WO2018104089A1

WO2018104089A1 - Method and device for determining a condition of the skin and method for determining a cosmetic product for skin treatment

Info

Publication number: WO2018104089A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/080467
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Bock; Thomas Welss
Original assignee: Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa
Priority date: 2016-12-07
Filing date: 2017-11-27
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Also published as: DE102016224397A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method in various embodiments for determining a condition of the skin. The method can comprise: determining at least one skin condition parameter, comprising: while exposing the skin of a user to visible light and/or near infrared light, capturing a spectrum and/or at least one image of at least one part of the visible light and/or near infrared light that has interacted with the skin, the exposure and capturing process being performable with a portable device; comparing at least one comparison region of the spectrum and/or the at least one image with calibration spectra and/or calibration images obtained for a plurality of calibration skin-samples; and determining the at least one skin condition parameter using a result of the comparison and determining the condition of the skin using the at least one skin condition parameter.

Description

"Method and Apparatus for Determining a Skin Condition and Method of Detecting a Cosmetic Product for Skin Treatment"

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

Healthy and young looking skin (normal skin) may have a small pored, taut appearance. Normal skin may feel supple and neither too dry nor too fat.

In contrast, dry skin may appear flaky, rough, and / or sensitive to external influences. Often, older people may be affected by dry skin.

Dry skin may be due, for example, to a disruption of a barrier function of the skin due to an inappropriate amount of skin lipids and / or due to a wrong composition of the skin lipids.

For dry skin care in particular, various special face and / or body cleansing and care products may be available.

For oily skin, which may occur, for example, particularly in the post-pubertal years, e.g. especially on the face, there may be an excess of skin lipids on the skin surface. This can promote the growth of microorganisms, which can lead to impure skin. The oily skin may appear coarse-pored and shiny.

Also for a care especially greasy skin, various special cleaning and care products, especially for the face, be available.

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 consumes cosmetic products, it may be virtually impossible to understand a treatment success, because it lacks the user, for example, at home, opportunities to assess standardized and objectively a treatment outcome. 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 needs and requirements, for example in a nutrition or health area.

In a spectroscopy and also in imaging applications (also referred to as imaging) in a short-wave infrared range (SWIR, usually wavelengths between about 1000 nm and 2000 nm) can be used in this area absorption maxima of various substances, such as water, lipids and collagen. However, use of the SWIR, e.g. in the biomedical field, so far limited for cost reasons, for example, in laboratory analyzes using expensive, large and / or complicated devices.

In a so-called pulse oximetry, an oxygen saturation of arterial blood can be determined. This can be used in a medical field, for example to monitor patients (possibly also in the home), to avoid altitude sickness, in sleep medicine (for a diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome) and / or in sports medicine, and if necessary also in the private sector.

In various embodiments, a device for determining a skin condition of a user may be provided. The device may include a cheap, small (eg, portable) sensor (also referred to as a meter) that may be applied to a (live) user, such as the home user, a cosmetics store, and / or a beauty salon. The sensor may, in various embodiments, have a size which allows it to be easily accommodated in a hand or trouser pocket, for example with an area of less than 36 cm 2 and a thickness of less than 2 cm. In various exemplary embodiments, the sensor can be set up to record a spectrum and / or an image of the user's skin, for example in the SWIR range, in the near-infrared (NIR) range and / or in a wavelength range of visible light (VIS range). , Based on absorption found in the spectrum and / or image, at least one skin conditional parameter may be determined, for example a content of a substance causing absorption in the skin of the user. Using the at least one skin condition parameter, a skin condition of the user can be determined in various exemplary embodiments. In various embodiments, levels of several substances in the skin of the user can be determined as a plurality of skin condition parameters taken and / or used in relation to each other can be used to determine a skin condition of the user.

In various embodiments, a method and apparatus for determining a skin condition may be provided. For this purpose, at least one skin condition parameter can be determined in various exemplary embodiments. The device, the method, and / or the at least one skin condition determined by the device or method can be used to determine the needs of the skin of the user.

In various exemplary embodiments, a user is to be enabled to find specific products and / or to obtain grooming suggestions that can be tailored to the individual needs of the user's skin.

In various embodiments, the SWIR wavelength range may be due to, e.g. be suitable by means of absorption characteristics, determinable parameters for an analysis of the skin, for example in a cosmetic context. For example, in an anti-aging area, a collagen content and / or a water content of the skin can be determined, for a care of specific skin types (eg dry skin, oily skin), a lipid content and / or a water content of the skin can be determined, and / or An oxygen saturation of the skin (for example of hemoglobin in the blood in the skin) can be determined, because this can be reduced, for example in the presence of dark circles under the eyes.

The at least one skin conditional parameter may have an oxygen saturation, a water content, a lipid content, a lipid composition, a collagen content, or the like. The at least one skin condition parameter can be used individually in various exemplary embodiments in order to determine a skin condition. In various embodiments, several of the determined skin condition parameters may be used in combination to provide one, e.g. to determine a single, skin condition.

For determining the at least one skin condition parameter and / or for determining the skin condition, a software, for example an app, can be used in various exemplary embodiments, which can be installed, for example, on a portable data processing device. The measuring device, which may have, for example, a spectrometer and / or a camera, for example for the SWIR range and / or the range of visible light, may be connected to the data processing device or integrated therein. By means of the measuring device, cosmetically relevant parameters of the skin can be measured, for example a water content (ie a moisture), a lipid amount, a lipid composition, a collagen amount and / or structure, an oxygen saturation of the skin, which allows conclusions to be drawn on a microcirculation of the skin important factor for a skin color, and / or another cosmetically relevant parameter. In various embodiments, by means of the portable data processing device, for example by means of the software / app, the determined parameters as values (eg with arbitrary units), as a verbal message, as a graphical representation, o.ä. be presented or communicated.

In various embodiments, at least one cosmetic product may be recommended to the user based on the determined skin condition. The cosmetic product may be capable of maintaining or improving the skin condition of the user (e.g., increasing the oxygen and / or moisture content of the skin). In various embodiments, the cosmetic product may comprise a cream, a lotion, an ointment, an oil, a soap or the like.

