Skin state estimation device, mind-and-body / lifestyle habit estimation device, proposal device, skin state estimation method, and mind-and-body / lifestyle habit estimation method

Abstract

This skin state estimation device comprises: a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit that acquires menstrual cycle information pertaining to the length of a menstrual cycle and / or fluctuations in the menstrual cycle of a subject; a mind-and-body / lifestyle habit information acquisition unit that acquires mind-and-body / lifestyle habit information pertaining to one or more of the physical state, mental state, and lifestyle habit of the subject; and an estimation unit that estimates the skin state of the subject on the basis of the menstrual cycle information and the mind-and-body / lifestyle habit information.

Description

Muscle state estimation device, mind-body and lifestyle estimation device, proposal device, muscle state estimation method, and mind-body and lifestyle estimation method

[0001] The present invention relates to a muscle state estimation device, a mind-body and lifestyle estimation device, a proposal device, a muscle state estimation method, and a mind-body and lifestyle estimation method.

[0002] Conventionally, in the beauty field, there is a known technique for estimating the skin condition of a subject by using information related to the mental and physical state of the subject.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a skin state unit including a calculation circuit configured to determine the occurrence of a change in skin state in response to one or more inputs indicating the progress of the physiological cycle, and a personalized product unit including a calculation circuit configured to generate a personalized skin care recommendation in response to one or more inputs indicating the occurrence of a change in the above skin state. It is also described that the muscle state unit may include a calculation circuit configured to determine a change in muscle state in response to one or more inputs indicating the overall health state, stress level, medication, etc.

[0004] Japanese Patent Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2024-506245

[0005] However, the fact is that the tendency of skin conditions varies considerably among individuals. Therefore, even by using the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to accurately estimate the skin condition. Thus, there has been a demand for a technique that can more accurately estimate the skin condition of a subject.

[0006] In view of the above points, one aspect of the present invention aims to provide a technique that can more accurately estimate the skin condition and the like of a subject.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a muscle state estimation device including: a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit that acquires menstrual cycle information regarding the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle of a subject; a mind-body and lifestyle information acquisition unit that acquires mind-body and lifestyle information regarding one or more of the physical state, mental state, and lifestyle habits of the subject; and an estimation unit that estimates the muscle state of the subject based on the menstrual cycle information and the mind-body and lifestyle information.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a mind-body and lifestyle estimation device comprising: a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or fluctuations of a subject's menstrual cycle; a skin condition information acquisition unit that acquires skin condition information relating to the subject's skin condition; and a mind-body and lifestyle estimation unit that estimates one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits based on the menstrual cycle information and the skin condition information.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, the skin condition of a subject can be estimated more accurately.

[0010] This is a diagram showing the overall configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the estimation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the estimation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the skin condition estimation device, which is the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a flowchart of the skin condition estimation method, which is the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a more specific flowchart of skin condition estimation. This is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the mind-body / lifestyle estimation device, which is the second embodiment of the present invention. This is a flowchart of the mind-body / lifestyle estimation method, which is the second embodiment of the present invention. This is a more specific flowchart of mind-body / lifestyle estimation.

[0011] Conventionally, in the field of beauty, attempts have been made to estimate skin condition based on the physical condition of the subject. However, there is variability among individuals in the relationship between physical condition and skin condition, and even when data is collected from a large number of people, it is sometimes impossible to estimate skin condition, or even if it is possible, the estimation is not very accurate. In response to this, the present inventors, after diligent research, have found that the relationship between the subject's physical condition and skin condition is influenced by the subject's own characteristics related to menstruation. "The subject's own characteristics related to menstruation" may be characteristics related to the regularity of the subject's menstruation, and in this specification, they can be classified as "menstrual type". Based on these findings, the inventors have discovered a technique for estimating a subject's skin condition by acquiring information regarding the regularity of a subject's menstruation (hereinafter also referred to as "menstrual cycle information"), more specifically, information regarding the length and / or variation of the subject's menstrual cycle, and further acquiring information regarding one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits (hereinafter also referred to as "mind-body-lifestyle habits"), and based on this menstrual cycle information and mind-body-lifestyle habits information. Furthermore, the inventors have discovered a technique for acquiring a subject's menstrual cycle information and further acquiring skin condition information, and based on this menstrual cycle information and skin condition information, estimating the subject's mind-body-lifestyle habits.

[0012] <Overall Configuration> Figure 1 illustrates the overall configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, system 1 includes an estimation device 10, a terminal 20, and a measuring device 30.

[0013] The estimation device 10 can be used as both a skin condition estimation device to estimate the skin condition of subject Sb and a mind-body / lifestyle estimation device to estimate the mind-body / lifestyle habits of subject Sb. The estimation device 10 may be a personal computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.

[0014] Terminal 20 may be a personal computer, tablet, smartphone, etc. As shown in Figure 1, the subject Sb may send and receive data with the estimation device 10 via terminal 20, or terminal 20 may be omitted. In that case, the subject Sb can directly input data to the estimation device 10 or directly check the data output by the estimation device 10 without going through terminal 20.

[0015] The measuring device 30 may be a device that performs measurements to obtain information such as the skin condition information, physical and mental lifestyle information, and other information about the subject Sb, when such information is obtained through measurement. Specific examples include Corneometer (Courage+Khazaka), SKICON-200EX (Yayoi Co., Ltd.), MoistureMeter-D (Delfin), etc., for measuring the moisture content of the stratum corneum of the skin; Tewameter (Courage+Khazaka), Vapometer (Delfin), etc., for measuring transepidermal water loss; CM700d (Konica Minolta), Skin-Colorimeter Flex CL440 (Courage+Khazaka), Handy Skin Sensor (Shiseido Co., Ltd.), etc., for measuring skin tone; Cutometer (Courage+Khazaka), ElastiMeter (Delfin), etc., for measuring elasticity; Frictiometer FR700 (Courage+Khazaka), etc., for measuring skin roughness; and Handy Skin Sensor (Shiseido), Visioscan (Courage+Khazaka), etc., for measuring skin texture.

[0016] Furthermore, the measuring device 30 may be another terminal equipped with a function to measure information about the subject's physical and mental state and lifestyle (for example, measurement of the subject's walking or sleep). For example, it may be a smartphone equipped with an application that enables the above measurements, or a wearable smart device such as a ring-type or wristwatch-type device equipped with the above measurement function.

[0017] If information about the subject Sb is not obtained by measurement, system 1 may be configured without the measuring device 30. Furthermore, the measuring device 30 may be connected to the estimation device 10 via the terminal 20, or it may be connected directly to the estimation device.

[0018] Furthermore, data may be transmitted and received between the estimation device 10 and the terminal 20, between the estimation device 10 and the measuring device 30, or between the terminal 20 and the measuring device 30 via any network. In addition, one or more of the estimation device 10, terminal 20, and measuring device 30 may be installed, for example, in the storefront of a cosmetics or beauty equipment store, a sports gym, a running station, etc., and operated by a tester (beauty consultant, etc.) or by the subject Sb themselves.

[0019] <Functional Configuration> Figure 2 shows the functional configuration of an estimation device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The estimation device 10 may include an information acquisition unit 110, a storage unit 120, an estimation unit 130, a suggestion unit 140, and an output unit 150. Furthermore, the estimation device 10 can function as the information acquisition unit 110, storage unit 120, estimation unit 130, suggestion unit 140, and output unit 150 by executing a program.

[0020] The information acquisition unit 110 acquires information about the subject Sb. The information acquisition unit 110 can also acquire information other than information about the subject Sb, such as information about the temporal or spatial environment (date and time, place, etc.) in which the estimation is performed by the estimation device 10.

[0021] Furthermore, if the information of the subject Sb is the result of a medical interview with the subject Sb, it may be obtained, for example, by the subject Sb directly inputting their answers to the medical interview items displayed on the terminal (smartphone, tablet, etc.) 20 held by the subject Sb, and transmitting them to the estimation device 10 via a network, etc. Alternatively, the information of the subject Sb may be obtained by a beauty consultant conducting a medical interview with the subject Sb. For example, the beauty consultant can conduct a medical interview with the subject Sb at the store and directly input the results of the interview into the estimation device 10 or into the terminal 20. Alternatively, the beauty consultant can conduct an online medical interview with the subject Sb using the terminal 20, and the subject Sb can input their answers to the interview into the terminal 20. Or, the information of the subject Sb may be obtained by the subject Sb or the beauty consultant inputting pre-acquired data, such as the results of a health checkup, into the estimation device 10, or by automatically acquiring the subject Sb's ID from another device via a network, etc., from outside the estimation device 10.

[0022] Furthermore, if the measuring device 30 is a wearable smart device as described above, the information acquisition unit 110 can also continuously and automatically acquire information about the subject Sb from the measuring device 30.

[0023] The information acquisition unit 110 may include a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111, a physical / mental health and lifestyle information acquisition unit 112, and a skin condition information acquisition unit 113.

[0024] The menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111 acquires information about the subject's menstrual cycle, specifically information about the regularity of the subject's menstruation, and more specifically, information about at least one of the subject's menstrual cycle length and menstrual cycle variability. This information may be obtained through interviews with the subject, or through some kind of test or measurement.

[0025] The length of the menstrual cycle refers to the number of days from the start of menstruation to the day before the start of the next menstruation. Variability in the menstrual cycle may refer to whether the length of the menstrual cycle is stable, for example, whether a certain percentage or more of past menstruations are of an appropriate cycle. The menstrual cycle information may be information that enables the menstrual type determination unit 131 (described later) to determine the menstrual type, that is, the type classified according to the regularity of the subject's menstruation.

[0026] The physical and mental health / lifestyle information acquisition unit 112 acquires information on one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits.

[0027] "Physical condition" may refer to the condition of a part of the body, that is, the condition of a part of the body's tissues, or the condition of the body as a whole. "Physical condition" may include the condition of the body's surface, such as the skin, scalp, nails, and hair, or the condition of the body's internal tissues, such as blood and other bodily fluids, muscles, fat, bones, and internal organs. However, in this embodiment, the information on the "condition of the body's surface" among the physical information acquired by the mind-body / lifestyle information acquisition unit 112 shall be considered as perceived by the subject themselves. In this specification, the skin condition perceived by the subject themselves may be referred to as "subjective skin condition."

[0028] The above-mentioned "subjective skin condition" includes blemishes (including acne), oiliness or stickiness, makeup easily smudged, dryness, roughness, skin irritation, flushing, redness, itchiness, pain, sensitivity, and uneven skin tone (including blemishes and freckles). Such information on subjective skin condition can be obtained through a medical interview. In this specification, a medical interview can include both questionnaires answered by the subject alone and questionnaires answered by an interviewer during a consultation.

