What VISIA Taught Me About Skin Health: A Deep Dive Into My Dermatology Research Journey
If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that your skin knows way more than you think it does.
For my independent VISIA skin-analysis research project, I spent weeks studying real skin data, talking to dermatologists, scanning classmates, and learning just how much the sun can impact us even when we think we’re “pretty good” about sunscreen (most of us aren’t).
Shadowing at United Dermatology Associates
Before I even touched the VISIA machine, I got to shadow at United Dermatology, where I saw firsthand just how serious skin health is. In just a few hours I watched multiple patients come in for skin cancer removals, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Seeing how common these procedures were was honestly shocking.
One of the dermatologists told me,
“Most of these could’ve been prevented with consistent sunscreen use starting early in life.”
That stuck with me.
The Truth About Sunscreen Use and Why It Matters
National research shows that only about 13–20% of Americans wear sunscreen daily, and fewer than 30% use enough to actually protect their skin. Even athletes, who are outside constantly, tend to forget it.
UV radiation is responsible for up to 90% of visible skin aging and is the #1 cause of skin cancers. So when people skip sunscreen, the consequences show up on their VISIA scans.
What VISIA Actually Does
The VISIA Skin Analysis Machine does wonders! It captures high-resolution images and breaks down your skin into measurable categories like:
• UV spots
• Brown spots & hyperpigmentation
• Red areas & inflammation
• Wrinkles & fine lines
• Porphyrins (bacteria)
• Texture & pore size
• Overall percentile score compared to your age group
It basically reveals everything happening under the surface of your skin and the stuff you can’t see in a mirror but affects long-term skin health.
Testing My Classmates & Teammates
For the research portion, I brought the VISIA into real life and asked my classmates, friends, and teammates to participate. Most of them agreed… confidently… until they saw their results.
After each scan, I gifted everyone a mini EltaMD sunscreen. We also did a pre- and post-survey to measure knowledge.
Before VISIA
• Most people rated their skin-health knowledge at 3 or below out of 5
• Over half admitted they “rarely” or “never” wore sunscreen unless playing sports
• Almost no one knew what UV damage actually looked like
After VISIA
• The majority rated themselves a 4 or 5 out of 5
• Almost everyone said they were going to wear sunscreen daily
• Several said they were planning to make their parents buy EltaMD because of the results
What I Learned
This project showed me how powerful education + technology can be. People don’t ignore sunscreen because they don’t care. They ignore it because they can’t see the consequences.
But VISIA made the invisible visible.
And once you see the UV damage, the inflammation, and the early aging signs… you can’t unsee it.
Final Thoughts
My biggest takeaway? Skin health isn’t just cosmetic. It’s medical. It’s preventative. It’s lifelong.
Seeing real skin cancer removals at United Dermatology and then watching my own friends realize the importance of sunscreen reminded me exactly why I want to work in dermatology one day.
And if this project convinced even one person to wear SPF every morning, then it was worth it.
