Sebum; Principle; Sebum Collecting Strip; Tape Reader - Cortexa Technology DermaLab Mini Instructions For Use Manual

9 Sebum

9.1 Principle

The SkinLab sebum screen provides an instrumental approach to quick and accurate measure-
ment of surface sebum by means of a sebum collecting device (Sebum Collector) and an inte-
grated reader module. After applying the Sebum Collector to the skin, the strip is inserted into the
reader and the amount of sebum is measured based on the change in translucency of the film.

9.2 Sebum collecting strip

The sebum collecting material of the Sebum Collector is a
microporous film mounted on a light absorbing background,
the color of which provides maximum absorbance of the light
emitted from the light source in the reader module. Collected
sebum changes the translucent properties of the film allow-
ing more or less light to reach the background, where it is
absorbed. Accordingly, the amount of reflected light varies
according to the amount of sebum collected by the film.
Each Sebum Collector offers a sensitive area, and the film is mounted in a way, which greatly re-
duces wrinkling of the film, when inserted into the reader. The sebum collecting area is applied to
the skin by pressing firmly on the backside of the area using the thumb. Press for a few seconds
and make sure that the entire surface of the collecting area is in contact with the skin before rein-
serting the Sebum Collector into the reader.

9.3 Tape Reader

The DermaLab ® Mini accommodates a reader module providing a slot for insertion of the strip in
use. The slot is located on the right side of the main unit (see figures below), and the strip must be
inserted with the absorbing film side (the text side) pointing down. Make sure the strip is fully in-
serted into the slot by pushing it until it goes no further. A slight resistance is felt as the strip goes
in. This is intentional and a result of the strip being slightly bent in order to stretch the film and pro-
vide a smooth surface for measuring.
To eliminate the influence of batch to batch variation of the sebum absorbing film material, an ini-
tial offset calibration – a so-called "zero calibration" - is performed on the unexposed film prior to
each skin application. Then, after application to the skin, the strip is re-inserted into the slot to
measure the translucency changes of the film as a result of the absorbed sebum.
The measurement result is presented on the screen as a sebum score of saturation of the film
from 0 to 100, where 100 equals very oily skin.
Strip insertion.
CORTEX TECHNOLOGY ApS
Sebum collecting strips.
The strip fully inserted.
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