The Kesty Redness Scale: A Pilot Validation Study for a Novel Tool for Evaluating Facial Redness in Cosmetic and Clinical Dermatology

Abstract

Background

Facial redness is a common concern in dermatology, affecting patients with conditions such as rosacea, post-inflammatory erythema, and other vascular irregularities. Despite its prevalence, existing tools for quantifying facial redness are limited in their clinical utility and ease of use.

Aims

To develop a high-performing redness scale.

Methods

This study introduces the Kesty Redness Scale (KRS), outlines its development and validation process, and discusses its potential clinical applications.

Results

The investigators rated the scale as useful and easy to use, and the majority stated they would use it in clinical practice to document patient characteristics. The results of the evaluation utilizing Gwet's AC2, Kendall's W, Spearman's ρ, Weighted Cohen's kappa, and Bland–Altman analysis —showcasing strong ordinal agreement, robust rank concordance, and negligible bias—demonstrate that this new rating system is both reliable and valid for measuring skin hyperpigmentation on a 0–3 scale.

Conclusions

The KRS is a reliable, easy-to-use tool that enhances the assessment of facial redness in dermatology. Its validation through expert evaluation and statistical analysis underscores its potential to improve clinical practice and research.