of the electronic circuit device 16.

In various embodiments, the database may be stored in an external data processing device, e.g. a processor cloud architecture 222 may be stored. In that case, the database may be provided to the electronic circuit device 16 for comparison with the detected detected amount of light, and / or the comparison may be after providing the detected amount of light or at least the recording and possibly further data (eg the data described above for determining the distance between the camera and the skin area 102H), by means of the processor cloud architecture. This may be referred to as indirectly determining the bacterial colonization level by means of the electronic circuit device 16. The bacterial colonization degree determined by the comparison performed by the external data processing device 222 may be provided to the electronic circuit device 16, for example, to be provided to the user 102.

For communicating / providing data between the external data processing device 222, e.g. the processor cloud architecture 222 and the electronic circuit device, a data link 224 may be utilized, such as a wireless data link 224, e.g. via WLAN or Bluetooth or a comparable wireless data transmission device. The apparatus 100 may include, for providing and receiving data to / from the external data processing device 222, a data exchange device 120 (see FIG. 1B) that may be part of or associated with the electronic circuit device 16, for example.

In various embodiments, for example, in a case where the database is stored in a processor cloud architecture 222, the database may be updated using data from other users 1020, such as a user. in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1 B shown schematically.

The electronic circuit device 16 may, in various embodiments, comprise a relatively simple electronic circuit device, which, for example, may be configured to detect substantially only the camera signal and transmit it to the external data processing device 222. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device 16 may include a more powerful, versatile circuit device (eg, a smartphone, a tablet, or an iPad) that not only may be configured to detect the camera signal (and possibly to determine the detected amount of light and compare with the reference amounts of light in the database and / or the external data processing device 222), but may additionally be configured to perform various other functions, such as inputs request and store by the user 102, present results, provide values (eg, autofocus values) for determining the distance camera skin area, etc.

In various embodiments, by means of the electronic circuit device 16, 16, e.g. by means of the software / app, the bacterial colonization rate of the skin is provided to the user. The degree of bacterial colonization of the skin may be described, for example, as a value (e.g., as described above), as a verbal message, as a graphical representation, or the like. communicated, e.g. are represented, e.g. by means of displays, e.g. on a screen of the portable electronic circuit device 1 16.

In various embodiments, providing the skin condition to the user by means of the graphical representation may include the shot, which may be overlaid with an illustration of the bacterial colonization level of the skin, e.g. by means of different symbols / markings / hatching for areas different bacterial colonization of the skin.

As shown in FIG. 4, for the illustration of the degree of bacterial colonization of the skin, it is possible to use the receptacle which can be used, for example, by means of the electronic circuit device 16 and / or the external data processing device 222, e.g. to produce a two-dimensional intensity distribution of the detected detected fluorescence light in the skin area 102H, e.g. a two-dimensional digital image, which has the dimensions of the recording, but only at locations for which a fluorescent light contribution was determined at the determined intensity values, the fluorescent light contribution as an intensity value. The intensity distribution of the detected fluorescence light can be represented superimposed, for example, as a contour representation 550 (as shown by way of example in FIG. 4) and / or as a false color representation of the image, e.g. on a screen of the electronic circuit device 1 16.

In various embodiments, intensity distributions obtained at different times may be represented in different ways, e.g. with different colors.

In various embodiments, the device 100 may further be configured to determine a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation based on the ascertained bacterial colonization level of the skin and to provide it to the user 102. In various embodiments, at least one suitable cosmetic product and / or at least one care indication may be assigned to each of the plurality of bacterial colonization levels of the skin. The assignment may, for example, be determined experimentally, eg in laboratory experiments. In this case, the cosmetic product and / or the care instructions for the skin with the predetermined bacterial colonization degree may be suitable if it is either suitable to reduce the degree of bacterial colonization, or at least not reaching a different destination, eg in a predominantly decorative application, the degree of bacterial colonization to increase.

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 bacterial colonization level of the skin.

In various embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1B, an assessment of a suitability of a personal care product to reduce a degree of bacterial colonization of the skin may be confirmed or modified by including experience of other users 1020 having the same or a similar bacterial colonization level of the skin, for example, experience of treatment success. The empirical values can be provided by the other users, for example, the external data processing device 222, 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 experience, the database may be updated in the external data processing device 222 and / or in the portable electronic circuit device 16. This can make it possible for the user 102 to always receive an optimal recommendation.