[0029] The state of blood and other body fluids is preferably such that it represents the concentration of components in the body fluids (also called "body fluid component concentration"). The body fluid component concentration may be the concentration of components in blood, or it may be the concentration of components in body fluids other than blood, such as saliva or urine. Specific examples of "body fluid component concentrations" include hormones or hormone derivatives such as estradiol, estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, serotonin, cortisol, melatonin, oxytocin, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG); minerals such as iron, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, copper, iodine, chromium, and selenium; lipids such as triglycerides, cholesterol, and β-lipoprotein; proteins such as transferrin, albumin, globulin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and C-reactive protein (CRP); and blood cell concentrations such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Body fluid component concentrations may also include concentrations of blood glucose, enzymes, etc. Such information on body fluid component concentrations can be obtained by analyzing body fluids collected from the subject using a prescribed instrument.

[0030] Information on the concentration of components in body fluids can be obtained by collecting body fluids using the same procedures as general tests (blood tests, urine tests, etc.) and analyzing the components in those fluids. In addition, components in urine can be detected and analyzed using sensors installed in toilets.

[0031] "Physical condition" may include menstrual symptoms, i.e., one or more symptoms before, during, and after menstruation. In this case, information regarding the physical condition may be obtained as an MDQ (Menstrual Distress Questionnaire) score, etc.

[0032] Furthermore, "physical condition" may include factors that are perceived or measured as a whole body, such as age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle percentage, and body fat percentage. Such physical conditions that are perceived or measured as a whole body may be physical measurements obtained through interviews or measured by measuring instruments.

[0033] "Mental state" includes characteristics such as calmness, concentration, motivation, intensity of negative emotions, mood elevation, stress levels, happiness, openness, susceptibility, other-orientedness, imagination, and empathy. Mental state may be subjective, as perceived by the individual themselves, or it may be objective, as determined by a test. Therefore, information on "mental state" may be obtained through a medical interview.

[0034] "Lifestyle habits" may consist of one or more selected from the group comprising sleep, exercise, smoking, drinking, and consumption of non-tobacco and non-alcoholic beverages. Examples of lifestyle habits include the amount of sleep, the quality of sleep, and whether the person is a night owl or a day owl. Information on "lifestyle habits" can also be obtained through interviews.

[0035] The skin condition information acquisition unit 113 acquires information regarding the subject's skin condition.

[0036] "Skin condition" includes factors such as texture, roughness, melanin content, oxygen saturation, yellowness, redness, whiteness, transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum water content, stratum corneum natural moisturizing factor (NMF) content, elasticity (including firmness, viscoelasticity, and resilience), and glossiness. The "skin condition" information acquired by the skin condition information acquisition unit 113 shall be measured by tests, etc. In this specification, skin condition measured by such tests, etc., may be referred to as "objective skin condition."

[0037] The memory unit 120 can store data acquired from outside the estimation device 10, and can also store data generated within the estimation device 10. For example, the memory unit 120 can store information acquired by the information acquisition unit 110, results estimated by the estimation unit 130, results derived in the processing of the estimation unit 130, and pre-constructed data (including model equations) relating to the relationship between skin condition and mental / physical / lifestyle condition.

[0038] The estimation unit 130 can estimate the subject's condition based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 110. The estimation unit 130 includes a menstrual type determination unit 131, a skin condition estimation unit 132, and a mental / physical / lifestyle habit estimation unit 133.

[0039] The menstrual type determination unit 131 can determine the type of menstrual regularity (menstrual type) of the subject based on the information about the subject's menstrual cycle acquired by the menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111. For example, the subject can be determined to be either a "regular menstrual type" or an "irregular menstrual type." The determination of the menstrual type can be done, for example, by obtaining information on the length and variation of the menstrual cycle from the menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111, and based on this information, if approximately half or less of the past menstrual cycles fall within an interval of 25 to 38 days, the subject can be determined to be a "regular menstrual type," and otherwise, an "irregular menstrual type." Therefore, the menstrual cycle information may be information on whether a predetermined percentage or more of the subject's past menstrual cycles are within or outside the range of a standard menstrual cycle length. However, the above percentage and standard are not limited to the above example and can be determined appropriately within the scope of common sense regarding menstruation. Furthermore, the menstrual type determination unit 131 is not limited to two menstrual types, and the subject may be determined to be one of three or more types according to the regularity of their menstruation.

[0040] Furthermore, the menstrual cycle information also includes information regarding whether or not the patient is taking birth control pills. The menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111 or estimation unit 130 can take into account the information regarding whether or not the patient is taking birth control pills to decide whether or not to use the obtained menstrual cycle information, and can also perform some processing on the menstrual cycle information.

[0041] The skin condition estimation unit 132 estimates the subject's skin condition based on the physical and mental lifestyle information acquired by the physical and mental lifestyle information acquisition unit 112. The physical and mental lifestyle estimation unit 133 estimates one or more physical, mental, and lifestyle characteristics based on the skin condition information acquired by the skin condition information acquisition unit 113. Both the skin condition estimation unit 132 and the physical and mental lifestyle estimation unit 133 utilize the relationship between skin condition and physical and mental lifestyle that has been acquired in advance. In doing so, they utilize the relationship between skin condition and physical and mental lifestyle that corresponds to the same menstrual type as the subject's menstrual type determined by the menstrual type determination unit 131.

