Beauty is only skin deep, but what you do now could determine how your skin will look later on in your life.
Covering a total area of about 20 square feet of the human body, and weighing between six and nine pounds, the skin is our largest organ. It has many functions and is made up of layers that protect the inner organs of your body. Your skin separates the inside of your body from the outside world and it can also give important insight into your health.
News4Jax.com reported that 34-year-old Wanda Rubbet and 27-year-old Francis Alvarez are turning to what is essentially a modern day magic mirror: A skin analysis machine that can tell them what's going on underneath their skin.
How does the skin analysis machine work?
The patient places their cheek in the machine and the machine takes a 3-D snapshot of your face and compares the image to five thousand people the same age with the same skin type. It takes note of wrinkles, crow's feet, sun spots, bacteria, and pore size. The machine has the capability to tell the patient what they will look like in ten years without treatment. The doctor, aesthetician, or skin-care specialist will then suggest treatments to help prevent what could happen to their skin.
"We can see certain things with our eyes, but we can't see below the surface," said Barry DiBernardo, a board-certified plastic surgeon at New Jersey Plastic Surgery.
Aside from using a skin analysis machine for preventive measures, DiBernardo shed light on common myths about proactive skincare.
Does collagen help wrinkles? “No!” DiBernadrdo commented."Just by taking a molecule and putting it on the surface doesn't mean that it gets under the skin.”
Does sunscreen with SPF over 30 make a difference? “Yes indeed! The higher numbers filter out slightly more UVB rays, and can add up over time,” said DiBernardo.
Are facials really good for your skin? According to a study out of India, facials cause breakouts in 80 percent of people, DiBernardo added.
Finally, can food protect your face against sunburns? DiBernardo explained, in a recent study, participants who consumed five tablespoons of tomato paste daily for three months had nearly 25 percent more protection against sunburn.
Everyone experiences skin problems at some point in their life including wrinkles, brown spots, red blotchy patches, acne, sun damage, skin tags, skin fungus, or skin rash. Doctors are beginning to use this new skin analysis machine to determine what the skin problem you could have before it even surfaces.
The skin analysis machine can be found at a doctor’s office or medical spa. The use of the machine usually costs about $100, but can vary by doctor or specialist.
The types of skin analysis machines range from hand held devises to huge computers in doctors' offices and medical spas and some of the most popular brands include Canfield Imaging Systems, the Visia machine, Profect Facial Studio Photography System, and BTBP Clarity.
Edited by
Jamie Epstein
