Understanding the light modes and their Diagnostic Values

This mode allows you to evaluate the skin in a bright but neutral illumination. The OBSERV illuminates the full face with a diffused light coming from all directions. The face and its full features are evenly illuminated without disturbing shadows or emphasis on skin features or layers. It provides a clear and reproducible means for an overall clinical evaluation of the facial skin in a natural light.
Diagnostic Values • Overall appearance and apparent age.• Clinical photography and evaluation.• Facial topography of fine lines, wrinkles, skin sagging.
In the daylight mode we have clinical imaging opportunities for before and after images with standardised light conditions allowing the therapist to view fine lines and wrinkling and skin sagging. This leads to six- or twelve-month treatment programme examples for skin firming or anti –ageing style modalities that can combine with Collagen Induction Therapy, LED Therapy, Injectable work and Dentistry plus a variety of other modalities you have elected to provide in your clinic.
Key Margaret Tip; Do not rush past this Daylight Visual; Ask your client; “what are their skin and facial concerns?” at this point and complete your full consultation before you move on to the other fascinating visuals. I ensure I have a list of 3 concerns written on the daylight visual that the client wants to resolve during the year and then the annual plan wraps around these concerns. Ask them which to start with!
This Redness mode allows you to visualise redness/additional vascular matting discolouration’s in the skin. Usually, this view of the skin is obscured by bright light reflecting off the surface corneocytes of the epidermal surface. The inventor has removed the glare from the surface corneocytes, and this allows you to investigate the layers of the skin all the way down to the Epidermal -Dermal Junction. This is the vascularity, dermal pigmentation and capillary network zones. This is the most important HIGH-RISK skin type identifier visual. Think; ‘Red Flag’. Celtic genetics here and please do google MC1R Gene.
Diagnostic Values• Couperoses and Rosacea• Acne• Sensitised skin areas• Inflammations• Diffused redness areas• Skin tone homogeneity• Skin discolouration’s• Underlying deeper epidermal pigmentations
This diffused redness pattern proves the third skin type, after Lipid Dry, Oily and it is the Sensitive- Diffused Redness skin type also named HIGH RISK Skin type. Once diagnosed head straight to your retail selection – select homecare packages that will,with conscientiously use, lower the inflammation levels in this skin and to secure a non-compromised protective stratum corneum. Once these have been completed and a course of omegas/Essential Fatty Acids have been added into the homecare regime to improve the health of the oil to gift ‘skin-loving nutrition”, only then proceed with a treatment plan. This skin must be prepped between 3 to 8 weeks before in-salon treatments begin to secure a wonderful result for the client, and one that you will be recording on the OBSERV as a success of yours.
The texture mode enhances the visualisation of the skin’s surface textures. In this mode the polarisation filter technology is used in the opposite way to cross polarised – these filters enhance the surface reflection revealing the glyphic patterns; pore structures, fine surface textures and wrinkles in detail while diminishing the visibility of structures hidden in the deeper layers of the skin.
Diagnostic Values• Fine lines and wrinkle formations from fascia septa deterioration• Pore Structures and pore visibility• Surface roughness and bumpiness• Micro -relief and dry lines• Lipid dry [Dehydrated skin]• Essential fatty acid deficiency• Thin skin density or vice versa- • Hyperkeratosis [sticky cells not sloughing off the surface]
In this Texture mode, we are on the surface of the skin viewing rough and bumpy skin, fine lines and visible pores. You will see these glyphic patterns due to rete peg and collagen fibril deterioration in the papillary layer and do talk about them all to your client. Link this visual knowledge to the in-salon selection you have available in the gentle resurfacing and enzymatic peelings department. Discuss loss of structural integrity due to the action of the collagenase enzyme with your client and point out the why of necessary sunblock wearing. Bring your own advanced skin analysis information to this section and if you are following the “Corneotherapy line of thought” then you will respond to the surface in your specific scientific manner with your salon Protocols and Homecare Regimes.