[0042] The relationship between skin condition and physical / mental health / lifestyle habits can be obtained by acquiring skin condition information and physical / mental health / lifestyle habit information for multiple subjects and determining the relationship between them. In this case, it is possible to determine the relationship between one skin condition and one or more physical / mental health / lifestyle habits, and also the relationship between one physical / mental health / lifestyle habit and one or more skin conditions. The relationship between skin condition and physical / mental health / lifestyle habits may be a model equation derived by regression analysis (including nonlinear regression analysis), random forest, etc., or it may be a trained model obtained through machine learning. Based on the acquired information, the relationship between skin condition and physical / mental health / lifestyle habits can be determined by quantifying the skin condition and physical / mental health / lifestyle habits, determining the relationship equation, and storing it.

[0043] In this embodiment, the relationship between skin condition and physical / lifestyle habits described above is constructed according to the menstrual type described above. More specifically, menstrual cycle information, skin condition information, and physical / lifestyle habit information similar to those obtained in the estimation according to this embodiment are acquired for a large number of subjects in the same manner, and the relationship between skin condition and physical / lifestyle habit is determined based on the data of these numerous subjects. At that time, based on the menstrual cycle information, subjects are divided into menstrual types related to the regularity of menstruation, namely "regular menstruation type" and "irregular menstruation type," and the data of the subject group of each type is analyzed to construct the relationship between skin condition and physical / lifestyle habit for each menstrual type.

[0044] If the relationship between the skin condition acquired in advance and the physical and mental state and lifestyle is represented by a model regression equation, in the skin condition estimation unit 132, the skin condition of the subject can be estimated by applying the physical and mental state and lifestyle information of the subject to the regression equation, and in the physical and mental state and lifestyle estimation unit 133, the physical and mental state and lifestyle of the subject can be estimated by applying the skin condition information of the subject to the regression equation.

[0045] The proposal unit 140 makes a proposal to the subject based on the skin condition estimated by the skin condition estimation unit 132 or the physical and mental state and lifestyle estimated by the physical and mental state and lifestyle estimation unit 133. The proposal is a proposal of a measure for improving the estimated skin condition or a proposal of a measure for improving the physical and mental state and lifestyle.

[0046] When the estimation device 10 includes the proposal unit 140, the estimation device 10 can function as a measure proposal device. However, in an embodiment that does not make a measure proposal, the proposal unit 140 may be omitted from the estimation device 10.

[0047] The output unit 150 can output the estimation result obtained by the estimation unit 130 and the measure proposed by the proposal unit 140. Further, the output unit 150 can also output the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 110 for reference by the subject or the tester (such as a beauty staff). The format of the output data may be visual data that can be visually recognized such as an image, or auditory data that can be auditorily recognized such as voice. The output unit 150 can display visual data, for example, as text, a chart, on a display device that is an output device in the estimation device 10 or the terminal 20. Further, it may be transmitted to a printing device connected to the estimation device 10 and output on a paper medium by the printing device, and provided to the subject Sb or the beauty staff as a booklet or a leaflet.

[0048] By using the system 1 or the estimation device 10 according to this embodiment at the storefront of a sales store of cosmetics, beauty appliances, etc., or in a place where a large number of people gather such as a sports gym, etc., based on the information acquired from a large number of people, by constructing an algorithm, more accurate estimation of the skin condition or the physical and mental state and lifestyle, and thus more appropriate proposals can be made.

[0049] <Hardware Configuration> Figure 3 shows the hardware configuration of the estimation device 10. The terminal 20 may have a similar hardware configuration.

[0050] The estimation device 10 may include a control device 1001, a main memory 1002, an auxiliary memory 1003, an input device 1004, an output device 1005, and an interface unit 1006.

[0051] The control device 1001 may be a processor (for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc.) that executes various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 1003.

[0052] The main memory 1002 includes non-volatile memory (ROM (Read Only Memory)) and volatile memory (RAM (Random Access Memory)). The ROM stores various programs, data, etc. necessary for the control device 1001 to execute various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 1003. The RAM provides a work area that is expanded when various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 1003 are executed by the control device 1001.

[0053] The auxiliary storage device 1003 is an auxiliary storage device that stores various programs and information used when various programs are executed.

[0054] The input device 1004 is an input device that allows the operator of the estimation device 10 to input various instructions to the estimation device 10.

[0055] The output device 1005 is an output device that outputs the internal state of the estimation device 10, etc.

[0056] The interface unit 1006 is a communication device for connecting to a network and communicating with other devices.

[0057] <First Embodiment (Estimation of Skin Condition)> As a first embodiment, we will describe a configuration in which the estimation device 10 described above is a skin condition estimation device 10A that estimates the skin condition of the subject Sb. Figure 4 shows the functional configuration of the skin condition estimation device 10A as one embodiment of the functional configuration shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 shows a flowchart of the skin condition estimation method according to one embodiment.

[0058] As shown in Figure 4, the skin condition estimation device 10A comprises an information acquisition unit 110, a storage unit 120, an estimation unit 130, and an output unit 150, and may further include a suggestion unit 140. The information acquisition unit 110 includes at least a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111 and a physical / lifestyle information acquisition unit 112. The estimation unit 130 includes at least a menstrual type determination unit 131 and a skin condition estimation unit 132. The functions of each unit are as described above.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5, this embodiment is a skin condition estimation method that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle of a subject (S111), acquires physical and mental condition information relating to one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits (S112), and estimates the subject's skin condition based on the menstrual cycle information and the physical and mental condition information (S120). The steps of acquiring menstrual cycle information (S111) and acquiring physical and mental condition information (S112) are collectively referred to as the information acquisition step (S110).