In various embodiments, when determining the product and / or care recommendations, further information regarding general health, skin condition, eating habits, and other user behaviors (eg, daily outdoor / sun / water intake (eg, trace water), smoking habits etc.), for example by means of the software / app installed on the portable electronic circuit device 16 and / or on the external data processing device 222. The information may, in various embodiments, be retrieved by the user 102 via the portable electronic circuit device 116, which may input it to the electronic circuit device 16, for example by means of a keyboard, as a voice message, as a selection from one of the portable electronic circuit device 16 Menu, or similar. For example, if the user 102 provides as additional information that he spends a lot of time in the water or outdoors, in the product and / or care recommendation recommendation based on the Baktenbesiedelungsgrad the skin of the user 102, for example, those associated care products recommended to the user 102 which are not only suitable for its Baktenenbesiedelungsgrad, but also, for example, waterproof and / or provided with a UV filter.

In various embodiments, the product recommendation and / or the care indication may be provided to the user 102, for example by means of the electronic circuit device 16, e.g. by way of the screen of the electronic circuit device 16. For example, the graph of FIG. 4 are supplemented by (e.g., text) messages (not shown), e.g. the identified product recommendations and / or care instructions, such as "apply cream A in the area marked with the contours 550" or the like.

FIG. FIG. 5 shows a diagram 500 illustrating a method of determining a skin care cosmetic product according to various embodiments. FIG. 5 may substantially 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, according to various embodiments, determining a bacterial colonization rate (at 510), for example, as described above.

Based on the determined degree of bacterial colonization of the skin, a product or care recommendation can be found (at 560). In various embodiments (identified as path 515), in addition to the bacterial cell colonization level, literature data (labeled 530), personal data (e.g., 540 as described above), and / or other users' data, e.g. their empirical values (indicated as 550) are consulted.

Further, in various embodiments, as shown at path 580, a determination of a treatment outcome may be monitored (at 510) by determining the bacterial cell colonization level (at 510) (at 590). This may be useful, for example, during and after a cosmetic treatment based on the product recommendation (at 560). A successful treatment by means of the method for determining the skin condition based on objective values can increase a motivation for the user (at 599). In various exemplary embodiments, as described above, based on the ascertained bacterial colonization rate of the skin, product recommendations can be derived for cosmetic products that are individually suitable for the user 102 and / or individual care instructions. The product recommendations and / or care instructions can be provided, for example, by means of software, for example an app.

The user can be offered a recommended product directly for sale and the user can initiate the purchase by entering the purchase. In addition to the purchase of recommended products, the user can also be offered further information on the purchase. This further information may refer to more detailed treatment and application instructions. For example, a software / app receives the request that the user wants to purchase the product, stores the request, and / or submits the request to a trading company that distributes the product. The user may be prompted by the software / app to enter his personal data (address, bank information, delivery preference, etc.) via the input unit. Alternatively, the user can be indicated where (for example, drugstore, beauty salon, pharmacy, etc.) he can purchase the recommended product. For example, the software / app may be the same software or app that performs the procedure for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation.

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

Customers always want a product that is individually tailored to their needs. This can be a product manufactured specifically for the customer or a so-called "mass customized" product, whereby a variation of a few, but from the customer's point of view decisive characteristics of a product can be achieved in a "mass customized" product. 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 help of a product configurator, for example, the selection of chemically and / or physically incompatible ingredients or the selection of the determined degree of colonization of unsuitable ingredients can be avoided. Conversely, the selection for the determined degree of colonization of suitable ingredients can be specified or proposed by the product configurator.

In various embodiments, the software / app that determines the bacterial colonization level of the skin may be the same that determines the product recommendation and / or the care instructions. In various embodiments, different software programs / apps can be used for the various processes (determination of the degree of bacterial colonization of the skin, determination of a product recommendation, determination of a care indication).

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 degree of colonization. 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 and / or a cosmetic appointment may be made via a separate software / app, such as Treatwell.

In various embodiments, a treatment success in a cosmetic treatment, which may have a positive effect on the determined bacterial colonization of the skin to be targeted, can 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.

FIG. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart 600 of a method for determining a bacterial colonization level of a user's skin according to various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a bacterial colonization level of a user's skin is provided. The method may include, for at least one skin area of a user during exposure of the skin area to ultraviolet and / or blue light, taking a picture of the area of the skin by means of a Camera, wherein the camera is adapted to detect (at 610) at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of an acne bacteria-generated fluorescence, determining a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescence as fluorescence due to the exposure in the captured image (at 620), and assigning a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light, wherein the mapping of the degree of colonization of the skin to the detected detected amount of light is performed by a database stored in a processor cloud architecture (at 630).

FIG. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart 700 of a method for determining a bacterial colonization level of a user's skin according to various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a bacterial colonization level of a user's skin is provided. The method may include, for at least one user's skin area, capturing an image of the skin area by a camera during exposure of the skin area to ultraviolet and / or blue light, the camera being configured to at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of an acne bacteria-produced fluorescer detecting (at 710), detecting a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescence due to the exposure in the captured image, and determining a size of the skin area (at 720), and assigning a degree of colonization of the skin the determined detected amount of light taking into account the size of the skin area by means of a database (at 730).