In various embodiments, based on the determined skin condition parameters and / or on the basis of the determined skin condition, product recommendations can be derived for individually fitting care products and / or individual care instructions for the user. The product recommendations and / or care instructions may be provided, for example, by software, e.g. an app.

In addition, the user may be allowed to purchase the recommended product. For this purpose, stores the software / App, which determines the product recommendation and / or the care instructions and a corresponding request from the user and / or sends the request to a retail company, which sells the recommended product. In addition to the purchase of products, the user can also be offered further information on the purchase. This more detailed information may refer to more detailed care and application notes. Alternatively, the user may be specifically communicated (visually or verbally) where he can purchase the recommended product (e.g., retail location with a specific address).

In various embodiments, the software / app that determines the skin condition parameter and / or the skin 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 at least one skin condition parameter, determining the skin condition, determining a product recommendation, determining a caregiving instruction, initiating a purchase transaction).

In various embodiments, a treatment success in a cosmetic treatment, which may have a positive effect on the determined skin condition parameters or the determined skin condition, can be monitored. In various embodiments, the software / app may control and / or track the Allow results by means of a representation (eg a graphical representation) 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.

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, each skin condition of a plurality of skin conditions may or may not be associated with a quality score. A care product and / or a care indication may be judged suitable for a skin condition when it is expected, e.g. based on literature data, test results, or empirical values, that the user's skin condition is maintained or changed to a skin condition with a higher quality value in the case of (for example, regular) application of the care product and / or the care advice.

In various embodiments, an assessment of a suitability of a care product to improve a skin condition may be confirmed or modified by including experience values of other users with the same or a similar skin condition, for example, experience with regard to a treatment outcome. 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 to increase skin hydration and / or to improve a collagen quantity and / or structure, and / or an oxygen saturation of the skin and / or its microcirculation.

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 motivation of a user can be increased to carry out a cosmetic treatment in the longer term, for example by means of a comparison with other users, eg via information about treatment success provided by the other users.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a skin condition is provided. The method may include: determining at least one skin condition parameter comprising: during exposure of a user's skin to visible light and / or near infrared light, capturing a spectrum, and / or imaging at least a portion of the visible light and / or the near infrared light; which has interacted with the skin, wherein the exposing and recording can be done by means of a portable device, comparing at least one comparison region of the spectrum and / or the at least one image with calibration spectra and / or calibration images obtained for a plurality of calibration skin samples, and determining the at least a skin condition parameter including a result of the comparison, and determining the skin condition using the at least one skin condition parameter.

In various exemplary embodiments, determining the at least one skin condition parameter may include determining a substance content and / or determining a ratio of substance contents.

In various exemplary embodiments, the comparison region may have at least one absorption wavelength of the at least one substance whose content and / or its ratio of contents is determined.

In various embodiments, the at least one skin conditional parameter may include at least one of a group of skin condition parameters, the group comprising: a water content, a lipid content, a lipid composition based on a plurality of lipid contents, a collagen content, a collagen structure, and an oxygen saturation.

In various embodiments, the at least one skin condition parameter may include a plurality of skin condition parameters.

In various embodiments, determining the skin condition may include determining a single skin condition including the plurality of skin condition parameters.

In various embodiments, the visible light and / or the near infrared light may have electromagnetic radiation in a range of 380 nm to 2500 nm. In various embodiments, the visible light and / or near-infrared light may comprise electromagnetic radiation in a range of 380 nm to 780 nm, and the at least one skin condition parameter may have oxygen saturation.

In various embodiments, the visible light and / or near-infrared light may comprise electromagnetic radiation in a range of 380 nm to 2000 nm, and the at least one skin condition parameter may have oxygen saturation, water content, lipid content, and / or collagen content.

In various embodiments, the visible light and / or near-infrared light may have electromagnetic radiation in a range of 1000 nm to 2000 nm, and the at least one skin condition parameter may have a water content, a lipid content, and / or a collagen content.

In various embodiments, exposure of skin may include exposing skin to a plurality of skin areas of the user.

In various embodiments, the plurality of skin areas may include at least one facial skin area and at least one body skin area.

In various embodiments, the portable device may be integrated with a portable computing device or coupled to a portable computing device.

In various embodiments, the integrated unit may be coupled to the portable data processing device by means of wireless data transmission, wherein the portable data processing device may be configured to determine the at least one skin condition parameter by initiating the determination, by an external data processing device, the at least one skin condition parameter, and / or at least one skin condition, and wherein the apparatus may further be configured to receive the at least one determined skin condition parameter and / or the at least one skin condition and to provide the user with the portable computing device.

In various embodiments, the external computing device may be a cloud.

In various embodiments, there is provided a method of determining a skin care cosmetic product, the method comprising: determining a skin condition according to various embodiments and determining the cosmetic product based on the determined skin condition and a database having a plurality of skin conditions; a plurality of associated cosmetic products, wherein each skin condition of the plurality of skin conditions at least one suitable cosmetic product may be assigned.

In various embodiments, each skin condition may be assigned a quality score, and the cosmetic product may be suitable for at least one skin condition of the plurality of skin conditions, based on stored experience with the cosmetic product, to improve or maintain the skin condition quality score.

In various embodiments, the method may further include updating the database based on new experience from a plurality of users.

In various embodiments, determining the at least one skin condition parameter and / or determining the skin condition may include transmitting the spectrum and / or the at least one map and / or the result of the comparison to an external computing device and receiving the skin condition parameter and / or the skin condition ,

In various embodiments, a device for determining a skin condition is provided. The device may include: a portable light source for exposing skin to light, the light having visible light and / or near-infrared light; a portable recording device, the recording device having a spectrometer for recording at least one spectrum and / or a camera for recording at least one image of at least part of the visible light and / or the near infrared light which has interacted with the skin, and a portable one A data processing apparatus, wherein the portable data processing apparatus may be configured to determine at least one skin condition parameter based on the acquired spectrum and / or the captured image, wherein the portable data processing apparatus may be configured to determine a skin condition based on the at least one skin condition parameter.

