VISIA Digital Complexion Analysis
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free skin care · Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:36 pm

I had a VISIA Digital Complexion Analysis done today...my dermatologist offers it as a free service. I requested it so that I can watch for improvements over time from my skincare products, dermarolling, etc. (I wish I had requested this before I started rolling. Rolling Eyes

)

Quote:

The VISIA Digital Skin Analysis is the first diagnostic tool to provide clinical measurement of surface and subsurface epidermal irregularities and pigment conditions. VISIA’s photographic technology captures a clear, multi-dimensional image of select facial areas, while examining the severity of various age-related conditions such as:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Hyperpigmentation (age/dark spots)
- Enlarged pores
- Texture (skin smoothness)
- Porphyrins (evidence of bacterial growth)
- Sun damage (UV spots)

Basically, you just lean into a little well-lit box and they take your picture. Then they select a section of your skin on the picture, and the tool analyzes it. I left with a printout of digital pictures and scores for each of the above categories.

See this link for what the pictures look like, etc.:
http://www.rayamedspa.com/visia_skin_analysis.html

My scores:

- Fine lines and wrinkles - 99%
- Hyperpigmentation (age/dark spots) - 73%
- Enlarged pores - 97%
- Texture (skin smoothness) - 85%
- Porphyrins (evidence of bacterial growth) - 16 counted in the designated area
- Sun damage (UV spots) - 105 counted in the designated area

Quote:

Percentile scores depict the percentage of individuals within the VISIA database matching your age and skin type who you scored better than in the skin attributes of evenness, wrinkles, spots, and pores.

The scores for UV spots and porphyrins represent actual counts, with higher counts indicating more sun damage.

I don't really know what numbers are good for the UV Spots and the Porphyrins, but I did a whole lot better than the woman on the sample report at the above link...she had 268 UV Spots and 45 Porphyrins.

But the hyperpigmentation and texture are obviously where I need to focus. And also the wrinkles that are less than most people my age, but still there. Mad

This might be worth looking into if you're interested in nerdy details and measurable improvement like me. Very Happy

free skin care · Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:03 pm

I had something like this done years ago. However, I would imagine that technology has moved on from then and the equipment would be much more sophisticated now.

I think this will be a very interesting exercise to monitor the progress of your skin rolling - so please keep us informed. However, with scores of 99% for wrinkles and 97% for enlarger pores you're well ahead of the game.

free skin care · Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:26 pm

Keliu wrote:

I had something like this done years ago. However, I would imagine that technology has moved on from then and the equipment would be much more sophisticated now.

I think this will be a very interesting exercise to monitor the progress of your skin rolling - so please keep us informed. However, with scores of 99% for wrinkles and 97% for enlarger pores you're well ahead of the game.

I plan on doing this again in 6 months, so I'll keep you posted.

Next time I go back I am going to ask that they lower my age by 10 years so that I can be compared to a younger group, since I am shooting to have the skin of a younger person, after all! Very Happy

Hmmm...maybe I'll call tomorrow and ask if they retain the pictures and can rerun the analysis.

BTW, I haven't done Botox since February and it is always completely gone in 3 months (or less, sigh). My derm mentioned doing my forehead, but she didn't mention my eyes or my glabella 11's...the glabellas used to be HORRID and would be the first thing to reappear. They are now only 25% of what they used to be, and I really attribute that to the rolling.

free skin care · Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:32 am

I also did Visia yesterday, and as Bethany suggested I asked to run two tests, one against my own age category, and the second one against ten years younger category. Here are the results:

Wrinkles - 99% (ten years younger 91%)
Pores - 92% (ten years younger 91%)
Spots - 89% (ten years younger 85%)
UV Spots - 120

Porphyries was in 100s, she said that the number was higher since I did not clean my face right before the procedure, if I wash it right there and they retake the test right away, the number would be different.

Bethany - it means that in wrinkles category we are in top one percent!!!!! Laughing

free skin care · Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:08 am

Cross-posting from another thread...

bethany wrote:

sister sweets wrote:

Who does the Visia? Is it mainly in a bigger city area? I live in semi-sticksville.

Many dermatologists carry it...here is a link where you can provide your address and they will tell you who is closest. You may have to call a few to find someone who does it for free. I did see someone who charged $45, so not every one is giving it away.

http://canfieldvisia.docshop.com/

BTW, this is the manufacturer's site and they have lots of good info.

http://www.canfieldsci.com/Imaging_Products_Visia.asp

free skin care · Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:14 am

It looks like there are a number of VISIA configurations, and some new technology they came out with called RBX which is an upgrade and gives better results.

