How to Understand Your VISIA Skin Analysis Results

Your VISIA analysis provides a detailed look beneath the surface of your skin. It evaluates multiple categories that contribute to skin health and aging. Each category is shown with a score and percentile rank to help you understand how your skin compares to individuals of the same age and skin type.

A higher percentile is better and means your skin is performing better than a larger percentage of your comparison group with the exception of the porphyrin category in which case lower percentiles are favored. Over time, we aim to see your percentile scores rise as treatments and skincare take effect.

  • Spots

    This score reflects the total quantity of visible and subsurface spots. Spots are distinguishable by their distinct color and contrast from the background skin tone.

    Spots reflect freckles, pigmentation, acne marks, sun spots, and dermatosis papulosa nigra (tag like growths in skin of color). Your overall spot score takes into account your UV spots and brown spots.

    What it means: Elevated spots may indicate sun damage, pollution exposure, or prior inflammation.

    What it tells us

    Past UV exposure, inflammation, and melanin activity.

    How we improve spots

    Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and brightening topicals

    Prescription brighteners tailored to your specific skin type and results

    In-office: chemical peels, LaseMD and percutaneous collagen induction procedures such as microneedling and microinfusion

  • UV Spots

    Sun-induced damage beneath the surface that may not be visible yet.

    What it tells us

    Cumulative sun exposure and future pigmentation/aging risk.

    How we improve UV spots

    Daily SPF with zinc oxide 30–50+ with reapplication

    Antioxidants: topical vitamin C

    Supplements: oral polypodium leucotomas

    LaseMD fractional laser

    Sun-protective behaviors (hats, shade, avoidance, UPF clothing)

  • Brown Spots

    Deeper pigment disorders such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (i.e. dark spots).

    What it tells us

    Melanin overproduction and pigment pathway overactivity.

    How we improve brown spots

    Treat underlying cause (i.e. acne management for dark spots due to acne)

    Prescription compounded brightening topicals (customized for you)

    Gentle resurfacing with brightening chemical peels: glutathione containing perfect peel, code peel and more..

    Tranexamic acid (topical or oral when appropriate)

  • Texture

    Smoothness and evenness of the skin’s surface.

    What it tells us

    Acne scarring, trregular cell turnover, dryness, congestion, and early aging changes.

    How we improve texture

    Gentle exfoliation (AHAs/BHAs)
    Hydrating barrier-supportive skincare

    Microneedling with platelet rich fibrin, Laser resurfacing / fractional treatments with LaseMD

  • Pores

    Size and visibility of pores across different facial zones.

    What it means: Enlarged pores are usually related to oil production, congestion, and loss of elasticity.

    Our goal: Improve pore appearance by treating oil control, exfoliation, and dermal support.

    Pores

    Size and appearance of pores on the surface.

    What it tells us

    Oil production, congestion, and elasticity levels.

    How we improve pores

    Pore-refining topicals: prescription retinoids

    Oil control cleansers with AHA/BHAs

    Botox microinfusion, skinpen microneedling. chemical peels and resurfacing LaseMD for improved support around pores

  • Red Areas

    Visible vessels, background redness, or inflammation (including rosacea).

    What it tells us

    Vascular changes, sensitivity, or chronic inflammation.

    How we improve red areas

    Barrier repair: ceramides Sente Dermal Repair Cream, non-irritating routines

    100% mineral sunscreen SkinBetter Science sunbetter TONE SMART SPF 75 Sunscreen Lotion

    Custom blended prescription anti-inflammatory topicals (with azelaic acid and metronidazole)

    Aerolase vascular laser

    Identifying and avoiding triggers

  • Porphyrins

    Porphyrins are fluorescent biomarkers produced by Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) — the primary bacteria involved in acne formation. VISIA uses UV-fluorescence to detect these deposits deep within pores before breakouts become visible on the surface.

    What it tells us

    Porphyrins reveal:

    Areas where C. acnes is proliferating inside congested pores

    Hotspots for future breakouts
    Underlying inflammation not yet seen clinically

    Biofilm activity that can lead to cystic acne if untreated

    Why it matters in dermatology

    A high porphyrin score often indicates:

    Increased sebum (oil) production

    Delayed cell turnover and pore clogging

    Higher risk for inflammatory acne and scarring

    A lower porphyrin score means:

    Clearer pores
    Balanced microbiome

    How we reduce porphyrins (and C. acnes activity)

    Professional acne-focused skincare routines (retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid), skinbetter alpharet acne collection

    Laser based acne therapies to target bacterial overgrowth such as the Aerolase

    Lifestyle optimization when relevant (friction, makeup habits, humidity)

  • Wrinkles

    Wrinkles are a visible marker of how your skin has responded to time, movement, and the environment. VISIA detects both current lines and the micro-wrinkling that signals future collagen breakdown — often before they appear in the mirror.

    What wrinkles represent

    They are the end result of multiple biological processes, including:

    Collagen decline — a natural reduction in structural support fibers

    Elastin fiber fatigue — diminished ability of skin to snap back

    Dynamic motion — repetitive facial expression lines becoming permanent

    Photoaging — UV and visible light accelerating skin thinning and creasing

    Dehydration and barrier fragility — surface dullness and exaggerated lines

    Wrinkles reflect the health and resilience of your deeper dermal architecture.

    What VISIA measures in the Wrinkles category

    Length, number, and depth of etched lines

    Areas most impacted by repetitive movement (e.g., crow’s feet, glabella)

    Where prevention can be targeted before permanent creases form

    What higher wrinkle scores mean

    A higher percentile indicates:

    Stronger collagen integrity

    Better repair and defense pathways

    Youthful structural support

    A lower percentile highlights opportunities to preserve and rebuild.

    How to reduce wrinkles:

    Neuromodulars and tightening procedures

  • Your Skin Age

    An estimate of your skin’s biological age vs your chronological age.

    What it means:

    Your TruSkin Age evaluates how your skin is biologically aging compared to your actual age. It synthesizes your data across multiple categories — pigmentation, wrinkles, texture, vascularity, and UV-related change — to project how youthful your skin appears on a cellular and structural level.

    What it tells us

    This number reflects collagen strength and density, fine line and wrinkle formation, clarity and brightness of complexion, skin barrier function and hydration quality, under-surface sun damage and pigmentation risk, overall resilience to environmental stressors

    A younger TruSkin Age means your skin is aging more slowly than expected. A higher TruSkin Age highlights where we can optimize your routine early, rather than waiting for these changes to become visible.

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