In various embodiments, the light source and the receptacle may form an integrated unit.

In various embodiments, the light source and / or the recording device may form an integrated unit with the portable data processing device.

In various embodiments, the at least one image may comprise a plurality of images, and the portion of the visible light may have a different wavelength range for each image of the plurality of images. 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 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. 1B each show a device for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 skin regions for applying a method and a device for determining a

Skin condition illustrated according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining a

Skin care cosmetic product according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate absorption characteristics of fabrics used in a method and apparatus for determining a skin condition in accordance with various embodiments

Embodiments can be used;

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate absorption characteristics of fabrics that may be utilized in a method and apparatus for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments;

FIG. Figure 6 illustrates absorption characteristics of a substance that may be utilized in a method and apparatus for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments; and

FIG. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a skin care cosmetic product 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.

In various embodiments, the device for determining a skin condition may include a portable light source for exposing skin to light. The light can be in various embodiments have visible (VIS) light and / or near-infrared (NIR) light. Here, "visible light" may be understood to mean electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a range of about 380 nm to 780 nm "near-infrared light" may be understood to mean electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength greater than that of visible light and smaller Further, as used herein, the terms commonly used in the art may be VIS-NIR for a wavelength range of from about 400 nm to about 1000 nm and / or SWIR for a wavelength range of from about 2500 nm about 1000 nm to about 2000 nm are used.

In various embodiments, the apparatus for determining a skin condition may include a portable receptacle. In various embodiments, the portable recording device may include a spectrometer for receiving at least one spectrum of visible light and / or near infrared light. In various embodiments, the portable receptacle may include a camera for capturing at least one image of visible light and / or near infrared light. In various embodiments, the portable capture device may include both the spectrometer and the camera and / or an imaging spectrometer (which may receive a spectrum for each pixel of a two-dimensional image). In this case, the recorded light may have at least a portion of the light which has been emitted from the portable light source to the skin and has interacted with the skin.

In various embodiments, the apparatus for determining a skin condition may include a portable computing device. The portable data processing device may be, for example, a smartphone, an iPad, a tablet, a laptop, or the like. The portable data processing device may include a processor and a memory in various embodiments. The data processing device may in various embodiments be coupled to the light source and to the recording device, for example in such a way that a data exchange between the data processing device and the light source and between the data processing device and the recording device is made possible. By means of the coupling, e.g. by means of a data cable, an internal conductive connection and / or wireless transmission, e.g. WLAN or Bluetooth, for example, control commands can be transmitted from the data processing device to the light source and / or to the recording device, and recorded data, for example at least one recorded spectrum and / or at least one image, can be transmitted or transmitted from the recording device to the data processing device become.

The portable data processing device may be configured in various embodiments, based on the recorded spectrum and / or the recorded Figure to determine at least one skin condition parameter. Further, in various embodiments, the portable data processing device may be configured to determine a skin condition based on the at least one skin conditional parameter. In various exemplary embodiments, the portable data processing device can be set up itself, ie directly, to determine the at least one skin condition parameter and / or the skin condition.

In various embodiments, the portable data processing device may be configured to indirectly determine the at least one skin condition parameter and / or the skin condition, for example, by providing the acquired spectrum, the captured image and / or the skin condition parameter to an external data processing device that may be configured, the skin condition parameter and / or to determine the skin condition from the provided data, and receiving a skin condition parameter and / or a skin condition from the external data processing device. The skin condition parameter and / or the skin condition may be provided to the user after direct or indirect determination, e.g. by means of displays, e.g. on a screen of the data processing device.

In various embodiments, the light source, the capture device, and / or the data processing device may form a portable integrated unit. For example, the light source and the capture device may form an integrated unit coupled to the data processing device, or the light source and the data processing device may form a portable integrated unit, and the capture device may be coupled to the light source data processing device, or the capture device and the data processing device may form a portable integrated unit, and the light source may be coupled to the cradle data processing device, or the light source, the cradle, and the data processing device may form a portable integrated unit.

In various embodiments, the light that has interacted with the user's skin after it has been emitted from the light source to the skin may have at least one absorption structure. The absorption structure may be caused by at least one substance present in and / or on the skin, for example one or more skin components, which absorbs part of the light emitted to the skin at at least one wavelength characteristic of the substance (also referred to as absorption wavelength). At least a portion of the remaining light may be reflected from the skin, scattered or, in general terms, emitted to the receiving device and as light that has interacted with the skin, referred to as received light or as received light.

In various embodiments, the substance may include water, a lipid (eg, triglyceride, cholesterol ester, phospholipid, cholesterol), collagen, oxygen (eg, oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin) and / or another skin component or have such.

Typical absorption wavelengths may be, for example: water (to determine a moisture content): each near or around 970 nm, 150 nm, 1450 (or 1440) nm and 1900 (or 1940) nm; Lipids (for determining a lipid content and / or a lipid composition): each near or around 930 nm, 1040 nm, 1200 (or 1210) nm, 1400 (or 1390) nm, and 1700 (or 1730) nm (for example, for cholesterol: respectively or around 1200 nm, 1400 nm and 1750 nm); Collagen (for determining a protein content and / or a collagen structure): in each case near or around 1050 nm, 1200 nm and 1500 nm; Hemoglobin (to determine oxygen saturation and / or microcirculation): each near or around 420 nm and 585 nm (oxygenated hemoglobin) and respectively near or around 440 nm and 550 nm (deoxygenated hemoglobin).

In various embodiments, an absorption intensity, i. a measure of what fraction of the light irradiated to the skin is picked up by the receiving device, a substance-specific absorption coefficient, and an amount of the substance that may be present in the skin. For example, the absorption intensity may be proportional to the amount of the substance.