Configurations:
http://www.canfieldsci.com/Imaging_Products_Visia_Pricing.asp

RPX White Paper:
http://www.canfieldsci.com/FileLibrary/RBX%20tech%20overview-LoRz1.pdf

The woman who did mine didn't know much about the tool, except how to click a few buttons. I am going to see if I can find someone who uses it more actively in my area, and that has the RBX technology.

free skin care · Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:24 pm

I had to go back to the derm today, and while I was there I requested that they do another VISIA and lower my age by 10 years as I had suggested earlier in this thread (they couldn't manage to do it with the previous picture, sigh)

My scores: 9/18 (42 y/o) vs 10/27 (32 y/o)

- Fine lines and wrinkles - 99% at 42 (67% at 32)
- Hyperpigmentation (age/dark spots) - 73% at 42 (92% at 32)
- Enlarged pores - 97% at 42 (96% at 32)
- Texture (skin smoothness) - 85% at 42 (96% at 32)
- Porphyrins (evidence of bacterial growth) - 16 at 42 (4 at 32) counted in the designated area
- Sun damage (UV spots) - 105 at 42 (98 at 32) counted in the designated area

A couple of comments:

- Fine lines and wrinkles - this category dropped by 32%. I expected a decrease because I am comparing myself to a 32 y/o woman. However, I happen to have a black eye today on that side from the derm appt on Friday, and the machine picked that up as wrinkles in that area due to the receding swelling. The derm told me that I would have scored higher without the black eye since that was the only area with wrinkles marked, so I still don't have a new wrinkles number to compare myself against, darn it. Sad

- I did want to point out the significant improvements in both Hyperpigmentation (up 19%) and Texture (up 11%)...even though I am NOW comparing myself to someone that is 10 years younger! I also had a decrease in actual UV spots counted. WOO HOO!!!

I attribute 100% of these changes to both the ZO Skin Health products that I have been using since 9/8, and the 2 weeks that I recently did on Obagi Nu Derm (and yes, I will be going back for MORE!).

Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to seeing my results in 6 months (around late March). I will be doing them at both 42 and 32 at that point in time, and will share the results then.

Ok...I need to go run and slather myself with some more products! Very Happy

free skin care · Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:45 am

I also had Visia screening done recently but the esty (I think she is a trainee) did not give me any percentages. She only said that I didn't have any problems with wrinkles and my pores were ok.

I think it depends on how they map your face ie where they place the points to connect the lines. She definitely did not put those points or lines near my trouble areas ie under my eyes and my 11's.

Now I know I can percentages I will definitely ask.

free skin care · Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:21 am

I recently got a free VISIA analysis at a spa. While they weren't able to provide me with a printout with my results, they did quickly show me a graph of where I stand in comparison to 1000 individuals of my ethnic background within the same age range:

Wrinkles- right on the average line, so I'm guessing 50%?
Pores- slightly below average, but well above the low end of the range.
Hyperpigmentation- slightly below average.
UV Spots- High. WAY above average! Shock

The esty told me to use lots of moisturising masks for the wrinkle and pore problems, and to use "whitening" products to halt the UV spots from "surfacing" into hyperpigmentation.

My question is, how exactly to whitening products work? Is it a hoax? I already use SPF 50+ on a daily basis... What can be done??? Thanks!

free skin care · Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:34 am

I'm confused. How do you apply whitening products to spots that haven't surfaced yet? Embarassed

free skin care · Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:27 pm

That's exactly my problem Confused

She said whitening products are supposed to "shatter" the formation of the pigmented cells, and thus reversing the damage. (OK she didn't say that in English, but this is the closest approximation I could come up with... Embarassed

) That's why I'm not sure if it's a hoax to trick people into spending more money on stuff they don't need.
But on the other hand, what can be done to fix the damage of UV spots??

free skin care · Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:11 pm

I was in my local Whole Foods today and noticed they are doing free Visia complexion analysis sponsored by Mychelle dermaceuticals. I didn't have time to stop and ask if you had to buy any Mychelle products to get one done but I'm sure that is the idea.

They are doing them at certain Whole Foods around the US. Below is a link with the locations if anyone is interested.

