Skin Assessment

The following images show the multiple exposures our skin scanner uses to highlight the different layers and common problems in the skin.

Daylight mode takes an evenly illuminated picture of your skin with all features highlighted equally. This provides a clear and clinically reproduceable picture of the overall appearance of your skin for evaluation and comparison.

In a normal photograph, the skin reflects the light off its surface. With cross polarized light, a filter supresses the skins ‘glare’ and reveals microvascular structures and skin discolouration hiding beneath the shiny surface. On Rachel’s skin we can see the inflammation from acne lesions on her forehead.

Cross polarised light can also identify: Thinning of the skin, skin inflammation, dark circles, couperose, telangectasia, rosacea, skin irritation and sensitised skin.

Using parallel polarisation helps in seeing the surface of the skin more clearly because it enhances the surface reflection, revealing the fine surface texture, pore structures, and wrinkles that are only just beginning. This highlights the areas in need of support or improvement, on Rachel we can see the beginning of wrinkles around her eyes, and open pores on her T Zone.

Can also reveal: Rough and bumpy texture, early signs of ageing, areas of dry skin, congested skin and clogged pores.

True UV penetrates deeper into the skin and highlights specific features or substances, turning the skin into a human lamp!

We can see Rachel is struggling with different types of hyper and hypo pigmentation on her face. The patches of orange are deposits of melasma, and the areas in aqua are areas of hypopigmentation. These are hard to see on the daylight photo, but with the skin scanner we are able to see these hiding underneath the top layers of the skin!

True UV reveals pigmentation irregularities such as epidermal pigmentation; like sun damage (age spots) and freckles. As well as dermal pigmentation that has not yet reached the surface of the skin. With the forewarning provided by skin scanning, we are able to stop this pigmentation from becoming worse and reducing it before it comes to the surface.

Dryness and dehydrated can be identified on the skin scanner with True UV, as these areas may reflect or absorb the UV light differently than well-hydrated skin. This information can be useful for determining skincare routines and identifying potential underlying skin conditions.

Oily and Acne prone skin can benefit from True UV skin assessment, as areas of increased oiliness, clogged pores, pustules, active acne, inflammation associated with acne, porphyrin density and other comedogenic activity can be identified, and appropriate treatment selected.

Woods lamp highlights the active sebaceous glands and the distribution of the oil film on the surface of the skin. Understanding the activity of sebaceous glands and the distribution of oil can provide valuable insights into skin physiology and help tailor skincare regimens or treatment plans accordingly.

It also highlights the intensity and depth of inflammatory activity surrounding the sebaceous glands. This inflammation can be indicative of various skin conditions, such as acne or seborrheic dermatitis. Understanding the intensity and depth of this inflammatory activity can help determine the severity of the condition and plan appropriate treatment strategies.

Complexion analysis accumulates all the issues identified by all modes and stacks the images on top of each other. This gives us an overview of all the issues being experienced on the skin.

It also evaluates the uniformity and consistency of the skin tone across different areas of the face. It highlights the minute variations in skin tone and pigmentations, assessing the overall skin tone homogeneity.

What is Homogeneity?!

In complexion analysis, if the skin tone appears consistent across the face (without patches of discoloration, redness, or uneven pigmentation), it would have homogeneity, or be considered homogeneous. On the other hand, if there are areas of hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, redness, or other colour irregularities, the skin tone would be considered to be lacking homogeneity.

As you can see, Rachel’s skin is very much lacking in homogeneity! Her concerns related to pigmentation irregularities, acne lesions and open pores have helped guide her to a personalised skincare routines, and chemical peel treatment plan, aimed at improving the texture, brightness and uniformity (homogeneity) of her skin. Come see Rachel (one of our laser technicians) and watch her skin journey for yourself!

Skin Scanning with Observe 520x