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart 800 of 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 bacterial colonization level of a user's skin according to various embodiments (at 810) and determining the cosmetic product and / or the care instruction based on the determined skin condition and a database having a plurality of skin conditions and a plurality of associated cosmetic products and / or care instructions, wherein each bacterial colonization level of the plurality of bacterial colonization levels may be associated with at least one suitable cosmetic product and / or at least one suitable care instruction (at 820).

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.

A first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a method for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria, comprising:

for at least one skin area of a user, while exposing the skin area to ultraviolet and / or blue light, capturing the area of the skin by means of a camera, the camera being adapted to detect at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of a fluorescence agent generated by the acne bacteria;

in the photograph, detecting a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescence due to the exposure; and

- assigning a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light; wherein the assignment of the degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light is effected by means of a database stored in a processor cloud architecture.

A second preferred embodiment comprises that the method according to embodiment 1, further comprising updating the database based on new allocations of the degree of colonization of the skin to the detected detected amount of light from a plurality of other users.

A third preferred embodiment comprises that the method according to embodiment 1 or 2 further comprises taking a background light image of the skin area by means of the camera while the skin area is not exposed to the ultraviolet and / or blue light, wherein determining the detected amount of light from which fluorescence has been emitted as fluorescence as a result of the exposure, has a determination of a difference of the recording and the background light recording,

having.

A fourth preferred embodiment comprises the method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the fluorescer comprises a porphyrin, preferably coprophorphyrin III.

A fifth preferred embodiment comprises the method according to any of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the fluorescence wavelength range is from 590 nm to 760 nm.

A sixth preferred embodiment comprises the method according to one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the at least one skin area comprises a plurality of skin areas of the user. A seventh preferred embodiment comprises the method according to one of the embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the camera and a lighting device for generating the ultraviolet and / or blue light are parts of at least one portable device.

An eighth preferred embodiment comprises the method according to one of the embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the portable device has a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad or is attachable to a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad.

A ninth preferred embodiment comprises the method according to one of the embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the determination of the detected amount of light and / or the allocation of the degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light is carried out by means of an app.

A tenth preferred embodiment comprises a method for determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation, comprising:

Determining a skin condition according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and

Determining the cosmetic product and / or a care instruction based on the determined degree of colonization of the skin and a further database stored in the processor cloud architecture, which has a plurality of colonization levels and a plurality of associated cosmetic products and / or care instructions, wherein each skin condition of the plurality of skin conditions at least one suitable cosmetic product and / or at least one care instruction is assigned.

An eleventh preferred embodiment comprises the method according to embodiment 10, wherein the cosmetic product and / or the care instruction for the degree of colonization of the skin is suitable, if based on stored in the further database experience of a plurality of other users with the cosmetic product, a reduction in the degree of colonization of the skin is to be expected.

A twelfth preferred embodiment comprises the method according to one of embodiments 10 or 11, wherein determining the degree of colonization of the skin and / or determining the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation comprises transferring the uptake and / or colonization level of the skin to an external data processing device and receiving the degree of colonization of the skin and / or the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation.

A thirteenth preferred embodiment comprises an apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria, comprising:

a lighting device for exposing at least one skin area of a user to ultraviolet and / or blue light; a camera for picking up the skin area during the exposure of the skin area by means of the lighting device, the camera being arranged to detect at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of a fluorescence medium generated by the acne bacteria;

- An electronic circuit device, which is adapted to determine a detected amount of light which has been emitted by the fluorescence means as fluorescence due to the exposure, in the recording, and to assign a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light by means of a database; and

a data exchange device for exchanging data between the electronic circuit device and a processor cloud architecture, the data exchange device providing the database stored in the processor cloud architecture for allocating the degree of colonization to the amount of light.

A fourteenth preferred embodiment comprises a device according to embodiment 13, wherein the fluorescence wavelength range is from 560 nm to 780 nm.

A fifteenth preferred embodiment comprises the device according to one of the embodiments 13 or 14, wherein the ultraviolet and / or blue light is in a wavelength range between 380 nm and 500 nm.

A sixteenth preferred embodiment comprises the device according to one of the embodiments 13 or 14,

wherein the ultraviolet and / or blue light is in a wavelength range between 315 nm and 380 nm.

A seventeenth preferred embodiment includes the device according to any of embodiments 13 to 16, further comprising:

a filter whose transmissivity is arranged and arranged so that the ultraviolet and / or blue light of the lighting device is prevented from being detected by the camera, whereas the filter is transparent to the light in the fluorescence wavelength region.

An eighteenth preferred embodiment includes the device according to any of embodiments 13 to 17, wherein the lighting device, the camera and the electronic circuit device are parts of at least one portable device.

