The ensuing pilot investigation sheds new light on characterizing tumoral and non-tumoral human skin mechanical properties that will not only assist the dermatologist’s diagnosis but also could constitute the creation of an Artificial Intelligence database for upcoming research. A modern, non-invasive, and contact-free methodology—UNDERSKIN—was developed, and hinges upon Fourier transform computations that permit the analysis of surface wave dispersion with a specific skin inversion model and viscoelastic model. It yields a detailed look at how particle movements of the medium propagate throughout its near sub-surface, hence a novel knowledge of the mechanical responses of skin tumors. The research results display the tumors’ viscoelastic responses alongside their respective healthy skin outcomes for each skin layer as well as the dermatologist’s touch analysis. Although dermatologists are capable of sensing and having a fair overall assessment of what they are palpating, they are unable heretofore to quantify it and inform where the firmness or softness derives from, which it is necessary to be acquainted with so as to perform an accurate diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, future surgery, and teledermatology.

Exposure to mechanical stimuli such as pressure and stretching prompts the skin to undergo physiological adaptations to accommodate and distribute applied forces, a process known as mechanotransduction. Mechanotherapy, which leverages mechanotransduction, shows significant promise across various medical disciplines. Traditional methods, such as massage and compression therapy, effectively promote skin healing by utilizing this mechanism, although they require direct skin contact. This study introduces a novel contactless modality, Shear Wave Stimulation (SWS), and evaluates its efficacy compared to traditional massage in eliciting responses from human skin and fascia. Fifteen healthy volunteers received SWS, while another fifteen volunteers received massage. Tests of skin mechanical properties revealed significant enhancements in skin shear modulus for both methods, showing an increase of approximately 20%. Additionally, deformation analysis of ultrasound images showed distinct responses of the skin and fascia to the two stimuli. SWS induced extension in the dermis (∼18%), hypodermis (∼16%), and fascia (∼22%) along the X and Y axes. In contrast, massage compressed the skin layers, reducing the dermis by around 15% and the hypodermis by about 8%, while simultaneously stretching the superficial fascia by approximately 8%. The observed extension across the entire skin with SWS highlights its potential as a groundbreaking contactless approach for promoting skin healing. Furthermore, the differing responses in blood flow reaffirm the distinct stimulation modes of SWS and massage. These findings establish a foundation for future innovative skin therapy modalities.

The ensuing pilot investigation sheds new light on characterizing tumoral and non-tumoral human skin mechanical properties that will not only assist the dermatologist’s diagnosis but also could constitute the creation of an Artificial Intelligence database for upcoming research. A modern, non-invasive, and contact-free methodology – UNDERSKIN® – was developed, and hinges upon Fourier transform computations that permit the analysis of surface wave dispersion with a specific skin inversion model and viscoelastic model. It yields a detailed look at how particle movements of the medium propagate throughout its near sub-surface, hence a novel knowledge of the mechanical responses of skin tumors. The research results display the tumors’ viscoelastic responses alongside their respective healthy skin outcomes for each skin layer as well as the dermatologist’s touch analysis. Although dermatologists are capable of sensing and having a fair overall assessment of what they are palpating, they are unable heretofore to quantify it and inform where the firmness or softness derives from, which it is necessary to be acquainted with so as to perform an accurate diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, future surgery, and teledermatology.