Consultation & history
We review your concerns, medical and skincare history, current routine and the outcomes you want to understand or track.
Diagnostics · Skin insights
Santi Skin Lab — Objective Analysis for Clearer Decisions
A clinician-led skin assessment combining standardised imaging, objective measurements and your history to understand what your skin needs — and to track what actually changes over time.
Clinic-standard imaging
Objective measurements
Ultrasound dermal imaging
Personalised plan
Follow-up & tracking
Measurements guide care and are not a medical diagnosis.
Active infection, open wounds or undiagnosed lesions may need
medical assessment first.
Baseline
Comparable images and measurements
Context
Products, sleep, stress and environment
Plan
Clear routine, frequency and sequencing
Recheck
Often 6–12 weeks during active change
See how Santi Skin Lab works
A short introduction to the imaging and measurement approach used to create a more objective baseline for treatment and skincare decisions.
What we can measure and track
Skin is complex. Individual readings are most useful when interpreted together rather than in isolation.
Collagen & Dermal Ultrasound
High-frequency ultrasound can image the collagen-rich dermis and track characteristics including dermal thickness and echogenicity.
Explore collagen & ultrasound →Elasticity & Firmness
Track elastic recoil and mechanical changes in the skin over time.
Explore elasticity →Hydration
Measure surface hydration at standardised sites.
Explore hydration →TEWL / Barrier
Assess transepidermal water loss and barrier efficiency.
Explore TEWL →Sebum / Oil Balance
Map oil production rather than relying on feel alone.
Explore sebum →Skin Colour & Tone
Track pigmentation and tone under standardised conditions.
Explore skin colour →AGEs / Glycation
Understand glycation as one factor in visible skin ageing.
Explore glycation →Balanced Skin pH
Understand why acid-mantle balance matters for comfort, barrier function and routine choice.
Explore skin pH →We can look beneath the skin, too
Photography tells us what is happening at the surface. High-frequency ultrasound gives us another perspective by allowing us to examine characteristics of the dermis beneath it.
High-frequency ultrasound
Objective assessment of the collagen-rich dermis
Collagen is predominantly located beneath the visible surface of the skin within the dermis. High-frequency ultrasound allows us to image this layer non-invasively and quantify characteristics such as dermal thickness and echogenicity.
It does not literally count individual collagen fibres. Instead, it provides objective information about the collagen-rich dermal matrix and allows comparable measurements to be repeated over time.
This can be particularly useful when tracking skincare efficacy or changes following treatments where dermal remodelling is part of the treatment aim.
How Santi measures the collagen-rich dermis →
What Skin Lab does
Measurement is useful only when it changes what you do
Skin Lab combines imaging and objective readings with products, sleep, stress, environment, previous treatment and tolerance.
The aim is not to generate impressive-looking numbers. It is to decide what deserves attention, what can be left alone and how to sequence products or treatments intelligently.
How a Skin Lab assessment runs
Imaging & measurements
Standardised photography and selected objective measurements create a baseline. Ultrasound may also be used where dermal assessment is relevant.
Plan & next steps
You leave with a practical plan and written summary, including what to change, what to prioritise and when it may be useful to measure again.
How the measurements fit together
Dermis & collagen
High-frequency ultrasound allows characteristics of the collagen-rich dermis to be imaged and compared over time.
Hydration & barrier
Hydration readings and TEWL help distinguish low water content from inefficient barrier control.
Sebum & shine
Sebum measurements help clarify whether oil imbalance is localised or widespread.
UV & pigmentation
Standardised and UV photography can reveal sun-exposure patterns and pigment clusters.
Redness & sensitivity
Controlled lighting allows more useful comparison of erythema and flare patterns.
Elasticity & firmness
Mechanical measurements provide another way to track changes in skin behaviour and recoil over time.
Texture & pores
Image-derived indices can help track surface change after skincare or treatment.
