Photoaging, Skin Diseases, Skin Hydration
Conditions
Keywords
skin hydration, UVA exposure, driving, photoaging, bioimpedance, facial asymmetry, Florida, BT-Analyze
Brief summary
his observational study examines whether time spent driving is associated with differences in skin hydration between the left and right cheeks in female drivers residing in Florida. In left-hand-drive vehicles, the driver's left cheek is chronically exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation through the unshaded side window during every daytime driving episode. A prior study by IAS Skin Care (NCT07564869, n=30) found that the left cheek was less hydrated than the right cheek in 60% of participants, suggesting a possible effect of driving-related UVA exposure on facial skin hydration asymmetry. Eighty female drivers aged 25-65 years residing in Florida will be enrolled. At a single visit, skin hydration will be measured at three facial zones (left cheek, right cheek, and forehead as a symmetrical control zone) using the BT-Analyze bioimpedance device. Participants will complete a structured questionnaire on driving habits, sun protection practices, and skin history. The primary outcome is the Hydration Asymmetry Index (HAI = right cheek minus left cheek BT-Analyze score). Associations between driving time, cumulative driving exposure, window tinting, sunscreen use, and HAI will be examined using Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U tests, and multiple linear regression.
Interventions
OTHERBT-Analyze bioimpedance skin hydration measurement
Non-invasive skin hydration measurement at three facial zones (right cheek, left cheek, forehead) using the BT-Analyze bioimpedance device. Three measurements per zone. Single visit.
Sponsors
IAS Skin Care
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
25 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female sex, aged 25 to 65 years (inclusive) * Valid driver's license and active driving for a minimum of 3 years * Driving frequency of at least 3 days per week on average * Florida residency for a minimum of 2 years prior to enrollment * Ability to provide written informed consent in English or Russian
Exclusion criteria
* Window tinting on the driver-side window of the participant's primary vehicle * Regular sunscreen application specifically to the left side of the face before driving (more than half of driving occasions in the past month) * Active skin disease on the face at time of assessment * Injectable cosmetic procedures (Botox or fillers) in the past 6 months * Laser resurfacing or chemical peel in the past 3 months * Inability to refrain from facial cosmetics for at least 2 hours prior to the visit
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hydration Asymmetry Index (HAI) | Single visit (Day 1) | Difference in mean BT-Analyze bioimpedance scores between the right and left cheeks (HAI = right cheek mean minus left cheek mean). A positive value indicates lower hydration on the left cheek relative to the right. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Correlation between cumulative driving exposure and HAI | Single visit (Day 1) | Spearman correlation between cumulative driving exposure index (years of driving × hours per week) and the Hydration Asymmetry Index. |
| HAI by window tinting status | Single visit (Day 1) | Comparison of Hydration Asymmetry Index between participants with tinted versus untinted driver-side windows, assessed by Mann-Whitney U test. |
| HAI by sunscreen application habit | Single visit (Day 1) | Comparison of Hydration Asymmetry Index between participants who regularly apply sunscreen to the left side of the face before driving and those who do not, assessed by Mann-Whitney U test. |
| Forehead hydration as symmetry reference | Single visit (Day 1) | Forehead BT-Analyze score used as a bilateral symmetry reference zone to confirm that observed cheek asymmetry is directional and not attributable to general hydration differences. |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTOlga IAS, M.Sc
Outcome results
None listed