The light emitted from the light source to the skin can, in various embodiments, penetrate deeper into the skin the longer its wavelength is. Thereby, in various embodiments, for example in the presence of a plurality of characteristic absorption wavelengths for a given substance, by examining the skin at a smaller absorption wavelength of the plurality of characteristic absorption wavelengths for a given substance, a skin condition parameter and / or a skin condition for a thinner skin layer can be made possible (For example, only in an epidermis of the user) and to determine a skin condition parameter and / or a skin condition for a thicker skin layer by examining the skin at a greater absorption wavelength of the plurality of characteristic absorption wavelengths for a given substance (ie also lower skin layers for the To achieve investigation, for example, in addition to the epidermis even a dermis of the user).

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B each show a device 100a or 100b for determining a skin condition of a user 102 according to various embodiments.

The apparatus 100a, 100b for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments may include a portable light source 106 for exposing skin 102H to light 110. The skin for which a skin condition is determined may, in various embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 A and FIG. 1B is shown as a skin area 102H, to be part of a facial skin of a user 102. Alternatively or additionally, as shown in FIG. 2, which shows skin regions 102H for applying a method and apparatus for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments, alternatively or additionally another skin area 102, for example on an arm (skin area 102H2), a leg (skin area 102H4), a trunk (Area 102H4) and / or a hand (area 102H5) of a user may be used to determine a skin condition of that area of the skin. Different skin areas 102H may have different skin conditions, for example, the skin may be sensitive to the user 102 face, normal to the rest of the body, or vice versa. In a case of different skin conditions in different skin areas, the different skin areas may require different care. However, different skin areas 102H may also have the same or similar skin conditions.

The light 110 may, in various embodiments, have visible light, e.g. having a wavelength in a range from about 380 nm to about 780 nm, or in one or more subranges within that range.

The light 110, in various embodiments, may include near-infrared light instead of visible light or in addition to visible light, e.g. with a wavelength in a range of more than 780 nm to about 2500 nm or in one or more sub-ranges within this range.

In various embodiments, the light 110 may provide electromagnetic radiation in a range of 380 nm to 2500 nm.

In various embodiments, the light 110 can provide electromagnetic radiation in a range of 380 nm to 780 nm, e.g. for a VIS range, for example for determining an oxygen saturation.

In various embodiments, the light 110 can provide electromagnetic radiation in a range of 380 nm to 2000 nm, e.g. for a VIS-SWIR range, for example for determining an oxygen saturation, a water content, a lipid content and / or a collagen content.

In various embodiments, the light 110 can provide electromagnetic radiation in a range of 1000 nm to 2000 nm, eg for a SWIR range, for example for determining a water content, a lipid content and / or a collagen content. The apparatus 100a, 100b for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments may include a portable receptacle 108.

The pickup device 108 may comprise, in various embodiments, a spectrometer for picking up at least one spectrum and / or a camera for picking up at least one image of at least a portion of the visible light and / or the near infrared light 1 12 which interacts with the skin 102H. In various embodiments where the capture device 108 includes both the camera and the spectrometer, the camera and the spectrometer may have separate capture devices, or the camera and the spectrometer may form an imaging spectrometer.

In various embodiments, an entire wavelength range emitted by the light source to the skin 102H and received after interaction with the skin may be detected by the capture device 108, e.g. by means of a detector, e.g. by means of an electronic detector for visible and / or near-infrared light.

In various embodiments, the receiving device 108 may be configured such that only a portion of the wavelength range emitted by the light source to the skin 102H and received after interaction with the skin is captured by the pick-up device 108, e.g. by means of the detector. The subarea may be selected in various embodiments by means of one or more filters.

In various embodiments, the wavelength range emitted by the light source 106 and / or the wavelength range detected by the pickup device 108 may be selected such that within the wavelength range detected by the pickup device 108 at least one absorption feature, e.g. an absorption line or an absorption band, of a substance typically found in human skin (also referred to as a skin component or skin ingredient). In various embodiments, as described in more detail below, these may be water, lipids, oxygen (eg oxygen bound to hemoglobin), collagen, or another cosmetically relevant skin constituent which has one or more absorption features in the visible and / or near-infrared spectral range having.

In various embodiments, the light source 106 and the receptacle 108 may be separate portable devices, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1 B shown. In various embodiments, both the light source 106 and the receiving device 108 can each have a size that makes it possible to carry the light source 106 or the receiving device 108, for example to accommodate them in a pocket or trouser pocket. For example, the light source 106 and the receptacle 108 may each have an area of less than 36 cm 2 and a thickness of less than 2 cm. In various embodiments, the light source 106 and the receptacle 108 may be parts of an integrated handheld device, ie, form an integrated unit. In various embodiments, the integrated device may have a size that allows it to be accommodated 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.

In various embodiments, both the light source 106 and the receptacle 108 may be configured to be spaced apart from the skin 102H, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1 B is shown. For example, in various embodiments, a radiation angle and / or a light intensity of the light source 106 and / or a detection angle and / or a sensitivity of the recording device 108 may be such that when the light source 106 and the recording device 108 are arranged at a distance from the skin 102H, for example up to a predetermined maximum distance, a signal detected at the receiving device 108 has a sufficient intensity for determining skin condition parameters, as described in more detail below.

In various embodiments, such as the integrated design of light source 106 and receptacle 108, light source 106 and receptacle 108, such as the integrated device, may be designed to be placed on skin 102H, for example, with a translucent portion of a housing. The integrated design can allow a space-saving design. The placement on the skin may allow relevant parts of the receiving device 108, for example the detector, and relevant parts of the light source 106, for example a light-generating element, e.g. an LED or the like, in a known fixed distance to the skin 102H to arrange. In this way, measurement uncertainties, which may result from a changing distance from light source 106 and recording device 108 to the skin and / or from one another, can be reduced or avoided.

The device 100a, 100b for determining a skin condition may comprise a portable data processing device 16 according to various embodiments.

