Simplifying Skin Tone Assessment with Skin Analysis Software CM-SA2
The color of human skin is one of the most diverse and fascinating traits we share, shaped by genetics, environment, and individual physiology. In everyday life, people often describe skin tone using vague terms such as light, medium, or dark. While these words may work in casual conversation, they fall short in professional settings like dermatology, cosmetic development, or clinical research, where accuracy and consistency are essential. To overcome the limitations of subjective descriptors, researchers, clinicians, and product developers turn to more precise tools, and one of the most widely recognized methods is the Individual Typology Angle (ITA°).
Understanding the Individual Typology Angle (ITA°)
The ITA° serves as a scientific and quantitative measure for objectively describing and classifying human skin tone. Unlike subjective descriptors, which are often influenced by factors such as lighting variations, personal biases, etc., the ITA° provides a precise numerical approach. This parameter is determined through colorimetric analysis, specifically by using the L* and b* values from the internationally recognized CIE L*a*b* color space. The L* value represents the degree of lightness of the skin, while the b* value indicates its chromatic position along the yellow–blue axis. These two values are combined through a mathematical formula to produce the ITA° value, enabling users to map skin tones across a continuous scale.
ITA° formula
This scale is divided into standardized categories such as “very light”, “light”, “intermediate”, “tan”, “brown”, and “dark”.
- Very Light: > 55°
- Light: 41° to 55°
- Intermediate: 28° to 41°
- Tanned: 10° to 28°
- Brown: -30° to 10°
- Dark: < -30°
A significant advantage of the ITA° is its consistency and reproducibility. Because the measurements rely on standardized instruments rather than subjective evaluations, the ITA° produces results that are comparable across different laboratories, clinics, and geographic regions without introducing any bias.
The ITA° parameter has become a cornerstone in research, clinical trials, and new product development across various industries. In the cosmetics and personal care sector, the ITA° data plays a pivotal role in evaluating the efficacy of skin-lightening and whitening products. It also supports manufacturers to develop personalized formulations, such as foundation shades, that cater to the diverse skin tones of global consumers. For dermatologists and clinicians, ITA° serves as an objective and reliable tool for monitoring pigmentation changes, assessing treatment effectiveness, and tracking the progression of skin conditions. Meanwhile, researchers studying skin health can also leverage ITA° data to classify participants more accurately, ensuring meaningful and reliable results in their studies.
Facilitating Reliable ITA° Measurement and Classification with the Konica Minolta Measurement Solutions
Spectrophotometer CM-17d’s camera viewfinder (left) alongside the ITA graph displayed on the CM-SA2 software.
While the ITA° offers an objective framework for skin tone classification, the accuracy of results depends heavily on the precision of the color measurement instruments used to capture L* and b* values. Konica Minolta’s Spectrophotometer CM-17d addresses these challenges with its high inter-instrument agreement (IIA) and repeatability, ensuring that measurements remain consistent across multiple color measurement instruments and different testing sites. This reliability makes it particularly valuable for large-scale clinical studies and global product development, where standardization is essential. Furthermore, the Spectrophotometer CM-17d also features a camera viewfinder function, allowing users to visually align and position the measurement area with precision, ensuring that data is collected consistently from the same skin region, reducing variability and improving reproducibility.
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Building on the capabilities of the CM-17d, the Konica Minolta Skin Analysis Software CM-SA2 takes skin color measurement and analysis further. The CM-SA2 software integrates seamlessly with the CM-17d, enhancing functionality for both research and clinical applications. It streamlines ITA° measurement and classification and also provides additional skin-related indices, including the Melanin Index, Hemoglobin Index (Hb), and Hemoglobin Oxygen Saturation Index (Hb SO₂). These indices offer insights into skin pigmentation and oxygenation, further supporting dermatological research, cosmetic development, and clinical studies.
Take the guesswork out of skin tone assessment. Reach out today to learn more about the CM-SA2 and CM-17d or schedule a free consultation with our color specialists.