Lifestyle context
Product use, sleep, stress and environment are recorded where relevant because measurements make more sense when interpreted in context.
Who it is for
Useful for persistent concerns — with clear boundaries
A good fit for:
- Persistent pigmentation, redness, dryness or breakouts where you want measurable change
- Understanding hydration, oil production or barrier function rather than guessing
- Pre/post-treatment tracking for peels, lasers, injectables or regenerative plans
- Tracking changes within the dermis where ultrasound is appropriate
- Routine overload — too many products and no clear sense of what is helping
- Objective follow-up rather than subjective impressions alone
We will redirect when appropriate:
- Active infection or open wounds
- Undiagnosed or changing skin lesions
- Severe acute reactions
- Concerns requiring dermatology or other medical assessment first
A baseline you can actually use
Baseline images
Standardised photographs for like-for-like follow-up.
Metrics summary
A simple snapshot of the measurements relevant to your skin and concerns.
Personalised routine
Morning and evening steps, product priorities and tolerability guidance.
Next steps
When to change products, consider treatment or repeat your measurements.
For brands & clinics
Product efficacy & claims validation
Skin Lab can also support structured measurement for skincare, ingestibles and devices using objective metrics and repeatable protocols.
Depending on the question being investigated, this can combine surface imaging with measurements such as hydration, TEWL, elasticity and high-frequency ultrasound of the dermis.
Act on your Skin Lab plan
Chemical Peels
For selected pigmentation, congestion and texture concerns.
Explore peels →Microneedling / RF
Collagen-focused treatment for selected texture and skin-quality concerns.
Explore microneedling →Laser Treatments
IPL, vascular laser and resurfacing for pigmentation, redness and texture.
Explore Laser Clinic →Polynucleotides
Regenerative skin-quality treatment for selected delicate or crepey areas.
Explore polynucleotides →Skin Lab FAQs
How much does a Santi Skin Lab assessment cost?
A comprehensive Santi Skin Lab assessment costs £160 and typically takes 45–60 minutes. The measurements used are selected according to your skin and the questions we are trying to answer.
What does the £160 Skin Lab assessment include?
Your session includes consultation and history, standardised imaging, relevant objective skin measurements and interpretation of the findings, followed by practical recommendations and a written plan. The exact measurements used depend on your concerns and what is clinically useful.
Can you measure collagen?
Santi Skin Lab uses high-frequency ultrasound to image the dermis and assess characteristics such as dermal thickness and echogenicity. Because collagen is a major structural component of the dermis, this provides objective information about the collagen-rich dermal matrix. Ultrasound does not literally count individual collagen fibres.
Do I need to stop using my products beforehand?
We advise during booking. For a more reliable baseline, we may ask you to pause strong exfoliants or retinoids briefly and avoid heavy occlusive products immediately before measurement.
Is Skin Lab suitable for sensitive skin?
Imaging and measurements are non-invasive. If there is active irritation, open skin or a significant flare, some measurements may be delayed.
How often should I follow up?
Many clients recheck at around 6–12 weeks when actively changing a routine or treatment plan, then less often once stable. The most useful interval depends on what is being measured.
Can Skin Lab track whether a treatment or skincare product is working?
Yes. Establishing baseline measurements before an intervention and repeating comparable measurements afterwards can provide more objective evidence of change than photographs or subjective impressions alone. Interpretation still depends on the protocol, timing and what is being measured.
Will I get a written plan?
Yes — you will receive a summary of key findings and clear next steps for skincare and follow-up.
Is Skin Lab a medical diagnosis?
No. Skin Lab measurements help guide care and track change but do not replace medical diagnosis. Where a concern requires dermatological or other medical assessment, we will advise you.
Santi Skin Lab · South Kensington
Ready to get clarity?
Book a comprehensive Skin Lab assessment and leave with a clearer baseline, a practical plan and objective markers that can be tracked over time.
£160
45–60 minute comprehensive assessment
© Santi London ·
Privacy Policy
·
Terms