A nineteenth preferred embodiment includes the device according to any one of Embodiments 13 to 18, wherein the camera and the electronic circuit device are parts of an integrated portable device. A twentieth preferred embodiment includes a device according to embodiment 19, wherein the integrated portable device comprises a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad.

A twenty-first preferred embodiment comprises the device according to any one of Embodiments 13 to 20, wherein the data exchange device comprises a data exchange device for contactless data exchange.

A twenty-second preferred embodiment comprises an apparatus for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria, comprising:

a lighting device for exposing at least one skin area of a user to ultraviolet and / or blue light;

a camera for picking up the skin area during the exposure of the skin area by means of the lighting device, the camera being arranged to detect at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of a fluorescence medium generated by the acne bacteria; and

- An electronic circuit device, which is adapted to determine a detected amount of light which has been emitted by the fluorescence as fluorescence due to the exposure, by the recording, a determination of a size of the skin area, and to assign a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected Amount of light by means of a database taking into account the size of the skin area.

A twenty-third preferred embodiment comprises a device according to embodiment 22, further comprising:

a distance measuring device for measuring a distance between the distance measuring device and the skin area, wherein determining the size of the skin area is based on the distance device skin area distance, a camera pitch distance and camera characteristics.

A twenty-fourth preferred embodiment comprises a method for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria, comprising:

for at least one skin area of a user, while exposing the skin area to ultraviolet and / or blue light, picking up the area of the skin by means of a camera, the camera being arranged to detect at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of a fluorescence agent generated by the acne bacteria;

in the photograph, determining a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescence due to the exposure, and determining a size of the skin area; and

- Assigning a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light taking into account the size of the skin area by means of a database.

Claims

claims

A method for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria, comprising: for at least one skin area of a user, while exposing the skin area to ultraviolet and / or blue light, exposing the area of the skin by means of a camera, wherein the camera is arranged, at least light in detect a fluorescence wavelength range of a fluorescence generated by the acne bacteria;

Assigning a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light; wherein the assignment of the degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light is effected by means of a database stored in a processor cloud architecture.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Updating the database based on new allocations of the degree of colonization of the skin to the detected detected amount of light from a plurality of other users.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

Taking a background light image of the skin area by means of the camera while exposing the skin area with the ultraviolet and / or blue light, wherein determining the detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescence medium as fluorescence due to the exposure, determining a difference of the uptake and the background light recording has.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

wherein the fluorescer comprises a porphyrin, preferably coprophorphyrin III.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

wherein the fluorescence wavelength range is from 590 nm to 760 nm.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

wherein the at least one skin region comprises a plurality of skin regions of the user.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

wherein the camera and a lighting device for generating the ultraviolet and / or blue light are parts of at least one portable device.

8. The method according to claim 7,

wherein the portable device comprises a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad or attachable to a smartphone, a tablet or an iPad.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

wherein the determination of the detected amount of light and / or the assignment of the degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light is carried out by means of an app.

10. A method of determining a cosmetic skin treatment recommendation, comprising:

Determining a skin condition according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and

1 1. A method according to claim 10,

wherein the cosmetic product and / or the care instruction is suitable for the degree of colonization of the skin if a reduction in the degree of colonization of the skin is to be expected based on empirical values of a plurality of further users with the cosmetic product stored in the further database.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 1 1,

wherein determining the degree of colonization of the skin and / or determining the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation comprises transferring the uptake and / or the degree of colonization of the skin to an external data processing device and receiving the degree of colonization of the skin and / or the cosmetic skin treatment recommendation.

13. A device for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria, comprising:

a lighting device for exposing at least a skin area of a user to ultraviolet and / or blue light;

a camera for picking up the skin area during the exposure of the skin area by means of the lighting device, the camera being arranged to detect at least light in a fluorescence wavelength range of a fluorescence medium generated by the acne bacteria; an electronic circuit device configured to detect a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescence due to the exposure in the photograph, and to associate a degree of colonization of the skin with the detected detected light amount by means of a database; and

a data exchange device for exchanging data between the electronic circuit device and a processor cloud architecture, wherein by means of the data exchange device, the database stored in the processor cloud architecture for allocating the degree of colonization to the amount of light is provided.

14. A device for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria, comprising:

an electronic circuit device configured to determine a detected amount of light emitted from the fluorescent agent as fluorescence due to the exposure by taking a picture, detecting a size of the skin area, and assigning a colonization degree of the skin to the detected detected light amount by means of a database taking into account the size of the skin area.

15. A method for determining a degree of colonization of skin with acne bacteria, comprising: for at least one skin area of a user, while exposing the skin area to ultraviolet and / or blue light, picking up the area of the skin by means of a camera, the camera being arranged, at least light in detect a fluorescence wavelength range of a fluorescence generated by the acne bacteria;

Assigning a degree of colonization of the skin to the determined detected amount of light taking into account the size of the skin area by means of a database.