[0060] In step S111, menstrual cycle information is acquired by the menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111. In step S112, physical and mental lifestyle information is acquired by the physical and mental lifestyle information acquisition unit 112. Steps S111 and S112 can be performed in any order, or they can be performed simultaneously.

[0061] Next, the skin condition is estimated based on menstrual cycle information and physical / lifestyle information (S120). The skin condition estimated in step S120 is an objective skin condition that can be quantified by measurement, etc. Therefore, this method allows for the evaluation of objective skin conditions that the subject is not aware of.

[0062] More specifically, the skin condition estimation step S120 determines the subject's menstrual type based on menstrual cycle information (S121), as shown in Figure 6, and estimates the skin condition (S122) using the relationship between the skin condition and physical / lifestyle habits corresponding to the determined menstrual type, which has been acquired in advance. The method for constructing the relationship between the skin condition and physical / lifestyle habits acquired in advance, in particular the method for constructing the relationship between the skin condition and physical / lifestyle habits for each menstrual type, is as described above. In the estimation in step S122, more accurate estimation becomes possible by using the relationship between the skin condition and physical / lifestyle habits for the same menstrual type as the subject.

[0063] The method according to the first embodiment includes a step (S130) after the skin condition estimation step S120, in which measures to improve the skin condition are proposed based on the estimated skin condition.

[0064] In step S130, where a strategy is proposed, one strategy may be generated, or multiple strategies may be generated. If multiple strategies are generated, the strategies may be ranked according to their effectiveness. In this case, multiple strategies may be proposed to the target person, and the target person can select the strategy they will implement from among these strategies. Furthermore, after initially proposing one strategy to the target person, if the target person requests a strategy other than that one, a strategy with the next highest level of effectiveness may be proposed. When a target person requests a strategy other than the one initially proposed, this could mean that the target person rejected the initial strategy at the time of proposal, or that the target person implemented the initial strategy but felt it was ineffective; in other words, it could mean that the target person requests a different strategy after a certain amount of time has passed since the strategy was proposed.

[0065] Therefore, one embodiment of the present invention may be a proposal method that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or fluctuations of the menstrual cycle of a subject (S111), acquires physical and mental information relating to one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits (S112), and makes a proposal to the subject for improving their skin condition based on the menstrual cycle information and the physical and mental information (S130).

[0066] Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention may be a suggestion device that includes a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111 that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or fluctuations of the menstrual cycle of a subject; a mind-body / lifestyle information acquisition unit 112 that acquires mind-body / lifestyle information relating to one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits; and a suggestion unit 140 that makes suggestions to the subject for improving their skin condition based on the menstrual cycle information and the mind-body / lifestyle information.

[0067] The suggestions for improving skin condition in this embodiment may include, for example, cosmetics to improve the estimated skin condition (basic cosmetics such as lotions, emulsions, creams, and serums; makeup cosmetics such as foundations, eyeshadows, and lipsticks); skin treatments (manual massage, physical and / or electrical treatments of the skin using beauty devices, etc.); supplements; and suggestions for improving lifestyle habits (sleep habits and stress levels).

[0068] <Second Embodiment (Estimation of Mind, Body, and Lifestyle Habits)> As a second embodiment, we will describe a configuration in which the estimation device 10 described above is a mind, body, and lifestyle habit estimation device 10B that estimates the skin condition of the subject Sb. Figure 7 shows the functional configuration of the mind, body, and lifestyle habit estimation device 10B as one embodiment of the functional configuration shown in Figure 2. Figure 8 shows a flowchart of the mind, body, and lifestyle habit estimation method according to one embodiment.

[0069] As shown in Figure 7, the mind-body / lifestyle estimating device 10B comprises an information acquisition unit 110, a storage unit 120, an estimation unit 130, and an output unit 150, and may further include a suggestion unit 140. The information acquisition unit 110 includes at least a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111 and a skin condition information acquisition unit 113. The estimation unit 130 includes at least a menstrual type determination unit 131 and a mind-body / lifestyle estimating unit 133. The functions of each unit are as described above.

[0070] As shown in Figure 8, this embodiment is a method for estimating physical, mental, and lifestyle characteristics of a subject, which involves acquiring menstrual cycle information regarding the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle (S211), acquiring skin condition information regarding the subject's skin condition (S212), and estimating one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle characteristics based on the menstrual cycle information and skin condition information (S220). The steps of acquiring menstrual cycle information (S211) and acquiring skin condition information (S212) are collectively referred to as the information acquisition step (S210).

[0071] In the menstrual cycle information acquisition step S211, menstrual cycle information is acquired by the menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111. In the skin condition information acquisition step S212, skin condition information is acquired by the skin condition information acquisition unit 113. In this case, the skin condition may be the objective skin condition measured by the measuring device 30 (Figure 1). Steps S211 and S212 may be performed either first or simultaneously.

[0072] Next, the mental, physical, and lifestyle habits are estimated based on the menstrual cycle information and skin condition information (S220). The skin condition information used for estimation in this embodiment is an objective skin condition that can be quantified by measurement or other means. In other words, in this embodiment, the mental, physical, and lifestyle habits can be estimated based on skin information that the subject is not aware of.

