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Skin & Face

What It Measures on Skin and Face

A facial scan produces a set of scored indicators covering hydration, texture, oil, pigment at three depths, sensitivity and ageing markers — plus heatmaps showing how those are distributed across the face.

Full indicator listSkin & faceFrom our own systems

Different models report different numbers of indicators — seventeen on the B3, twenty-seven or more on the X6, which also covers eighteen facial skin conditions alongside nine scalp indicators. The list below is what those indicators actually are.

A scored indicator is a measurement of what the imaging shows, presented as a consultation aid. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not predict how skin will respond to a treatment.

The indicators

GroupIndicatorsWhat the client sees
Hydration & oilMoisture, sebum / lipid, skin barrierDry and oily zone mapping across the face — useful for facials and homecare advice
Texture & poresPores, blackheads, texture roughnessSize, density and roughness, with counts and area
AgeingWrinkles, collagen, elasticity referenceDepth and distribution of lines; collagen loss under mixed light
PigmentSurface pigment, deep pigment, brown pigment, mixed spotsThree depths of pigment — including damage not visible in normal light
Inflammation & sensitivitySensitivity, red area, capillaries, erythemaWhere the skin is reactive, and visible capillary and redness patterns
Acne-relatedAcne, porphyrinPorphyrin fluorescence under UV, relevant to congestion and pore issues
OtherFluorescent agentFluorescent substances present on the skin

Depending on the model these are reported individually, and some systems add a dedicated acne analysis to the comprehensive report.

Heatmaps: showing distribution, not just a score

A number tells a client their sensitivity scored a C. A heatmap shows them where. That is usually the more persuasive artefact, and these systems produce several:

  • Sensitivity heatmap — where the skin is most reactive across the face.
  • Pigment heatmap — how pigment is distributed rather than simply how much there is.
  • Sensitive red pigment map — combining redness and pigment information.
  • Barrier / redness reference — supporting discussion of barrier condition.
The scalp systems use the same idea with an explicit colour key — dark red for severe, yellow for moderate, green for mild, blue for normal. Once a client has seen their own map, the consultation is a different conversation. See the scalp version.

How each indicator is quantified

Every indicator carries more than a score, which is what makes the reports usable for tracking:

  • Score — the numeric result
  • Level / grade — A to E, so a client reads a band rather than a number
  • Count — how many features were identified
  • Area — how much surface they cover
  • Proportion — that area as a percentage of the zone

Grades are colour-coded consistently: A green, B blue, C yellow, D orange, E red. The comprehensive report can plot the below-C indicators on a radar chart, so the areas needing attention are visible at a glance. More on the reports.

Face capture and comparison

Facial analysis is captured in 3D — front, left and right — so the same views can be reproduced at the next visit and compared properly.

  • Parallel comparison — two scans side by side
  • Vertical comparison — stacked for a different read
  • Four-image comparison — multi-point tracking across several visits
  • Multi-indicator comparison on the X6, for tracking several indicators at once

The forehead rest and chin pad exist for exactly this reason. Position discipline is what turns a set of scans into a progress record your client believes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What skin conditions does an AI analyser measure?

Across our systems: hydration, pores, blackheads, sebum, skin barrier, acne, porphyrin, wrinkles, collagen, mixed spots, surface pigment, deep pigment, brown pigment, sensitivity, red area, capillaries and fluorescent agents - reported with sensitivity and pigment heatmaps. It measures what the imaging shows; it does not diagnose.

What does the A to E grade mean?

A is best and E is highest concern, colour-coded green, blue, yellow, orange, red. It exists so a client reads a level rather than interpreting a raw number, and so a comprehensive report can highlight everything below C.

What is porphyrin and why is it measured?

Porphyrin is revealed by fluorescence under UV light and is reported as an indicator relevant to pore congestion. Treat it as one input to a consultation rather than a diagnosis.

Can it show sun damage that isn't visible?

Brown light uses RBX technology to map subcutaneous UV spots and accumulated melanin with position, area, shape and severity, and Wood's light isolates deep dermal pigment. Both surface information not apparent in normal light - which is often the most useful part of the consultation.

Now the hair and scalp side

Thirteen indicators across five scalp zones, at up to 200×.

Hair & scalp analysis