Applications
Detecting damage or irregularities in human skin.
One of the ways that sun damage on skin manifests itself is as dark patches of excess melanin produced in response to UV exposure. This excess melanin is much easier to visualize in the UV than in the visible band. Bruising, bite marks and avulsive wounds can also be seen in the UV months after they have faded to the eye. Forensic odontologists have matched bite marks to suspects using UV photography.
This dual-wavelength movie shows the application of 45 SPF sunblock. Dermatologists can use the UVCorder as a means to train patients to properly apply sunblock, since any missed spots can be easily seen.
Facial skin with mild sun damage. Left-Visible, Right-UV
These are samples of sunblocks with various degrees of sun protection factor: SFP 45, SPF 25, SPF 36 and SPF 18, respectively. The three sunblocks on the left contain UV absorbers such as avobenzone, and the one on the right contains titanium dioxide, a UV reflector.
This baby was 11 months old at the time these pictures were taken. She had had very minimal exposure to the sun, and always with sunblock, thus there is no evidence of sun-induced hyperpigmentation. The mark on her cheek is a scratch.
This is a 6 year old girl with some sun-induced hyperpigmentation, and some natural freckling.
Injection mark on skin. Left-Visible, Right-UV
The image above shows an injection mark that is several months old. All visible signs of it have almost completely faded away.
Burn mark on skin. Left-Visible, Right-UV
The burn on the subject’s thigh was caused by burning kerosene. The oil-producing cells in the skin are damaged, so the skin appears lighter in the UV band, since skin oils absorb UV. Severely sun-damaged skin will appear lighter as well. |
