Skin color meter and analyzer with advanced technology

SkinColorCatch is a professional use skin colorimeter that measures overall skin color as well as melanin (MI) and erythema (EI) independently. It also provides L*a*b*, hue, chroma, and ITA° values for detailed analysis of skin color.

If you're looking to measure skin gloss as well, see SkinGlossMeter.

SkinColorCatch outputs elanin and erythema indices independently, unlike generic skin color meters or skin tone meters. It is also extremely practical and easy-to-use, and includes ITA° and L*a*b* parameters, making it suitable for advanced skin research and clinical-trial applications.

SkinColorCatch is applied in cosmetic product testing, dermatology, clinical studies, and phototype analysis. It is used to monitor pigmentation changes, erythema reactions, and to evaluate treatment outcomes such as laser, peel, or skincare product effectiveness.

If you're working on measuring skin phototype, see SkinPhotoTyper.

Measuring with a melanin meter and erythema meter in one device helps distinguish between pigmentation and redness. This is essential in dermatology, aesthetic medicine, and cosmetics when evaluating skin conditions or treatment results.

Yes. SkinColorCatch is widely used as a skin color measurement device in dermatology clinics, cosmetic R&D, and academic research. Its portability and calibration check ensure accurate results in both laboratory and in-vivo settings.

SkinColorCatch calculates ITA° automatically, which is widely used in research as an objective method for skin phototype classification.

For dedicated Fitzpatrick-based phototype assessment with automated classification, see SkinPhotoTyper.

SkinColorCatch is a compact colorimeter that measures skin L*, a*, and b* values instantaneously and calculates ITA° automatically. In a prospective clinical study of 789 adults across 33,856 assessments, SkinColorCatch demonstrated strong correlation (ρ > 0.7) with the Konica Minolta CM-700d — a laboratory-grade reference spectrophotometer. The ITA° distributions from both devices were statistically indistinguishable in 262 participants measured by both instruments. Intradevice repeatability was excellent, with a mean ITA° variation of just 1.0° (SD 1.8°) across triplicate forehead measurements.

References: Lipnick MS, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2026;194(1):135 | Lipnick MS, et al. medRxiv. 2025.

Yes. SkinColorCatch has been used and validated across multiple peer-reviewed publications spanning dermatology, clinical research, and medical device development. Key validation findings include: strong correlation with reference spectrophotometry for ITA° and L* (ρ > 0.7, n=789); excellent melanin index correlation with advanced optoacoustic imaging (r=0.86, p<0.0001 across Fitzpatrick types II–V); significant erythema index correlation with objective eczema severity scores (ρ=0.295, p=0.021, n=80); and reliable skin tone quantification across diverse populations (n=35).

References: Lipnick MS, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2026;194(1):135 | Hon KL, et al. J Dermatolog Treat. 2021 | Optoacoustic mesoscopy study (in database) | Jordan K, et al. Sci Rep. 2025

The FDA has referenced ISO 24444 methodology in its proposed regulatory framework for OTC sunscreen products (2019 Proposed Rule, 21 CFR Part 201/310/352). Because ISO 24444 specifies ITA°-based subject selection, using an instrument that measures ITA° accurately and reproducibly — such as SkinColorCatch — is consistent with this FDA-referenced framework. SkinColorCatch is not an FDA-cleared device (clearance is not required for cosmetic research instruments), but its measurement methodology is aligned with the objective, reproducible pigmentation assessment that both ISO 24444 and FDA guidance emphasize.

References: FDA. Proposed Rule: Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use. 84 Fed. Reg. 6204 (Feb. 26, 2019) | ISO 24444:2019.

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ISO 24444 is the internationally recognized standard for in vivo SPF testing of sunscreen products. Both the 2010 and 2019 editions specify ITA°-based thresholds for selecting test subjects by skin pigmentation — replacing the less precise Fitzpatrick classification used in earlier protocols. Instruments must provide objective, reproducible ITA° values to meet these subject-selection criteria. SkinColorCatch is designed for exactly this application.

References: ISO 24444:2019. Cosmetics — Sun protection test methods — In vivo determination of the sun protection factor (SPF).

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The Fitzpatrick scale was developed for clinical sun-reactivity counselling, not for precision measurement. It relies on observer judgment, produces categorical rather than continuous data, and has well-documented variability between raters and across ethnicities. ITA° is instrument-based, continuous, and fully reproducible. A 2026 study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that objective ITA° measurement with SkinColorCatch avoided the systematic over- and under-estimation of skin diversity seen with subjective scales and race-based categories — supporting its use wherever equitable and reproducible subject characterization is required.

References: Lipnick MS, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2026;194(1):135 | Hon KL, et al. J Dermatolog Treat. 2021.

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The Individual Typology Angle (ITA°) is a colorimetric parameter calculated from L* (lightness) and b* (yellow–blue axis) values measured by a colorimeter. It provides a continuous, objective scale of skin pigmentation - from very light to dark - replacing category-based systems with a single reproducible number. ITA° is widely adopted in dermatology research, sunscreen testing, and clinical trials precisely because it captures true pigmentation variability within and across populations.

References: Chardon A, et al. Int J Cosm Sci. 1991 | Lipnick MS, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2026;194(1):135.

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