The portable data processing device 16 may be, for example, a smartphone, an iPad, a tablet, a laptop, or the like. The portable data processing device 16 may include a processor and memory in various embodiments. The data processing device 1 16 may be coupled to the light source 106 in various embodiments, for example, such that a data exchange between the data processing device 1 16 and the light source 106 is enabled, for example by means of a data link 1 18. The data link 1 18, for example, a data cable, a internal conductive connection and / or a wireless transmission, eg by means of WLAN or Bluetooth have. By way of example, control commands can be transmitted from the data processing device 16 to the light source 106 by means of the data connection 118.

The data processing device 1 16 may be coupled to the recording device 108 in various embodiments, for example, such that a data exchange between the data processing device 1 16 and the receiving device 108 is possible, for example by means of a data connection 1 14. The data connection 1 14, for example, a data cable, a internal conductive connection and / or a wireless transmission, eg via WLAN or Bluetooth. By means of the data connection 14, recorded data, for example at least one recorded spectrum or / and at least one image, can be transmitted or transmitted from the recording device 108 to the data processing device 16.

In various embodiments, the light source 106, the capture device 108, and / or the data processing device 16 may form a portable integrated unit. For example, the light source 106 and the receptacle 108 may form an integrated unit coupled to the data processing device 16, or the light source 106 and the data processing device 116 may form a portable integrated unit, and the receptacle 108 may be coupled to the light source data processing device or the recording device 108 and the data processing device 16 can form a portable integrated unit, and the light source 106 can be coupled to the recording device data processing device, or the light source 106, the recording device 108, and the data processing device 16 can form a portable integrated unit ,

The portable data processing device 1 16 may be configured in various exemplary embodiments to determine at least one skin condition parameter based on the recorded spectrum and / or the recorded image.

For determining the at least one skin condition parameter, a software, for example an app, can be used in various exemplary embodiments, which can be installed, for example, on a portable data processing device.

In various embodiments, by means of the data processing device 1 16, e.g. by means of the software or the app, the wavelength range recorded as at least one spectrum and / or at least one recording can be defined such that it has at least one absorption feature of a cosmetically relevant skin ingredient.

In various embodiments, the substance may be water (relevant to skin moisture), a lipid (eg, triglyceride, cholesterol ester, phospholipid, cholesterol; with regard to a fat content and a composition of skin fats), collagen (relevant in terms of elasticity and flexibility), oxygen (eg based on oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, relevant to a skin color (eg pale / rosy)) and / or another skin component or be such exhibit.

In various embodiments, the at least one skin conditional parameter 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 hot, and the like). ) be determined,

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. FIG. 6 illustrates absorbance characteristics of substances normalized (individually for each substance) that may be utilized in a method and apparatus for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments. In this case FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B are enlarged views of FIG. 4A and FIG. 5A is shown as dash-dotted rectangles areas.

As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, an absorption coefficient of hemoglobin may change depending on whether the hemoglobin is associated with oxygen (oxygenated hemoglobin, dotted line in FIGS. 4A and 4B) or not (deoxygenated hemoglobin, solid line in FIGS 4B).

For example, characteristic absorption wavelengths of oxygenated hemoglobin may be near or around 420 nm and 585 nm, respectively. For example, characteristic absorption wavelengths of deoxygenated hemoglobin may be near or around 440 nm and 550 nm, respectively.

In various embodiments, the difference in the absorption wavelengths of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin may be used to determine a ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin to deoxygenated hemoglobin and, as a skin condition parameter, a measure of skin oxygen saturation. Based on the oxygen saturation, as a further skin condition parameter, statements regarding a microcirculation of the skin can be made.

Characteristic absorption wavelengths of water (for determining a moisture content of the skin) may, as shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B is shown as a dashed line, each near or around 970 nm, 150 nm, 1450 (or 1440) nm and 1900 (or 1940) nm.

Characteristic absorption wavelengths of various lipids (for determining a lipid content and / or a lipid composition) may be as shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B is shown as a solid line, in each case near or around 930 nm, 1040 nm, 1200 (or 1210) nm, 1400 (or 1390) nm and 1700 (or 1730) nm. The said wavelengths and relative values of the normalized absorption coefficient are to be understood as rough indications, wherein both the characteristic absorption wavelengths and relative intensities may be slightly different for different lipids, which is for example the determination of the lipid composition can be used. As an example of a lipid is shown in FIG. 6 shows a normalized absorption coefficient of cholesterol as a dashed line, wherein the characteristic absorption wavelengths of cholesterol may each be close to or around 1200 nm, 1400 nm and 1750 nm.

Characteristic absorption wavelengths of collagen (for determining a collagen content and / or a collagen structure) may, as shown in FIG. 6 is shown as a solid line, each near or around 1050 nm, 1200 nm and 1500 nm. The stated wavelengths and relative values of the normalized absorption coefficient are to be understood as rough indications, wherein both the characteristic absorption wavelengths and relative intensities may be slightly different for different structured collagens, which can be used, for example, for determining the collagen structure.

In various embodiments, when a spectrum of the light 12 that has interacted with the skin is acquired, a spectrum of the light 110 emitted from the light source 106 to the skin 102H may be known (also referred to as a known spectrum). For example, the spectrum of the radiated light 110 may be recorded simultaneously with the light reflected / scattered by the skin 102H, or the light 110 may illuminate the skin 102H under well reproducible conditions (eg, using the integrated device) that is at most negligible Changes to the spectrum of the light emitted by the light source 106 1 10 are expected. In such a case, it may be sufficient to use a spectrum of the radiated light 110 determined, for example, during production of the device.

In various embodiments, to determine the at least one skin condition parameter, the recorded spectrum can be compared with the known spectrum.

