Glogau scale: classifying photoaging
Quick facts
- Definition
- A clinical classification of the degree of photoaging of facial skin into four types.
- Author
- Proposed by the American dermatologist Richard Glogau, in the 1990s.
- Types
- I (no wrinkles), II (wrinkles in motion), III (wrinkles at rest) and IV (only wrinkles).
- What it looks at
- Wrinkles, spots, keratotic lesions and the need for makeup to even out the skin.
- Relevance in HOF
- Helps separate what is skin quality from what is volume or muscle and align expectations.
The Glogau scale is a clinical classification of photoaging of facial skin, proposed by the American dermatologist Richard Glogau in the 1990s. It divides the skin into four types, from I (no apparent wrinkles) to IV (wrinkles across the whole face), looking at wrinkles, spots, keratotic lesions and how much the person relies on makeup to even out the skin. In HOF, it is a simple way to record skin quality before planning volume or toxin.
What are the four types of the Glogau scale?
| Type | Name | Usual age range in the original description | Typical signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | No wrinkles | 20 to 30 years | Early photoaging, mild pigment changes, no keratoses, minimal wrinkles |
| II | Wrinkles in motion | 30 to 40 years | First age spots, palpable but barely visible keratoses, lines that appear when smiling and frowning |
| III | Wrinkles at rest | 50 years or older | Obvious spots and small vessels, visible keratoses, wrinkles present even with the face still |
| IV | Only wrinkles | 60 to 70 years or older | Yellow-gray skin, history of skin lesions, wrinkles across almost the whole face |
The ages in the table are those of the original description and serve as a reference, not a rule. Sun exposure, smoking and skin phototype mean two people of the same age can fall into different types.
How do you use the scale in the assessment?
The classification is visual and done with the face at rest and in motion, in good light and without makeup. It ties in with the distinction between dynamic wrinkles, which appear only with muscle contraction, and static wrinkles, present at rest. Type II corresponds, broadly, to a predominance of dynamic wrinkles; type III, to the appearance of static ones.
- Record: noting the type in the medical history and in the chart makes it easier to compare progress.
- Photography: standardized photos show texture and spots that go unnoticed during the consultation. See standardized clinical photography.
- Referral: new lesions, ones that change color or size, or ones that bleed call for a dermatological assessment.
Why does it matter in HOF?
Filler and botulinum toxin treat volume and muscle, not the accumulated damage to the skin. In type III or IV, a volume projection can improve the contour, but texture, spots and fine lines remain. The scale helps explain this and consider, at the professional's discretion, skin quality approaches such as skin boosters and collagen biostimulators, in addition to sun protection.
What are the limits of the scale?
It was described based on fair skin and does not measure volume, laxity or bone structure. It is a descriptive tool, not a diagnosis, and should be read together with the rest of the assessment.
Also called: Glogau classification, Glogau photoaging scale.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Glogau scale used for?
It is used to classify the degree of photoaging of facial skin into four types, based on wrinkles, spots and lesions. It helps record the assessment, compare progress and explain to the patient what each treatment can or cannot achieve.