L'Oreal and STMicroelectronics Applying Semiconductors to Skin Aging

Business Wire, Oct 18, 2002

Business & Technology Editors/Health & Medical Writers

GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2002

Companies are developing a chip-based product to measure

human-skin hydration levels

STMicroelectronics and L'Oreal announced today the first use of semiconductors in the development of next-generation skin care.

L'Oreal, a world leader in cosmetics, is using ST's TouchChip(R) silicon image sensor technology in an innovative research project to develop methods to quickly and easily provide detailed hydration analysis of human skin.

The SkinChip(R) sensor, being jointly developed by the two companies, is based on ST's TouchChip(R), developed for use in biometric fingerprint recognition applications. With over a quarter million units shipped, the TouchChip(R) is the most industrialized of the new generation of silicon sensors currently revolutionizing many security and convenience applications. The SkinChip(R) compact silicon sensor captures detailed, 500-dots/in. images of the skin in less than one-tenth of a second, under any skin or environmental conditions.

The 90,000 active cells of the sensor provide high-quality image definition with a resolution of 50-microns, which is perfectly suitable for providing a detailed image of the micro-relief of skin. The sensor will be integrated into a compact device with low power consumption, suitable for portable application.

ST's TouchChip(R), on which the SkinChip(R) is based, is a capacitive sensor that uses active capacitive pixel sensing technology. When used in conjunction with specially developed image capture software, the sensor will generate a `capacitance' map that can easily be converted into a hydration or dryness map. Assessing how dry or well-hydrated the skin is will allow L'Oreal to design beauty-care products better suited to age-related changes of skin.

The two companies spent several months adapting the existing standard software used with the TouchChip(R) sensor in fingerprint applications to work on areas of human skin that are dryer than fingertips, such as on the face under the eyes, as well as jointly developing and optimizing image capture software to work with the sensor.

Additionally, L'Oreal has further developed image analysis software for the application. The first software, developed by L'Oreal in conjunction with another research laboratory, detects orientations of lines in the micro-relief of the forearm. This parameter correlates to skin aging. Two further software programs are currently in development by L'Oreal: one for quantifying the actual hydration of the skin; and the second for measuring the `texture' of the skin.

According to L'Oreal, the SkinChip(R) sensor is currently being applied to cosmetics only, but could possibly be used in other dermatological applications in the future.

"Because the TouchChip(R) provides a greyscale image of skin with unparalleled detail and sensitivity, it lends itself well to this unique and innovative application," said Alan Kramer, Director of ST's TouchChip(R) Business Unit. "L'Oreal's SkinChip(R) innovation promises to be a further advance in using leading-edge technology to help people look young."

"The SkinChip(R) is an important new tool among non-invasive methods that will increase the knowledge of age-related skin changes and will allow us to greatly improve our ability to battle the effects of aging on appearance," according to Jean-Luc Leveque, L'Oreal's Prospective Research Director. "L'Oreal's application of ST's sensor is a very exciting development."

About L'Oreal

Founded nearly a century ago by the chemist Eugene Schueller, L'Oreal has consistently applied its policy of investing in research, ensuring that its products meet the highest possible standards of quality, safety and innovation. Today, the L'Oreal Group contributes to the beauty of women and men all over the world, providing everyday solutions that enhance their sense of well-being.

-- The L'Oreal Group is the number one cosmetics company in the world, present in 130 countries with a worldwide turnover of 13.7 billion euros in 2001 and a staff of almost 50,000.

-- The Group focuses on 5 core activities: hair color, hair care, skin care, make-up and perfumes.

-- L'Oreal offers consumers all over the world a culturally diverse portfolio of brands such as L'Oreal, Garnier, Maybelline, Redken, Lancome, Helena Rubinstein, Biotherm, Vichy, La Roche-Posay, Soft Sheen Carson, Matrix, Kiehl's, Shu Uemura, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani and Cacharel.

-- The Group's brands are present in every distribution channel: mass market, professional hair salons, selective distribution, pharmacy, internet and mail order.

-- Since the outset, L'Oreal has chosen to base its success on technological innovation. Over the past decade, the L'Oreal Group has invested 3% of its turnover (2.6 billion euros) in research and development. Research laboratories located in France, United States and Japan focus on skin, hair and color: more than 110 original molecules have been developed by our laboratories and are used in the Group's products; more than 3,000 new formulae are launched every year; 493 patents have been applied in 2001.