In the presence of a substance in or on the skin 102H which has an absorption feature in the wavelength range of the recorded spectrum, the recorded spectrum may have a lower intensity in the region of the absorption feature than the known spectrum (the known spectrum being scaled outside of all absorption features, for example) can be that its intensity corresponds to that of the recorded spectrum to account for general intensity losses, eg due to scattering, etc.). In various embodiments, a strength of an absorption feature (eg, a minimum intensity of the spectrum, an equivalent width of the absorption feature, or the like) may be dependent (eg, proportionally) on a content of the substance in the skin. Thus, in various embodiments, the content of a skin component may be determined as the at least one skin condition parameter. In various embodiments, further skin condition parameters may be determined therefrom, such as a lipid composition of levels of a plurality of lipids, an oxygen saturation of a ratio of the content of oxygenated hemoglobin to deoxygenated hemoglobin, etc.

In various embodiments, calibration measurements that may be performed, for example, in a laboratory, and the results of which may be stored in the computing device, for example, as part of the software / app, may be used to associate an absorbance intensity of a substance with an absolute level of the substance in the skin ,

In various embodiments, the comparison may be performed for a wavelength range substantially limited to a relevant absorption feature.

Exemplary limited wavelength ranges are shown in FIG. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B and 6.

In various embodiments, the area 430_1 in FIG. 4A and / or the area 430_1 b in FIG. 4B can be used for the comparison to determine a content of oxygenated hemoglobin.

In various embodiments, the area 430_2 in FIG. 4A and / or the area 430_2b in FIG. 4B can be used for the comparison to determine a content of deoxygenated hemoglobin.

In various exemplary embodiments, for example for maximizing a measurement signal, both regions 430_1 and 430_1b or 430_2 and 430_2b can be used. In various embodiments, e.g. In order to restrict a measurement result to an uppermost skin layer, only the shorter wavelength wavelength range 430_1 or 430_2 can be used in each case. In various embodiments, e.g. In order to extend a measurement result to a lower skin layer, only the longer wavelength wavelength range 430_1b or 430_2b may possibly be used.

In various embodiments, the regions 540_1 and / or 540_1b in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B can be used for the comparison to determine a lipid content. Narrower wavelength ranges, which are a central wavelength of an absorption feature of a particular wavelength Lipids can be used to detect levels of different lipids and, in order to determine a lipid composition, to balance.

As described above for the example of hemoglobin, even when determining the lipid content and in general for all substances which have a plurality of absorption features in the recorded wavelength range, the examined wavelength range can only be considered as a shorter-wavelength absorption feature depending on the desired skin layer thickness to be examined (for a thinner skin layer ) or only a longer wavelength absorption feature (for a thicker skin layer).

In various embodiments, generally, another criterion for selecting the absorption feature from a plurality of absorption features may be lacking or only slightly overlapping with absorption characteristics of other substances. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the absorption feature shown in region 540_1b may be more useful for determining lipid content than a lipid absorption feature at about 1410 nm because it coincides with a rising flank of a water absorption feature and virtually always having water in the skin should be expected.

In various embodiments, the regions 540_2 and / or 540_2b may be shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B can be used for the comparison to determine a water content.

In various embodiments, the region 640_1 b in FIG. 6 are used for the comparison to determine a cholesterol content.

In various embodiments, the area 640_2 in FIG. 6 are used for the comparison to determine a collagen content.

In various embodiments, the area 640_1 in FIG. 6 may be less suitable for comparison because both collagen and cholesterol may have a local absorption maximum there.

The ranges mentioned are merely to be understood as examples of the substances mentioned by way of example. The principles described above can be applied analogously to any other cosmetically relevant substance which has an absorption feature in the wavelength range of visible and / or NIR light.

In various exemplary embodiments, in which at least one image of the skin 102H is used to determine the at least one skin condition parameter, at least one filter can be used for each wavelength range to be examined, the filter being arranged between the skin 102H and a detector of the recording apparatus 108 can and can be set up to let only light of the wavelength range to be examined reach the detector. The at least one filter can be embodied as a narrow-band filter, which transmits essentially only light in the wavelength range of an absorption feature or in a similarly narrow reference range without absorption feature to the detector. The images taken by the detector in the respective wavelength ranges are referred to below as the absorption image or reference image. In other words, in various embodiments, the at least one image may have a plurality of images, and the detected portion of the light interacting with the skin may have a different wavelength range for each image of the plurality of images, with at least a first one being detected Part of the light 1 12 may have a wavelength range in which a relevant absorption feature can be located, and a second detected part of the light 1 12 may have a wavelength range in which may be no absorption feature or a merely insignificant absorption feature.

In various embodiments, a signal of the absorption image may be compared with, for example, based on calibration measurements, known, emitted from the light source 106 as the light 1 10 intensity in the absorption image wavelength range compared to an absorption intensity and therefrom a content of the absorbent as Determine skin condition parameters.

In various embodiments, a signal of the absorption image may be compared to a signal of the simultaneously or sequentially recorded reference image to determine the absorption intensity and therefrom the content of the absorbent as the skin condition parameter.

For example, in various embodiments, the filters may transmit the light 1 12 to the detector in the wavelength ranges described above as examination regions of the spectrum. As reference ranges, for example, the areas 430_R in FIG. 4A and 4B, 540_R in FIG. 5A and 5B, and 640_R in FIG. 6 are used. The reference regions may, in various embodiments, be chosen to be close to the wavelength range of the absorption image, have a similar broad wavelength range as this, and be free or substantially free of absorption features.

In various embodiments, the at least one skin condition parameter can be determined by means of a simulation spectrum. In various embodiments, a simulation spectrum can be generated in which, for example starting from the known spectrum, based on at least one predetermined content of at least one substance, the spectrum can be calculated, which would result if the known spectrum with the skin interacts with the predetermined substance content would have. The recorded spectrum can be compared with the simulation spectrum, for example, a mean square deviation of the two spectra can be determined. In various embodiments, simulation spectra may be generated for a plurality of predetermined levels of the substance, and by minimizing the mean square deviation, the content of the substance whose simulation spectrum has the smallest deviation from the recorded spectrum can be determined as the determined content of the substance.

In various exemplary embodiments, the recorded spectrum can be examined completely by means of the simulation spectrum, to a large extent, which may for example have a plurality of absorption features, or to a small part which has only a single absorption feature or, for example, two or more separate wavelength ranges.

