Unique Device to Look at Hydration Distribution and Texture Properties
Capacitance imaging, based on the renowned L'Oréal SkinChip®*. The sensor gives graphical information on the near surface hydration distribution and the micro-topography of skin and other tissues (textiles, plants, etc.). The latest model comes with an ultra-flat sensor and modern sophisticated software with additional functions to facilitate your work.
Advantages of the MoistureMap
- Very flat sensor surface without metal rim for comfortable placement on the skin.
- Quick and easy to handle, image capture/live image by a button on the probe handle.
- Sensor is spring loaded for consistent contact force.
- Calibrated probe with a sophisticated calibration certificate. All calibration data are saved in the probe. No further calibration needed by the user.
- Perform in vitro applications with special accessories (e.g. cell cultures, tissue, plants, etc.).
- Perfect addition to the quantitative
measurements of hydration and TEWL, as it shows the distribution of the water on the skin surface. The only instrument, which can work side by side with the established Corneometer® and Tewameter® in one software.
- Convenient, intuitive, modern software, easy to navigate.
- Enlarged live image visible in the software including histogram.
- Evenness of the hydration distribution is displayed in 5 different colours and a histogram, the ranges can be easily set by the user.
- Regions of interest (ROI): Select any size for calculation rectangle or circle and move it around. The results change automatically.
- You can select a second ROI in the same image and see the results side by side and the histograms on top of each other. E.g. calculate the complete image and compare it to one part of the image (with high or especially low moisture or a lesion etc.).
- Focusing/cutting-out of pixels with specific grey levels in the pictures (e.g. sweat, spots, hair).
- Numerical values expressing the moisture content based on the extensive L’Oréal research as well as an “Ɛ” value for permittivity and a value to express the homogeneity of moisture distribution in the image.
- Take a video (.avi) to show kinetic effects of moisture distribution: select the number of frames you want to analyze to show a development over time, especially useful for in vitro applications, occlusion studies, etc.
- As the sensor has no contact to the skin where lines and wrinkles are, they are perfectly visible in the image (background - no signal). In addition to looking at hydration, topographic measurements (polygon size, corner density, anisotropy index) give interesting aging parameters.
- Take several pictures of neighbored skin sites in one measurement to average a larger surface.
- Full flexibility: free measurements or measurements taken within a study. Use tags (product/control, skin site, explanation of the respective T, concentration of active ingredient, etc.) to identify measurements in the database for your statistical work.
- Extremely easy and convenient export of all results, images, and raw data (e.g. histogram) to Excel®.
- Impressive “3D”-style images to add to your documents and publications.
- Captured images in grey levels and all other images generated by the software (pseudo-colours, topography analysis, “3D”) can be saved as standard jpg-files.
Measurement Principle
The MoistureMap MM 200 features a sensor based on capacitive-touch imaging technology with hardened surface (epoxy composite material), a further development of the renowned L’Oréal SkinChip®*. The sensor gives graphical information on the near surface hydration distribution and the micro-topography of skin and other tissue (textiles, plants, etc.) which are quantitatively assed. On the 1.8 x 1.28 mm sensor surface, over 90,000 capacitors are located in a spatial resolution of every 50 µm.
The penetration of the electromagnetic field is measured on contact and expressed impressively on a scale of 255 grey levels. Conductive material e.g. water with its unique dielectric constant of around 
80, will reflect the signal strongly (high permittivity) making the resulting pixel darker while non-conductive material will result in pixels on the lighter side of the grey level scale (lower permittivity).
The spring-loaded sensor with only a minimal frame around the sensing area makes the placing of the probe as easy as possible. Capture images/switch to live conveniently by a button on the side of the probe handle.
Together with the worldwide known and established Corneometer® to quantitatively assess the hydration level of the stratum corneum and the Tewameter® to measure exactly the transepidermal water loss and assess the skin barrier function, you can create a complete “Water Measurement Center”.
*MoistureMap is licensed worldwide under the L'Oréal patent for the Skin Chip® (EP 1 438 922 B1). A variety of articles on the measurement principle have been published.
Fields of Application
Wherever skin moisture distribution plays a role, the MoistureMap MM 200 is a very impressive imaging addition to the pure quantitative measurements. In literature the use of such equipment is known for efficacy testing of cosmetics & pharmaceuticals & surfactants, skin photo-aging and illustration of skin lesions and scars. Capacitance imaging has also been used to determine to map the hair moisture level.**
** C. Piérard-Franchimont, G.E. Piérard, Hair Weathering and Hair Capacitance Mapping: a Pilot Study, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 11:179-182, 2012
Example Images
In vitro Measurements with Special Adapter
With our optional MoistureMap in vitro Adapter (optional accessory), the probe can be mounted in the stand with the sensor pointing upwards. In addition different donor chambers are included (0.5 and 0.8 mm outlet) which can be put on the sensor surface and are retained in the adapter on top of the sensor. There is a matching lid to minimize evaporation of volatile solvents from the donor chambers. A video can show the kinetic effects of the distribution of hydration over time.
With the MoistureMap MM 200 software you have several setting possibilities for the video, e.g. to grab a number of still images from the video, which are then automatically calculated and curves for the development of the moisture parameters are displayed.
Technical Data
Device: Dimensions: 13 x 14.6 x 5 cm, Weight: approx. 1.5 kg, Power supply: external 100-240 VAC, 47-63 Hz, DC 12V/4A, Port: USB 2.0, type B connector
Probe: Dimensions: length: 16.6 cm, measurement head: 4.3 x 3 cm, Weight: approx. 90 g, Active measurement area: 18 x 12.8 mm, Sensor size: 256 x 360 pixel, Sensor resolution: 508 DPI 8Bit/pixel, Measurement principle: relative permittivity
optional MoistureMap in vitro Adapter: Dimensions: 23 cm (H) x 8 cm x 8 cm, Weight: 220 g
Computer: Windows® 10/11, USB 2.0/3.0, computer specifications must meet system requirements (please ask for details).
Technical changes may be made without prior notice.
