BACKGROUND: Evolutionary psychology suggests that skin signals aspects of mate value, yet only limited empirical evidence exists for this assertion. OBJECTIVES: We sought to study the relationship between perception of skin condition and homogeneity of color/chromophore distribution. METHODS: Cropped skin cheek images from 170 girls and women (11-76 years) were blind-rated for attractiveness, healthiness, youthfulness, and biological age by 353 participants. These skin images and corresponding melanin/hemoglobin concentration maps were analyzed objectively for homogeneity. RESULTS: Homogeneity of unprocessed images correlated positively with perceived attractiveness, healthiness, and youthfulness (all r > 0.40; P < .001), but negatively with estimated age (r = -0.45; P < .001). Homogeneity of hemoglobin and melanin maps was positively correlated with that of unprocessed images (r = 0.92, 0.68; P < .001) and negatively correlated with estimated age (r = -0.32, -0.38; P < .001). LIMITATIONS: Female skin only was studied. CONCLUSIONS: Skin color homogeneity, driven by melanin and hemoglobin distribution, influences perception of age, attractiveness, health, and youth.
BACKGROUND: Evolutionary psychology suggests that skin signals aspects of mate value, yet only limited empirical evidence exists for this assertion. OBJECTIVES: We sought to study the relationship between perception of skin condition and homogeneity of color/chromophore distribution. METHODS: Cropped skin cheek images from 170 girls and women (11-76 years) were blind-rated for attractiveness, healthiness, youthfulness, and biological age by 353 participants. These skin images and corresponding melanin/hemoglobin concentration maps were analyzed objectively for homogeneity. RESULTS: Homogeneity of unprocessed images correlated positively with perceived attractiveness, healthiness, and youthfulness (all r > 0.40; P < .001), but negatively with estimated age (r = -0.45; P < .001). Homogeneity of hemoglobin and melanin maps was positively correlated with that of unprocessed images (r = 0.92, 0.68; P < .001) and negatively correlated with estimated age (r = -0.32, -0.38; P < .001). LIMITATIONS: Female skin only was studied. CONCLUSIONS: Skin color homogeneity, driven by melanin and hemoglobin distribution, influences perception of age, attractiveness, health, and youth.
Authors: Audrey J Henderson; Iris J Holzleitner; Sean N Talamas; David I Perrett Journal: Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci Date: 2016-05-05 Impact factor: 6.237
Authors: David A Gunn; Helle Rexbye; Christopher E M Griffiths; Peter G Murray; Amelia Fereday; Sharon D Catt; Cyrena C Tomlin; Barbara H Strongitharm; Dave I Perrett; Michael Catt; Andrew E Mayes; Andrew G Messenger; Martin R Green; Frans van der Ouderaa; James W Vaupel; Kaare Christensen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-12-01 Impact factor: 3.240