J Korean Med Sci.  2005 Feb;20(1):105-108. 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.1.105.

A Study of Skin Color by Melanin Index According to Site, Gestational Age, Birth Weight and Season of Birth in Korean Neonates

• Park JH
• Lee MH

• KMID: 1781735
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2005.20.1.105

Abstract

Human skin color shows variations throughout life and influenced by various factors such as race, sex, age and hormones. Since the development of spectrophotometer, many studies on human skin color have been done. However, few studies have been carried out to measure the skin color of neonatal infants. The aim of our study was to assess the variations in skin color according to site, gestational age, birth weight and season of birth in Korean neonates. A total of 447 healthy neonates (3 days after birth, 213 males and 234 females) were enrolled in the present study. Skin pigmentation was measured by reflectance spectrophotometer (Derma-Spectrophotometer(R), Cortex technology, Hadsund, Denmark) at four different sites (forehead, upper arm, abdomen, and inguinal area). The forehead showed highest melanin index in all sites measured (p<0.05). There was no significant difference according to gestational age, birth weight, and season of birth. This result imply that the skin color in neonates is mainly determined genetically.

Keyword

Melanins; Melanin Index; Gestational Age; Birth Weight; Seasonal Variation

MeSH Terms

Arm/pathology
Birth Weight
Female
Forehead/pathology
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Korea
Male
Melanins/chemistry/*metabolism
Seasons
Sex Factors
Skin/*pathology
*Skin Physiology
Skin Pigmentation
Spectrophotometry
Time Factors

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Male shows slightly higher M-index than female, except inguinal area. However, no significant sex difference of M-index is observed in all sites measured. The forehead shows the highest M-index in all sites measured (a, b, ctested by Turkey's multiple comparison, p<0.05).

• 

  Fig. 2 In all sites measured, there is no significant difference according to gestational age.

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  Fig. 3 In all sites measured, no significant birth weight difference of M-index is observed.

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  Fig. 4 In all sites measured, no significant seasonal difference of M-index is observed.

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