Breathable, wearable skin analyzer for reliable long-term monitoring of skin barrier function and individual environmental health impacts

Insic Hong, Daseul Lim, Dongjin Kim, Myungrae Hong, Sanghun Kang, Kyungbin Ji, Taeuk Oh, Suhyeon Hwang, Yeonwook Roh, Dohyeon Gong, Gibeom Kwon, Taewi Kim, Chaewan Im, Eunyoung Kim, Jingoo Lee, Seongyeon Kim, Juil Kim, Seunghyun Kim, Kyungmin Shim, Jungho Lee, Sungchul Seo (), Je-Sung Koh (), Seungyong Han () and Daeshik Kang ()
Additional contact information
Insic Hong: Ajou University
Daseul Lim: Ajou University
Dongjin Kim: Ajou University
Myungrae Hong: Ajou University
Sanghun Kang: Ajou University
Kyungbin Ji: Ajou University
Taeuk Oh: Ajou University
Suhyeon Hwang: Ajou University
Yeonwook Roh: Ajou University
Dohyeon Gong: Ajou University
Gibeom Kwon: Ajou University
Taewi Kim: Ajou University
Chaewan Im: Ajou University
Eunyoung Kim: Ajou University
Jingoo Lee: Ajou University
Seongyeon Kim: Ajou University
Juil Kim: Ajou University
Seunghyun Kim: Korea University College of Medicine
Kyungmin Shim: Seokyeong University
Jungho Lee: Ajou University
Sungchul Seo: Seokyeong University
Je-Sung Koh: Ajou University
Seungyong Han: Ajou University
Daeshik Kang: Ajou University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Monitoring skin health through parameters like skin hydration (SH) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is vital for diagnosing skin conditions and identifying disease factors. Conventional devices and survey-based methods often fail to deliver accurate diagnoses due to circadian rhythms of skin health data, limited measurement frequency, and patient subjectivity. Previous research has shown that prolonged device usage also causes sweat accumulation, compromising reliable monitoring. Here, we present a breathable skin health analyzer (BSA), a wearable device designed for prolonged use, capable of accurate, long-term measurement of SH and TEWL. The BSA addresses considerable obstacles in skin health monitoring by employing a breathable chamber and a bistable actuator that ensures both ventilation and consistent sensor contact with the skin. Validated through a 28-day clinical trial, the BSA and data processing algorithms demonstrated their effectiveness in providing reliable data by analyzing the correlation between particulate matter exposure and the skin barrier health. These results not only highlight the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases but also show the possibility of contributing to individual environmental health impact assessments and translational studies.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64207-2

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