Invisible UV light is projected into the facial skin. These invisible rays have the capacity to travel into the skin. Inside of the skin, the cells and tissues have the natural capacity to turn these invisible rays into visible light and in this way effectively turn the skin into a human lamp. As the light is generated within the skin itself instead of being projected onto the skin; it almost seems that the skin itself is lighting up as if a torch is held against the backside of the skin outlining and gifting clarity to all pigmentation within the layers of the epidermal tissue.
Diagnostic Values• Pigment hidden inside the skin [ lentigines sun damage, genetic freckles, hormonal melasma/chloasma]• Dry skin squama’s• Thinning of the skin [connective tissue degradation]• Scar tissue growth with post inflammatory hyper pigmentation• Future skin problems – lurking pigmentation that must be assessed by dermatologists.
In the pigmentation mode your dimension of analysis centres on skin biology and the revealing of pigmentary problems hidden beneath the skin. Where the pigment is showing on the face is an indication of the effect UVR has had on the melanocyte, and the extent of cellular damage. So, take time to identify where the pigment is, and why with the client, before heading to OBSERV. Hidden skin pigmentations are clearly shown from the High-Risk “be on high alert”MC1R Red haired gene [which raises the risk of skin cancer]. Often the genetics will carry the red undertone of Pheomelanin pigment. Look for nesting of melanocytes, hairline and back of hands carry solar lentigines and you may see the butterfly pattern effect -melanin cascade of melasma/chloasma sitting in the dermal epidermal junction and other sun damage from excoriated scar tissue. Treatments will range from the Anti-aging to pigmentary and preventive with retail focussing on a physical sunblock and power serums and dermal needling and LED Light Therapy plus IPL & Laser used at lower levels as this is a “reactive skin type’ if highly pigmented. Remember I said it as a Red Flag to you as a #skinnerd.
Key Margaret Tip: Pigmentation and Inflammation walk hand in hand!
In vitiligo, for example, your diagnosis is confirmed by the lack of absorption by melanin residing in melanocytes or keratinocytes, resulting in bright bluish-white patches. Melanin absorbs light very strongly in both the UV and visible regions. When OBSERV Pigment Exposing light is illuminated over a heavily melanised epidermis, most of its output is absorbed, while the less darkly pigmented adjacent skin, scatters and reflects light as usual, resulting in enhanced contrasts at the border zone between areas of differing melanisation output is absorbed. The less darkly pigmented adjacent skin scatters and reflects light as usual, resulting in enhanced contrasts at the border zone between areas of differing melanisation.
This Pigmentation light is also a Complexion/Prediction Mode –as you can see with your client that the unevenness of skin tone is exposed.
Within the OBSERV 320 App the actual images also cleverly undergo advanced imaging steps to create an amplified generated prediction of what the client’s skin may look like in the future if they do not embrace any changes to their lifestyle and skin care routine! The imaging process has one objective – to amplify in detail differences, pigmentations and impurities currently present and this is applied across the whole surface of the facial zone. This amplification is focussed on the skin tone and pigmentation and not topographical[wrinkles] aging signs.
This new design creates an ability to shadow the face to highlight tissue loss and laxity due to biological ageing. Remove the natural skin colour and the black and white shadow effect will expose skin firmness and shadows of potential laxity A perfect analytical tool for injectable and Botox site requirements, Collagen Induction dermal needling focus and LED Light treatments plus dental and surgical enhancement and lifting procedure highlights.
Complexion/Appearance Analysis -prediction mode: Texture/Pigmentation/Vascularity
The unevenness of skin tone and residual pigmentation is exposed with the assistance of an inbuilt OBSERV App algorithm. The prediction is based on a 15- 20-year time span. A fundament of beautiful skin is an even complexion. Important for our patients to visually see what that residual pigmentation and vascularity will look like in the future if they elect to do nothing for their skin in the interim.
Diagnostic Values• Evaluate homogeneity of skin tone distribution • Determine photo-aging level• Reveal areas of skin pigmentations arising• Locate areas of skin sensitisation/irritation/high risk• Plan a course of preventive action with your clientele