In various embodiments, contents of different substances can be investigated simultaneously by means of the simulation spectrum. For example, in the simulation spectrum, absorption by water having a given water content can be simulated simultaneously with absorption by lipid having a predetermined lipid content. With a plurality of simulation spectra generated in this way, both the contents of water or lipid and their ratio can be changed. The simulation spectrum can be compared with the recorded spectrum, and from the spectrum with the least deviation both the water and the lipid content can be determined. By limiting a comparison of the spectra to areas in which the relevant absorption features are located, a reliability of the result can be increased when using the simulation spectrum.

In various embodiments, instead of absorption of water and / or lipid or in addition absorption characteristics of other or further substances may be investigated, for example by taking into account simultaneously in a single simulation spectrum, or by several simulation spectra, for example for each different wavelength ranges, each one or may have multiple absorption features generated.

In various embodiments, using an imaging spectrometer, determining the at least one skin condition parameter may include utilizing one or more spectra acquired for a plurality of pixels, as described above for the spectrometer data, and / or using one or more mappings Pixels can be formed for a spectral range, have.

In various embodiments, the determination of the at least one skin condition parameter, for example, as described above, directly by means of the portable Data processing device 1 16 can be determined, for example by means of the software / app, which can be installed on the portable data processing device 1 16.

In various embodiments, by means of the portable data processing device, e.g. by means of the software / app, the at least one determined skin condition parameters are provided. The at least one skin condition parameter may be, for example, a value (e.g., with arbitrary units), a verbal message, 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 data processing apparatus 1 16.

In various exemplary embodiments, the determination of the at least one skin condition parameter, for example as described above, can take place indirectly by means of the portable data processing device 1 16, for example by the portable data processing device 1 16 initiating the determination of the at least one skin condition parameter by means of an external data processing device 222. In various embodiments, the spectrum and / or the mapping of the portable data processing device 1 16, as shown in FIG. 1 B, provided to external data processing device 222, such as a central computer or cloud, which may, for example, have higher computing power and / or storage capacity than portable data processing device 216, e.g. is transferred to this. The external computing device 222 may be configured to retrieve the at least one skin conditional parameter from the provided data, e.g. the spectrum and / or the image, for example by means of software, e.g. an app, for example as described above. In various embodiments, the portable computing device 16 may further be configured to receive and provide the at least one skin conditional parameter from the external computing device 222, for example, as described above. For data exchange with the external data processing device 222, the portable data processing device 1 16 in various embodiments may comprise a device for wireless data transmission device, e.g. via WLAN or Bluetooth. In various embodiments, the portable data processing device 216 may be configured to exchange the data with the external data processing device 222 via a cable connection.

In various embodiments, the portable data processing device 16 may be configured to determine a skin condition based on the at least one skin conditional parameter.

In various embodiments, the portable data processing device 1 16 may be configured to itself, ie directly to determine the at least one skin condition, for example by means of software, eg an app, which can be installed on the portable data processing device 16.

In various embodiments, the portable data processing device 16 may be configured to indirectly determine the at least one skin condition, for example, by the portable data processing device 16 determining the skin condition using the external data processing device, e.g. by software, e.g. an app, which may be installed on the external data processing device 222, causes, for example, similar to the above described for determining the at least one skin condition parameter.

In various embodiments, the software / app for determining the skin condition parameter may be the same as the software / app for determining the skin condition. In various embodiments, e.g. in a case that the at least one skin condition parameter is determined by the external data processing device 222, whereas the skin condition is determined by the portable data processing device 16, or vice versa, different software / apps may be used to determine the at least one skin condition parameter and to determine of the skin condition can be used.

In various embodiments, determining the skin condition may include comparing the at least one determined skin condition parameter to entries of a database that may include a plurality of skin conditions each having at least one associated skin conditional parameter. In various embodiments, more than one skin condition parameter may be associated with one or more of the skin conditions. The assignment may be experimental, e.g. in laboratory tests. Examples of skin conditions may be, for example, dry skin, with at least one assigned value for a water content of the skin (skin moisture) as the skin condition parameter, oily skin, with at least one assigned value for a lipid content, possibly also for a lipid composition of the skin, as the / the skin condition parameters, mature skin, having at least one associated value for a collagen content of the skin as the skin condition parameter, optionally further having an associated value for a water content of the skin, and various other or other skin conditions.

The database may be stored in the portable data processing device 16 and / or in the external data processing device 222 in various embodiments.

When determining the skin condition, that skin condition can be determined as the skin condition of the user whose assigned skin condition parameter shows the smallest deviations from the determined skin condition parameter (s). 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 conditions. The assignment may, for example, be determined experimentally, eg in laboratory experiments.

In various embodiments, each of the skin conditions may or may not be assigned a quality score. A care product and / or a care indication may be judged suitable for a skin condition when it is expected, e.g. based on literature data, test results or empirical data, that the user's skin condition is maintained or changes to a skin condition with a higher quality value in the case of (for example, regular) application of the care product and / or the care instruction.

In various embodiments, an assessment of a suitability of a care product to improve a skin condition may be confirmed or modified by including empirical values of other users 1020 having the same or a similar skin condition, 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 the empirical values, the database can be updated in the external data processing device 222 and / or in the portable data processing 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 may be used regarding general health, skin condition, dietary habits, and other user behaviors (eg, daily outdoor / sun / water intake, smoking habits, etc.), eg by means of the software / app installed on the portable data processing 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 computing device 1 16, which may enter it into the portable computing device 16, for example by means of a keyboard, as a voice message, as a selection from a menu presented by the portable computing device 16. or similar.

For example, if the user 102 provides as additional information that he spends a lot of time in the water or outdoors, the product and / or care recommendation can be recommended based on the skin condition of the user 102, for example, those associated care products are recommended to the user 102, for example, who are waterproof and / or provided with a UV filter.