[0073] The mental / physical / lifestyle estimation step S220, more specifically, determines the subject's menstrual type based on menstrual cycle information (S221), as shown in Figure 9, and estimates the skin condition (S222) using the relationship between the skin condition and mental / physical / lifestyle habits, which has been acquired in advance and corresponds to the determined menstrual type. The method for constructing the relationship between the skin condition and mental / physical / lifestyle habits, which has been acquired in advance, in particular the method for constructing the relationship between the skin condition and mental / physical / lifestyle habits for each menstrual type, is as described above. In the estimation in step S222, more accurate estimation becomes possible by using the relationship between the skin condition and mental / physical / lifestyle habits for the same menstrual type as the subject.

[0074] The method according to the second embodiment includes a step (S230) in which, after the mental / physical / lifestyle estimation step S220, measures to improve the mental / physical / lifestyle based on the estimated mental / physical / lifestyle are proposed.

[0075] In step S230, where a strategy is proposed, one strategy may be generated, or multiple strategies may be generated. If multiple strategies are generated, the strategies may be ranked according to their effectiveness. In this case, multiple strategies may be proposed to the target person, and the target person can select the strategy they will implement from among these strategies. Furthermore, after one strategy is initially proposed to the target person, if the target person requests a strategy other than that one, a strategy with the next highest level of effectiveness may be proposed. When a target person requests a strategy other than the one initially proposed, this could mean that the target person rejected the initial strategy at the time of proposal, or that the target person implemented the initial strategy but felt it was ineffective; in other words, it could mean that the target person requests a different strategy after a certain amount of time has passed since the strategy was proposed.

[0076] Therefore, one embodiment of the present invention may be a proposal method that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle of a subject (S211), acquires skin condition information relating to the skin condition of the subject (S212), and makes suggestions for improvement regarding one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits based on the menstrual cycle information and the skin condition information (S230).

[0077] Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention may be a suggestion device that includes a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 111 that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or fluctuations of the menstrual cycle of a subject, a skin condition information acquisition unit 113 that acquires skin condition information relating to the skin condition of the subject, and a suggestion unit 140 that makes suggestions for improvements relating to one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits based on the menstrual cycle information and the skin condition information.

[0078] The suggestions for improving physical and mental health and lifestyle habits in this embodiment may be suggestions for physical activities that can affect the body and / or mind, such as yoga, Pilates, strength training, and meditation. Alternatively, they may be suggestions for improving lifestyle habits, such as increasing sleep time, measures to promote sleep onset, and / or suggestions for supplements or recommendations via apps. Furthermore, they may also be suggestions for makeup cosmetics (foundation, eyeshadow, lipstick, etc.) and makeup methods that can affect the physical and mental health.

[0079] Furthermore, the technology according to both the first and second embodiments allows the flow shown in Figure 5 or Figure 8 to be performed not just once, but multiple times over a certain period of time with time intervals between each execution. For example, it can be used continuously for periods of one week or more, one month or more, several months or more, one year or more, or several years or more, for example, daily, once every few days, once a week, once a month, etc. Since the subject's condition (skin condition or physical / mental / lifestyle habits) and menstrual type are likely to change over time, by acquiring the latest physical / mental / lifestyle information (S112) or the latest skin condition information (S212), and then re-determining the menstrual type (S122, S222), it becomes possible to estimate the skin condition (S120) or physical / mental / lifestyle habits (S220) based on the latest information each time, and consequently, to propose measures to improve the skin condition or physical / mental / lifestyle habits. In this way, it is possible to continuously estimate skin condition and propose additional measures for improving skin condition, or to estimate physical and mental health and lifestyle habits and propose additional measures for improving those habits, for a single subject. In this case, the estimation results can be displayed along with the time.

[0080] Furthermore, by synchronizing the estimation results with the menstrual cycle based on the information about the menstrual cycle entered by the subject, and displaying both together as images (charts, etc.), the subject can easily grasp the estimated skin condition or changes in physical and mental / lifestyle habits in accordance with the phases of the menstrual cycle, and if they implement the proposed measures, they can also grasp the effects of those measures. In addition, the estimation results may be displayed in synchronization with information such as walking and sleep acquired by another terminal (a smart device such as a ring-type or wristwatch-type device with a predetermined measurement function, or a smartphone with a predetermined measurement function application, etc.) as described as the measurement device 30 (Figure 1).

[0081] Furthermore, if the flow according to the first embodiment (Figure 5) or the flow according to the second embodiment (Figure 8) is performed continuously, the information acquired each time can be stored and accumulated in the memory unit 120 of the estimation device 10. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of model equations, etc., relating the skin condition of the subject to their physical and mental lifestyle habits.

[0082] The technologies according to the first and second embodiments described above can be provided as programs (applications) to organizations that provide cosmetics, beauty equipment, beauty treatments, beauty suggestions, etc. in the beauty field, or to organizations that operate sports gyms, fitness clubs, running stations, etc. in the health and sports field.

[0083] The following is an example of how the relationship between skin condition and mental / physical / lifestyle habits is constructed, as used in a skin condition estimation device or a mental / physical / lifestyle habit estimation device.

