Measuring wrinkles, sun damage with software

(continued from previous page)

chromofours (or acne-causing bacteria) and then get light therapy. They could immediately see some result (in a follow-up test), and that's atypical to get immediate results. It set those guys back a bit, like, 'Wow, this really works,'" Mead said.

I was among the first to trial Clarity Pro in a Spartan office park here in San Jose. BrighTex is housed in a large, two-story building of dark-mirrored glass. It's part of a collective of biotech companies that form the San Jose Bio Center, an incubator for start-ups. Walking down BrighTex's dark and empty hallways, you can tell the company, like many in the industry, is still in its infancy. BrighTex employs only four people, all related to Chhibber.

Chhibber's nephew Ash Chhibber, an engineer who specializes in medical image processing, developed the algorithms and proprietary software for Clarity Pro. The software is loaded onto a Dell laptop, which is connected to hardware for taking digital imagery of the skin.

The hardware, a white box much like the eye doctor's device for testing depth perception, takes two pictures of your face to capture details on the skin and subdermis.

The software then instantly measures skin-tone evenness, pore health (including excessive oil, bacteria, a combination of those, and worst, deep inflammation). It also can detect the skin type of a patient--if, for example, that person's skin burns moderately but tans gradually. And it measures skin moisture, elasticity and UV damage, all predictors of how one might age.

The technology includes facial and pattern recognition algorithms that can assess the skin's "signatures," or patterns of damage. Each pattern is significant in identifying the type of photo-damage and how to treat it. Cancer, for example, carries particular skin signatures. The software can plot zones on the face and target regions for analysis, such as zones 4 and 5 in the eye area.

In contrast, BrighTex's more established competitor, Canfield Technologies, does not apply numbers to UV damage.

The system also references known dermatological scales, such as the Fitzpatrick scale, which classifies skin types. The software can then make recommendations for how long you should be in the sun, for example, based on individual skin type.

BrighTex consulted doctors, dermatologists and other skin specialists to develop the software to recognize and detect skin conditions. To bolster it for assessing cancer risks, the company plans to reach out to the dermatology community. "We hope that dermatologists will buy the system, test it out and bring it to the next level," the senior Chhibber said.

Clarity Pro sells for between $12,000 and $25,000 depending on the extent of equipment the buyer wishes to own.

Chhibber longed to enter the biotech field before founding BrighTex a year ago this month. He worked in the semiconductor industry for more than 20 years, measuring and inspecting wafers at companies such as Thermowave and Nanometric. But he saw new horizons in biotech by taking his knowledge of image processing--or the ability to recognize features or patterns in chips--to facial recognition and dermatology.

Detecting UV damage in skin is a big area of interest for Chhibber because by paying attention to such things, people can ultimately help prevent the onset of cancer, he said. Clarity Pro will provide the data on various kinds of UV damage in the skin, and researchers should be able to extract information and knowledge about thresholds for detecting cancer, he said.

Eventually, Chibber would like to develop diagnostics systems for detecting breast cancer. He's been inspired by diagnostics centers in India that for a smaller fee than a hospital would charge, will give people a battery of tests such as CT scans, blood tests or MRIs. People get tested before going to the doctor or hospital. Similarly, he envisions low-cost diagnostics in the United States to offset the high-costs of health care.

As for me, I've surely become a dream consumer for the skin-oil salesman hawking antiaging creams and youth elixirs--but never surgeries.

At least now I might be able to tell which of those creams work. And with luck, my numbers will drop.

[imediacorp]

Acne and face pimples problem solved with this new product

Acne is a common skin disease characterized by pimples on the face, chest, and back. It occurs when the pores of the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

Acne is a disease, and only a powerful medically approved product can stop it from recurring...

this site contains all the new information on the latest research and the new generation of medically approved products :

http://imedia.atspace.com/acne.htm

[clarityuser]

Bad Technical Support

We have experienced several problems with the Clarity Pro such as: the camera connection timing out,non-compliance with technical support when reporting issues, and BTBP software has memory leakage issues. We bought the skin analysis system last October and had problems from day one. We have had extended training with qualified staff and I believe the issues are in the software itself not the hardware(Dell computer)that they include with the skin analysis package.Our facility feels like we are the ones responsible for reporting and fixing the problems with BTBP's software. Think seriously before buying this product. When it works, it's great! When it doesn't it completely a waste of money.

[dr4derm]

I have been using the Clarity Pro in my practice since last June and the BTBP technical support team has been excellent- responded immediately to any inquiries I submitted. We regularly receive software updates and have not had any problems with memory leaks. Most importantly, the Clarity Pro is invaluable in that it allows our new clients to see the extent of sun damage and complexion abnormalities directly during the initial consultation. Well worth the investment.

[paulaqqq]

In preparation for summer, Aloe Vera lotions seem an essential product. Not only will Aloe Vera heal the skin, it presents a cooling alternative to heavier creams and lotions.

Pure Aloe Treatment, from the Made from Earth skin care line, with citrus and vitamin E for preservation is the best.

You have to keep Made from Earth Pure Aloe Treatment product in the refrigerator after opening. Which is great because then it is always cold. Because this is so natural, a little goes a long way. The consistency may vary, but the one I received looks just like freshly pressed aloe vera and this could be added to homemade beauty products you are using soon after you make them.

The high absorption of this product is impressive and
there is no sticky feel. You can use it as a cooling hand moisture treatment and seconds later, all you will notice is your skin plumping slightly and feeling smooth and very soft.

100% Chemical Free. . .I love it. . the way nature and my skin wants to be?

[antiagingproducts]

I'm looking forward to its release here in Asia, especially since I live near the equator. Skin Cancer is a prevalent threat here and it would do good if a new technology would help combat that. It would also save us beauty-conscious people a lot of money buying useless products that won't do any good for our skin. I just hope that dermatologists would not charge an arm and a leg just for one examination.

http://www.antiaging-health-products.com/

[JillStewart]

There are actually a lot of different ways to deal with sun damage. While the medical community wants you to always believe you need their help with absolutely everything, the truth is there are some great home remedies and over the counter cures for more things. For dealing with skin damage caused by the sun one of my favorite, natural products is Mad Hippie's repair butter. Take a look: <a href="http://www.sunskindamage.com">Sun Damaged Skin Repair</a>

[JillStewart]

Sorry, I guess that didn't work. How about this [url=http://www.sunskindamage.com]Sun Damage Skin Repair[/url]