Table 1 Comparison of colour measurement devices in terms of parameter measured, reliability, correlation with clinical score and cost

Computerised colour analysis

Sony Hi-8 Handycam CCD-TR 705E video camera recorder and Adobe Photoshop

Hue, saturation, value

No data

No data

VSS Vascularity score significantly correlated with hue (r = 0.311) and saturation (r = 0.35) (p < 0.051), index with hue and saturation combined correlated even better (r = 0.42).

£5000–10,000

Yes

Davey et al. 1999 [16].

Computerised colour analysis

Nikon D70 camera and Adobe photoshop

Tristimulus colorimetry (L*a*b*)

0.95–0.99

0.94–0.95

L* and a* values are more important than b* values in distinguishing colour features between normal skin and scars.

No data

Yes

Cheon et al. 2010 [32]

Labscan XE (non-portable version)

Hunterlab

Tristimulus colorimetry (L*a*b*), chroma and hue.

Good (0.95–0.99)

Acceptable to good (0.50–0.99, outlier low value of 0.50 for a* [ranged from 0.01 to 0.77])

L*, a*, b* and hue had moderate to strong correlation with VSS pigmentation and vascularity scores. Chroma had low correlation with pigmentation and vascularity (r = −0.40 and −0.17)

>£10,000

Poor

Li-Tsang et al. 2003 [17]

Labscan XE (portable version)

Hunterlab

Tristimulus colorimetry (L*a*b*)

No data

No data

No data

£5000–10,000

Yes

Li-Tsang et al. 2005 [102]

Chromameter

Konica-Minolta

Tristimulus colorimetry (L*a*b*)

Acceptable (0.73–0.89)

Good (0.91–0.97)

Unable to differentiate between hypo- and hyperpigmented scars and normal and 'red' skin (On Seattle, Hamilton and Vancouver scar scales)

£5000–10,000

Yes

Draaijers et al. 2004 [15], Oliveira et al. 2005 [29],

Eykona 3D camera

Fuel 3D

Tristimulus colorimetry (L*a*b*)

No data

No data

Good correlation (Manchester scar scale)

<£5000 (not including targets)

Yes

Hallam et al 2013 [25]

Colorimeter

Courage + Khazaka

Tristimulus colorimetry (L*a*b*) and ITA (Individual Typology Angle)

No data

Good (0.91–98)

No data

£5000–10,000 (including cost of hub)

Yes

van der Wal et al. 2013 [20].

Mexameter

Courage + Khazaka

Narrow-band spectrophotometry (melanin and erythema)

Good for melanin (0.89–0.97) and acceptable for erythema (0.74–0.90)

Good for melanin (0.95) and erythema (0.82–0.85)

No data

<£5000

Yes

Nedelec et al. 2008 (I) [30], Nedelec et al. 2008 (II) [106], van der Wal et al. 2013 [20].

Dermaspectrometer/DSM II Colorimeter

Cortex

Both tristimulus colorimetry and narrow-band spectrophotometry

Erythema: 0.29–0.94 Melanin: 0.72–0.87 L*a*b*: no data.

Erythema: 0.68–0.91

Melanin: 0.91–0.94

L*a*b*: no data.

Erythema: Moderate but significant r = 0.50 (<0.001)

Melanin: weak but significant r = 0.32 (0.02)–0.63 (<0.001)

<£5000

Yes

Gankande et al. 2014 [6], Gankande et al. 2015 [248], van der Wal et al. 2013 [20], Oliveira et al. 2005 [29].

Standardised digital imaging (SDI) + Spectral modelling (SpM)

Custom made

Estimated concentration change of haemoglobin and melanin

Good for haemoglobin (0.875) and melanin (0.886)

Good for haemoglobin (0.955) and melanin (0.959)

Acceptable correlation with POSAS (0.63 for haemoglobin, 0.60 for melanin) and VSS (0.74 for haemoglobin, 0.53 for melanin)

<£5000 (but not commercially available)

Yes

Kaartinen et al. 2011 [7, 8].

Dermoscopy

Hong Kong Productivity Council

RGB values: lightness and redness

Redness: 0.980

Redness: 0.93

Strong correlation between the VSS scores of vascularity and the RGB values of redness obtained from the dermoscope (r = 0.625, p < 0.01).

Strong correlation also found between transformed VSS scores of pigmentation and the lightness of the dermoscope pictures when vascularity was blanched out (i.e. when measuring pure pigmentation) (r = 0.783, p < 0.01).

No data

Yes

Wei et al. 2015 [238].

Lightness: 0.965

Lightness: 0.871