[0084] First, we obtained information on multiple objective skin conditions and multiple physical / lifestyle habits from several adult women (84 women) who were menstruating. Then, using the statistical analysis software "R," we performed multiple regression analysis with objective skin conditions as the dependent variable and physical / lifestyle habits as the independent variables.

[0085] As an objective measure of skin condition, a total of 20 items of information were acquired using measuring instruments. Specifically, numerical information was obtained for "stratum corneum moisture content" (measured by Corneometer, manufactured by Courage+Khazaka), "redness," "yellowing," and "whiteness" (measured by CM700d, manufactured by Konica Minolta), "transpiration" (measured by Tewameter, manufactured by Courage+Khazaka), "elasticity (firmness)," "elasticity (viscoelasticity)," and "elasticity (recovery elasticity)" (measured by Cutometer, manufactured by Courage+Khazaka), "roughness" (measured by Frictiometer FR700, manufactured by Courage+Khazaka), and "skin texture" (measured by Handy Skin Sensor, manufactured by Shiseido Co., Ltd.), separately for the cheek, which is the skin exposed in normal daily life (exposed area), and the inner part of the upper arm, which is not exposed or is only partially exposed (non-exposed area).

[0086] In addition, information on a total of 92 items related to physical condition, mental state, and lifestyle habits was obtained. More specifically, 22 items, including "estradiol," "estrogen," "progesterone," "estradiol," "FSH," "LH," "prolactin," "serotonin," "cortisol," "melatonin," "oxytocin," "DHEA," "MHPG," "iron," "sodium," "triglycerides," "total cholesterol," and "BDNF," were obtained through analysis of components in blood or saliva as body fluid components. Furthermore, 34 items related to subjective skin condition, such as "acne," "oiliness," and "makeup easily smudged," were obtained through questionnaires. The MDQ (Menstrual Distress Questionnaire) score was also obtained through questionnaires and included in the information on physical condition. In addition, two items related to overall physical characteristics, "age" and "BMI," were obtained through questionnaires.

[0087] Regarding mental state, information was obtained for a total of 22 items: "openness," "conscientiousness," "extraversion," "agreeableness," and "neuroticism" using the BIG FIVE rating scale; "happiness" using the Japanese version of the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS); and "empathy" using the Multidimensional Empathy Scale (MES).

[0088] In addition, information on five items related to lifestyle habits was obtained: "tendency to be a morning or evening person" through questionnaires, and "sleep phase," "sleep quantity," and "sleep quality" through questionnaires using the 3-Dimensional Sleep Scale (3DSS).

[0089] In addition, the subjects were given the following five questionnaires regarding their menstrual cycle. Those who selected options 1 and 3 in their answers were classified as the "regular menstrual cycle type," and those who selected any other option were classified as the "irregular menstrual cycle type": 1. Regular cycles with intervals of 25 to 38 days each time 2. Regular cycles with intervals of 25 to 38 days each time 3. Irregular cycles (less than half the time), but the cycle is generally within the 25 to 38 day range 4. Irregular cycles (less than half the time), and when irregular, the cycle is not within the 25 to 38 day range 5. Irregular cycles each time (e.g., once every few months) In other words, in this example, those whose menstrual cycles were within the 25 to 38 day range for less than half of their past menstrual cycles were classified as the "regular menstrual cycle type," and all others as the "irregular menstrual cycle type."

[0090] Multiple regression analysis was performed on the data of all subjects, as well as on the data of subjects in the "regular menstruation type" group and the data of subjects in the "irregular menstruation type" group.

[0091] Furthermore, in the multiple regression analysis, the correlation between explanatory variables was calculated, and for items with high multicollinearity among explanatory variables, the items that were easier to obtain were retained to eliminate multicollinearity between explanatory variables.

[0092] Tables 1 and 2 show some of the results of the above analysis. Table 1 shows the analysis results when the dependent variable is the objective skin condition of the cheek, and Table 2 shows the analysis results when the dependent variable is the objective skin condition of the inner upper arm. As shown in Tables 1 and 2, the number of explanatory variables for the dependent variable (objective skin condition) in this example was 1 to 3.

[0093]

[0094]

[0095] Tables 1 and 2 show that even for skin condition items where a regression equation was not obtained in the analysis of data for all subjects, a regression equation was obtained in the analysis of subjects grouped according to menstrual type. Furthermore, Table 2 shows that when "stratum corneum moisture content" of arm skin condition was used as the dependent variable, the coefficient of determination R² was larger in the analysis of the subjects group "irregular menstruation type" and "regular menstruation type" compared to the analysis of data for all subjects, indicating that a highly accurate model equation was obtained. In other words, it was found that by grouping subjects according to the regularity of their menstrual cycle and performing analysis for each group, a regression equation that can be used for estimation can be obtained, or a regression equation that fits better can be obtained. Therefore, in estimating the skin condition of subjects, it is possible to perform more accurate estimations by using the relationship between skin condition and physical / lifestyle habits (regression equation, etc.) constructed based on data from subjects of the same menstrual type as the subject. Similarly, when estimating the physical / lifestyle habits of subjects using the above relationship, more accurate estimations can be performed. Furthermore, based on the estimation results, more accurate suggestions can be made when making recommendations for improving skin condition or physical / lifestyle habits.

[0096] To illustrate a specific application based on this experimental example, for instance, when estimating the moisture content of the stratum corneum, for subjects with irregular menstruation, the estimation can be performed by obtaining information on the subject's blood serotonin concentration and the subject's perceived skin sensitivity, while for subjects with regular menstruation, the estimation can be performed by obtaining information on the subject's perceived stress.