FIG. FIG. 3 shows a diagram 300 illustrating a method for determining a skin care cosmetic product according to various embodiments. FIG. 3 may substantially illustrate those processes described above in the context of the method of determining a skin care cosmetic product according to various embodiments.

The method may comprise, according to various embodiments, a measurement of skin lipid, skin moisture, collagen and / or O 2 content (as skin condition parameters) in a visual and / or NIR wavelength range, for example as described above (at 310).

In various embodiments, the method may further include determining a skin condition (also referred to as skin type), for example, as described above (at 320).

Based on the determined skin condition and / or on the determined skin condition parameters, a product or care recommendation can be determined (at 360). In this case, in various exemplary embodiments (identified as path 370) only the skin condition determined on the basis of the skin condition parameters can be used.

In various embodiments (identified as path 330), in addition to the at least one skin conditional parameter, the personal data as described above may also be included (indicated at 340), and / or data of other users, e.g. their empirical values (marked as 350) are used.

Further, in various embodiments, as shown at path 380, a determination of a treatment success may be monitored (at 310) by determining the skin condition parameter (at 310) (at 390). This may be useful, for example, during and after a cosmetic treatment based on the product recommendation (at 360). A treatment success based on objective values by means of the method for determining the skin condition can increase a motivation for the user (at 399).

In various exemplary embodiments, as described above, based on the ascertained skin condition parameters and / or on the basis of the determined skin condition, product recommendations can be derived for individually tailored care products 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. In various embodiments, the software / app that determines the skin condition parameter and / or the skin 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 at least one skin condition parameter, determining the skin 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 condition parameters or the determined skin condition, 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. 7 shows a flowchart 700 of a method for determining a skin condition according to various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a skin condition is provided. The method may include determining (at 710) at least one skin condition parameter, comprising: exposing a user's skin to visible light and / or near-infrared light, capturing a spectrum, and / or imaging at least a portion of the visible light and / or the near-infrared light having interacted with the skin, wherein the exposing and taking-up can be done by a portable device, comparing at least one comparison region of the spectrum and / or the at least one image with calibration spectra and / or calibration images obtained for a plurality of calibration skin samples; Determining the at least one skin condition parameter including a result of the comparison; and determining the skin condition using the at least one skin condition parameter (at 720).

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart 800 of a method for determining a skin care cosmetic product according to various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a method for determining a skin care cosmetic product is provided. The method may include: determining a skin condition according to various embodiments (at 810) and determining the cosmetic product based on the determined skin condition and a database having a plurality of skin conditions and a plurality of associated cosmetic products, each Skin condition of the majority of skin conditions at least one suitable cosmetic product may be assigned (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.

Claims

claims:

1 . A method of determining a skin condition, comprising:

Determining at least one skin condition parameter, comprising:

during exposure of a user's skin to visible light and / or near infrared light, acquisition of a spectrum, and / or at least one imaging of at least a portion of the visible light and / or the near infrared light that has interacted with the skin, wherein the exposing and receiving by means of a portable device;

Comparing at least one comparison region of the spectrum and / or the at least one image with calibration spectra and / or calibration images obtained for a plurality of calibration skin samples; and determining the at least one skin condition parameter including a result of the comparison; and

Determining the skin condition using the at least one

Skin condition parameter.

2. Method according to claim 1,

wherein determining the at least one skin condition parameter comprises determining a substance content and / or determining a ratio of substance contents.

3. The method according to claim 2,

wherein the comparison region has at least one absorption wavelength of the at least one substance whose content and / or its ratio of contents is determined.

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

wherein the at least one skin condition parameter comprises at least one of a group of skin condition parameters, the group comprising:

a water content;

a lipid content;

a lipid composition based on a plurality of lipid levels;

a collagen content;

a collagen structure; and

an oxygen saturation.

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

wherein the at least one skin condition parameter has a plurality of skin condition parameters.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein determining the skin condition comprises determining a single skin condition involving the plurality of skin condition parameters.

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

wherein exposing skin comprises exposing skin to a plurality of skin areas of the user.

8. A method of detecting a skin care cosmetic product comprising:

Determining a skin condition according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and

Determining the cosmetic product based on the determined skin condition and a database, which has a plurality of skin conditions and a plurality of associated cosmetic products, wherein each skin condition of the plurality of skin conditions is associated with at least one suitable cosmetic product.

9. The method according to claim 8,

wherein each skin condition is assigned a quality value, and the cosmetic product is suitable for at least one skin condition of the plurality of skin conditions, when based on stored experience with the cosmetic product, an improvement or maintenance of the quality value of the skin condition is to be expected.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

Update the database based on new experience from a majority of users.

1 1. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

wherein determining the at least one skin condition parameter and / or determining the skin condition comprises transmitting the spectrum and / or the at least one map and / or the result of the comparison to an external data processing device and receiving the skin condition parameter and / or the skin condition.

12. A device for determining a skin condition, comprising:

a portable light source for exposing skin to light, the light having visible light and / or near-infrared light;

a portable recording device, the recording device having a spectrometer for recording at least one spectrum and / or a camera for recording at least one image of at least part of the visible light and / or the near infrared light which has interacted with the skin;

a portable data processing device; wherein the portable data processing device is configured to determine at least one skin condition parameter based on the recorded spectrum and / or the recorded image;

wherein the portable data processing device is configured to determine a skin condition based on the at least one skin conditional parameter.

13. Device according to claim 12,

wherein the light source and the recording device form an integrated unit.

14. Device according to claim 13,

wherein the integrated unit is coupled to the portable data processing device by wireless data transmission;

wherein the portable data processing device is configured to determine the at least one skin condition parameter by causing the determiner, by means of an external data processing device, the at least one skin condition parameter and / or the at least one skin condition; and

wherein the device is further configured to receive the at least one determined skin condition parameter and / or the at least one skin condition and to provide the user with the portable data processing apparatus.

15. Device according to one of claims 12 to 14,

wherein the at least one image comprises a plurality of images, and wherein the portion of the visible light has a different wavelength range for each image of the plurality of images.