What Is a Skin Scan and What Does It Tell You?
By Teresa Alasio, MD | Intentional Self Aesthetics, New Canaan, CT
A skin scan is one of the most useful tools I have for starting an honest, evidence-based conversation about a patient’s skin. It reveals what is actually happening beneath the surface, not just what is visible to the naked eye, and it changes the quality of treatment planning significantly.
What is a skin scan:
At Intentional Self Aesthetics, we use the Opatra Skin Analysis system, which uses multi-spectral imaging technology to analyze the skin across multiple wavelengths of light. Different wavelengths penetrate to different depths and reveal different types of information. A standard visible-light examination shows surface texture and tone. Multi-spectral analysis also reveals subsurface pigmentation (sun damage that has not yet appeared at the surface), vascular patterns, pore structure, hydration levels, and the uniformity of pigmentation beneath the skin.
Why this matters clinically:
Many patients come in concerned about what they can see. What the skin scan often reveals is that the visible concern is only part of the picture. Subsurface sun damage, for example, often represents years of accumulated UV injury that has not yet become visible as sunspots but will in the coming years. Seeing this gives us an opportunity to intervene proactively rather than reactively.
For patients considering BBL, Halo, or chemical peels, the skin analysis helps identify the depth and distribution of pigmentation and informs which treatment approach and at what intensity is most appropriate for their specific skin.
What the skin scan experience is like:
A skin scan is quick and completely comfortable. There is no contact with the skin, no discomfort, and no preparation required. The images are reviewed with you during your consultation, and I walk you through what we are seeing and what it means for your treatment priorities.
Who benefits from a skin scan:
Anyone beginning a new treatment relationship at Intentional Self Aesthetics benefits from a baseline skin analysis. It is also valuable for patients who want to understand the actual condition of their skin beneath what they can see in the mirror, and for tracking improvement over time as treatment progresses.
Want to see what’s actually going on with your skin? Request a consultation with Dr. Alasio.
Teresa Alasio, MD is a board-certified physician in Pathology, Cytopathology, and Aesthetics and the founder of Intentional Self Aesthetics at 23 Vitti Street, New Canaan, CT.