[0097] Although the present invention has been described above based on specific embodiments and examples, these embodiments and examples are merely presented as examples, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples. Various changes, modifications, substitutions, deletions, additions, and combinations are possible within the scope of this disclosure.

[0098] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-171326, filed on 30 September 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0099] 1 System 10 Estimation device 10A Skin condition estimation device 10B Mind-body / lifestyle estimation device 20 Terminal 30 Measurement device 110 Information acquisition unit 111 Menstrual cycle information acquisition unit 112 Mind-body / lifestyle information acquisition unit 113 Skin condition information acquisition unit 120 Memory unit 130 Estimation unit 131 Menstrual type determination unit 132 Skin condition estimation unit 133 Mind-body / lifestyle estimation unit 140 Proposal unit 150 Output unit 1001 Control device 1002 Main memory 1003 Auxiliary memory 1004 Input device 1005 Output device 1006 Interface unit Sb Target person

Claims

1. A skin condition estimation device comprising: a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle of a subject; a mind-body / lifestyle information acquisition unit that acquires mind-body / lifestyle information relating to one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits; and an estimation unit that estimates the skin condition of the subject based on the menstrual cycle information and the mind-body / lifestyle information.

2. The skin condition estimation device according to claim 1, wherein the menstrual cycle information is information on whether the subject's menstrual cycle is within or outside the range of a standard menstrual cycle.

3. The skin condition estimation device according to claim 1, wherein the physical condition is one or more selected from: age, height, weight, BMI (body mass index); concentration of one or more body fluid components such as serotonin, cortisol, oxytocin, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), estrogen, progesterone, estradiol, MHPG (3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol), IL-6 (interleukin-6), BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), melatonin, LH (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), triglycerides, cholesterol, red blood cells, and CRP (C-reactive protein); one or more subjective conditions relating to the skin such as firmness, acne, redness, sensitivity, dryness, rough skin, and dark circles; and menstrual symptoms.

4. The skin condition estimation device according to claim 1, wherein the mental state is one or more selected from stress level, happiness level, openness, susceptibility, and empathy level.

5. The skin condition estimation device according to claim 1, wherein the lifestyle habit is one or more habits selected from sleep, smoking, and drinking.

6. The skin condition estimation device according to claim 1, wherein the skin condition is one or more selected from the following: skin composition including stratum corneum moisture content; one or more colors of redness, yellowness, and whiteness; one or more physical properties of elasticity and softness; one or more roughness of texture and roughness; and skin barrier function.

7. A mental-body and lifestyle estimation device comprising: a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle of a subject; a skin condition information acquisition unit that acquires skin condition information relating to the skin condition of the subject; and a mind-body and lifestyle estimation unit that estimates one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits based on the menstrual cycle information and the skin condition information.

8. The mental / physical / lifestyle estimation device according to claim 7, wherein the menstrual cycle information is information on whether the subject's menstrual cycle is within or outside the range of a standard menstrual cycle.

9. The physical condition is one or more selected from: age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI); concentration of one or more body fluid components such as serotonin, cortisol, oxytocin, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrogen, progesterone, estradiol, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG), interleukin-6 (IL-6), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), melatonin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), triglycerides, cholesterol, red blood cells, and C-reactive protein (CRP); one or more subjective conditions relating to the skin such as firmness, acne, redness, sensitivity, dryness, rough skin, and dark circles; and menstrual symptoms; the mental / physical / lifestyle estimation device according to claim 8.

10. The mental state is one or more selected from stress levels, happiness levels, openness, susceptibility, and empathy levels, as described in claim 7, a mental state estimation device.

11. The mental / physical / lifestyle habit estimation device according to claim 7, wherein the lifestyle habit is one or more habits selected from sleep, smoking, and drinking.

12. The mental / physical / lifestyle estimation device according to claim 7, wherein the skin condition is one or more selected from the following: skin composition including stratum corneum moisture content; one or more colors of redness, yellowness, and whiteness; one or more physical properties of elasticity and softness; one or more roughness of texture and roughness; and skin barrier function.

13. A proposal device comprising: a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle of a subject; a mind-body / lifestyle information acquisition unit that acquires mind-body / lifestyle information relating to one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits; and a proposal unit that makes suggestions to the subject for improving their skin condition based on the menstrual cycle information and the mind-body / lifestyle information.

14. A proposal device comprising: a menstrual cycle information acquisition unit that acquires menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle of a subject; a skin condition information acquisition unit that acquires skin condition information relating to the skin condition of the subject; and a proposal unit that makes suggestions for improvements relating to one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits based on the menstrual cycle information and the skin condition information.

15. A method for estimating skin condition, comprising: obtaining menstrual cycle information relating to the length and / or variation of the menstrual cycle of a subject; obtaining physical and mental condition / lifestyle information relating to one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits; and estimating the subject's skin condition based on the menstrual cycle information and the physical and mental condition / lifestyle information.

16. A method for estimating physical, mental, and lifestyle habits of a subject, comprising: obtaining menstrual cycle information regarding the length and / or variation of the subject's menstrual cycle; obtaining skin condition information regarding the subject's skin condition; and estimating one or more of the subject's physical condition, mental condition, and lifestyle habits based on the menstrual cycle information and the skin condition information.

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