ETA: I believe you have to make an appointment because there is a link for each location it is being done at but I'm not sure since I didn't talk to anyone at my local store.

http://www.mychelle.com/Buzz/VISIA-Complexion-Analysis

Fri Aug 09, 2013 4:34 am

I'm not sure that I fully trust the results of the VISIA analysis.

I had one done in the beginning of this year, and was told that my sun damage was 98%!!! Shock

I was VERY surprised to hear this as I have worn sunscreen almost every day since I was 16 (I'm in my early twenties). I haven't been to a beach in years, I rarely go outside in the day in the sun as I am usually at work or study inside. I wear sunscreen religiously daily, as well as sunglasses with SPF rating etc.

To have 98% sun damage after all that made me feel VERY sad, as it seemed all my *preventative* measured amounted to nought. Anyway, I went to another place (paramedical skin specialist or some such) and she had another machine where I put my head inside and I could see my face but it seemed purplish, and it was able to tell me where my skin was secreting more oil (I suffer from acne) and sun damage. She said I had almost no sun damage, it was very minimal.

So either the VISIA isn't always correct, this other machine was wrong, or the 'specialist' with the VISIA misinterpreted the reading, and I have 2% damage (*crosses fingers*).

Back to dreaming of beautiful skin...sigh. Rolling Eyes

*dream*

free skin care · Sun Aug 11, 2013 9:50 am

I know there are some skin researchers who use them to validate the results they are trying to achieve...and they are expensive, so I assume they are effective.

As far as interpreting the results, I guess I look at it the same way as the guy who services my car....sometimes he recommends optional services and services in advance of when I actually need them....so there you go.

BFG

free skin care · Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:00 am

Dream, 98% means that you have very little damage, and that you are better than 98% of people your age.

Take a look at my 99% wrinkle score above...if I had 99% wrinkles, I would look like a raisin! (And I don't)

Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:58 pm

bethany wrote:

Dream, 98% means that you have very little damage, and that you are better than 98% of people your age.

Take a look at my 99% wrinkle score above...if I had 99% wrinkles, I would look like a raisin! (And I don't)

I was hoping this is what it meant!!!!!! But I thought it was just wishful thinking. The 'specialist' didn't clarify when I told her that it seemed strange for me to have such a bad reading with all my preventative measures.

Wait...is that the sun outside? Because I think my day just got a little brighter haha Cool

free skin care · Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:20 am

I did this a year or so ago- it was interesting.
I did not have much sun damage and almost no bacteria either, lol (just on my nose area...but I had a bad cold...runny nose).

I'll have to dig out my numbers and post them up.
Did not do so well w the large pores- but everyone in my family has large pores, so nothing really helps too much.

But I will take it as a good sign they said my skincare was already good and did not try to sell me any products Smile

free skin care · Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:23 pm

Woot! I found a place carrying it, and am waiting to hear back as to how much they are going to charge me.

As in the past, I would like to do a current reading, and then one 3 months from now. I sure hope my few years off from taking care of my skin and extreme work stress didn't do too much damage! Embarassed

free skin care · Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:47 am

Bethany,

Are you considering buying your own Visia machine?

BFG

free skin care · Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:52 am

Barefootgirl wrote:

Bethany,

Are you considering buying your own Visia machine?

BFG

No...the ones I have seen are huge, very expensive, and need calibration regularly. I am just going to go to a derm and have an assessment done so that I can measure progress over the next 6 months with my pigmentation efforts.

free skin care · Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:22 am

I am doing research into getting one in our spa. I really hope it works out!!

free skin care · Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:17 am

LauraLizzie wrote:

I am doing research into getting one in our spa. I really hope it works out!!

LL, in case you do one on yourself, see my post earlier in the thread about comparing yourself to a younger age. If they won't run it at 2 different age groups for me, I am just going to have them run it at age 32 as I did above. I would rather be compared against younger skin, because otherwise my scores will just be high percentages and I will not be able to really gauge improvement over time.

free skin care · Thu Aug 15, 2013 11:15 am

Visia analysis tomorrow at 1pm! Cost: $25

free skin care · Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:31 pm

Good luck!

free skin care · Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:10 pm

10Sylvia5 wrote:

Good luck!

Thanks! I am making some changes in my protocol so that I can assess my Epionce progress (or non progress)...see the Epionce thread for details.

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