Project

Skin Hydration Sensor

Wearable, biocompatible sensor for noninvasive, continuous skin hydration monitoring.

Read the paper →
Skin hydration sensor prototype
Figure: Wireless, soft hydration patch with microfluidic and impedance sensing layers (from the paper).

Based on the paper Wireless, Soft Sensors of Skin Hydration with Designs Optimized for Rapid, Accurate Diagnostics of Dermatological Health (Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2023), this project develops a soft, skin-conformable patch that tracks hydration dynamics via impedance and microfluidic sensing.

Paper takeaways

  • Layered elastomeric construction maintains intimate skin contact without irritating adhesives.
  • Integrated impedance electrodes and microfluidics capture both surface hydration and trans-epidermal water loss.
  • Wireless readout enables rapid, repeated measurements suited for clinical dermatology and at-home tracking.

Results that matter

  • Fast response after perturbations such as moisturizers, exercise, and occlusion, capturing hydration recovery curves.
  • Close agreement with clinical corneometer benchmarks while offering better spatial coverage and comfort.
  • Durable performance through motion and sweating, demonstrating suitability for daily wear.