LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H) recently revealed how different parts of the face age at different rates using visual AI to analyze 16,000 Korean women. The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, identified six key indicators of aging — and the genes that influence them, paving the way for a new era of personalized skin care.
According to the company, this study is the largest of its kind in Korean subjects and is a key part of LG H&H’s Skin Longevity project.
AI Uncovers Intra-facial Variations in Aging
Visual AI enables machines to identify and understand visual data similarly to human vision. As the company explained, by analyzing high-resolution facial images of women ages 20 to 60, LG H&H’s R&I division used AI to track subtle changes in 68 facial points.
The results allowed researchers to quantify six signs of aging, including: eye tail sagging, eye width ratio, philtrum (lip divot) height ratio, lip ratio, facial width ratio and facial contour degree ratio.
A core finding was that "aging clocks" vary by facial region. For example:
- The eye area begins to show accelerated sagging before age 50.
- The lips and surrounding skin show significant changes after age 50.
- and Facial contours change steadily across all age groups.
This suggests that skin care should adapt with age, per the company. For instance, focusing on eye wrinkles in consumers' 30s and 40s, then shifting to lip and mouth-area elasticity after 50 could be more effective.
GWAS Identifies Genetic Links to Aging
In addition to visual analysis, the study used Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) techniques and identified 10 genetic markers linked to facial aging. These genes are related to skin tissue development and elasticity.
For example:
- the FOXL2 gene is important to the skin around the eyes,
- and the FGF10 gene helps with collagen synthesis, which maintains overall facial structure.
This discovery of 10 genetic markers makes it possible to create skin care solutions tailored not just to a person's age, but also to their unique genetic predispositions, the company notes.
Skin Longevity Throughout Life
"Our goal goes beyond simply delaying aging," said Kang Nae-gyu, chief technology officer at LG H&H. "We aim to realize healthy and beautiful skin longevity throughout one’s lifetime.
"Building on the discovery of the secrets behind region-specific facial aging, we plan to offer precise beauty care solutions that consider both innate traits and age-related characteristics."
This research establishes a new foundation for personalized skin care, promising customization informed by both age and genetics.
