CMU researchers develop software that turns subtle skin changes into trackable data
The Breakdown:
- New RI software works with a handheld imaging tool to map skin texture in 3D.
- The software turns subtle skin surface changes into measurable data.
- This research could help clinicians track skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, monitor treatment and evaluate skincare product effectiveness.
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Work from Carnegie Mellon University may someday help doctors measure skin health as precisely as a blood test.
Researchers in the university’s Robotics Institute (RI) are turning that possibility into reality with new software that works with a compact imaging device to bring the skin’s microscopic landscape into clearer focus.
“When skin texture becomes a measurable signal rather than a subjective one, dermatology can move toward truly quantitative assessments, helping clinicians to track disease progression and treatment response over time,” said Akhil Padmanabha, a 2025 RI Ph.D. graduate and lead researcher on the project. “With that foundation, skincare efficacy can be evaluated with the same rigor as medical tests.”
The team’s software interprets subtle variations in the skin’s surface by locating wrinkles and comparing them to nearby high points to estimate depth. In doing so, it transforms otherwise imperceptible skin texture changes into data that can be both visualized and measured. Paired with a handheld imaging device, the software creates detailed 3D maps of the skin’s surface, revealing fine features with newfound consistency.
The work could be used in both clinical and cosmetology settings. It could aid in diagnosing and monitoring textural changes in some skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and help evaluate treatment efficacy. It could also give insights into skin aging, sun damage and the effectiveness of skincare products.
“From a medical standpoint, these technologies have the potential to fundamentally change how we assess tissue in a noninvasive and objective way,” said Dr. Sonal Choudhary, a dermatologist at UPMC who worked on the research. “In dermatology and other clinical fields where visual inspection and palpation are still highly subjective, high-resolution tactile sensing could improve diagnostic accuracy; enable earlier detection of disease; and support more personalized, data-driven care. It opens the door to better remote assessment and training.”
The compact sensor, 3D-printed probe and newly designed elastic gel work together to measure fine skin surface features.
Current portable 3D imaging technologies typically lack the resolution or reliability needed to work consistently on soft surfaces like skin and across different parts of the human body. These gaps in technology make it difficult to accurately measure skin texture.
To address this challenge, the RI team adapted a tactile imaging technique known as GelSight that creates detailed 3D maps by observing how surfaces deform when pressed against an object. The team expanded GelSight technology to measure fine skin surface features using a compact sensor, a 3D-printed probe and a newly designed elastic gel that conforms to the skin. The system improves on the accuracy of currently available commercial devices.
The custom elastic gel reduces how much skin deforms when the sensor is pressed against it. It has three layers: a flexible base that supports the structure, a powder coating that helps the sensor capture surface slopes, and a skin-safe layer that covers it all. The layered design allows the device to create precise 3D maps of the skin while maintaining gentle contact.
“We attached our custom gels to a GelSight sensor and integrated the sensor with a 3D-printed probe that can be used on skin,” Padmanabha said. “We then trained algorithms to estimate 3D geometries from 2D images and to identify and analyze microstructures on the skin surface rather than relying on the naked eye.”
To further validate their probe and skin pattern detection methods, the team conducted a human study with participants who had no diagnosed skin disorders. The goal was to measure skin texture across multiple areas of the body and proceed to evaluate how those measurements changed after the application of an over-the-counter moisturizer. The system detected consistent, measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, demonstrating an accurate sensitivity to everyday skin interventions.
“Finding the right material to match the compliance of skin turned out to be an interesting challenge for this project,” said Carmel Majidi, CMU’s Clarence H. Adamson Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a part of the research team. “We wanted something gel-like that could conform to the features and texture of the skin but also have enough elastic integrity to convey these features to our optical tracking system in a repeatable and reliable manner. In the end, we came up with a material system that had just the right balance.”
To read the team’s paper, visit Wiley Advanced Healthcare Materials.
For More Information: Aaron Aupperlee | 412-268-9068 | aaupperlee@cmu.edu