Evaluating health status of skin using biomarkers and physical sensors
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the health status of skin using biomarkers and physical sensors
IRAS ID
279757
Contact name
Nkemjika Abiakam
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 20 days
Research summary
The project focuses on evaluating the health of skin and assessing measures which could indicate early signs of skin damage. During daily living, the skin can be exposed to various insults including forces from sitting or lying and moisture from sweat or incontinence. The skin remains healthy through regular cleaning and movements to remove loads from the skin surface. However,in some individuals when the skin is exposed to prolonged loads or moisture it can become damaged. This can take the form of wounds including pressure ulcers (PUs), diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and incontinence associated dermatitis (IAD). Prior to these wounds forming, the skin and underlying soft tissues will undergo a number of physiological changes, for example it will become inflamed. This study aims to characterise these changes in the skin using non-invasive measures of tissue viability including biophysical sensing and sampling fluids from the skin surface of individuals, who manifest or are at high risk of acquiring skin conditions (PUs, DFUs, IAD). The research will contribute to a wider European Union funded project to create methods of detecting skin damage before wounds form.
The cohorts of participants will be recruited from the University Hospital Southampton and community care settings.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0440
Date of REC Opinion
23 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion