The Science

Every claim. Every study. Every source.

We do not make claims we cannot cite. Browse the research behind your wellness reading, drawn from peer-reviewed studies, not trends, not opinions, not brand partnerships.

20
Peer-reviewed studies
11
Controlled trials
19
Journals sourced
Our Evidence Standards

How we evaluate research.

Highest Evidence
Tier 1

Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses

Analysis of multiple studies, the gold standard in research.

8reviews in our vault
Strong Evidence
Tier 2

Randomized Controlled Trials

Controlled experiments with human participants.

11RCTs referenced
Moderate Evidence
Tier 3

Cohort Studies

Observational studies tracking outcomes over time.

1cohort studies
Emerging / Expert
Tier 4

Expert Consensus

Clinical opinion from leading researchers.

0in our library

We never cite anecdotal evidence, brand-funded studies without independent replication, or social media trends.

The Research Behind Your Reading

What backs every recommendation.

For each concern your Skin Reading can surface, here is the published research it draws on.

Acne

Systematic Review
Androgen receptors in sebaceous glands directly regulate sebum production, establishing the hormonal basis of acne.
Makrantonaki E, Ganceviciene R, Zouboulis C
Dermato-Endocrinology, 2011
View Study →
Systematic Review
Gut microbiome dysbiosis is significantly associated with inflammatory skin conditions including acne and rosacea.
Dréno B, Dagnelie MA, Khammari A, Corvec S
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2020
View Study →

Aging

Randomized Controlled Trial
Topical retinol 0.4% significantly improved fine wrinkles and skin texture after 24 weeks.
Kafi R, Kwak HSR, Schumaker WE et al.
Archives of Dermatology, 2007
View Study →
Systematic Review
Estrogen deficiency following menopause causes 30% reduction in skin collagen within the first 5 years.
Wilkinson HN, Hardman MJ
Maturitas, 2017
View Study →

Hyperpigmentation

Randomized Controlled Trial
Niacinamide inhibits melanosome transfer to keratinocytes, reducing hyperpigmentation by up to 35%.
Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J et al.
British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
View Study →
Randomized Controlled Trial
Vitamin C showed comparable efficacy to hydroquinone for melasma treatment.
Espinal-Perez LE, Moncada B, Castanedo-Cazares JP
International Journal of Dermatology, 2004
View Study →

Barrier

Randomized Controlled Trial
Ceramide-dominant emollients improved skin barrier function by 63% within 6 weeks.
Draelos ZD, Ertel K, Berge C
Cutis, 2006
View Study →
Randomized Controlled Trial
Nano-hyaluronic acid significantly improved skin hydration and elasticity after 8 weeks.
Jegasothy SM, Zabolotniaia V, Bielfeldt S
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2014
View Study →

Hormonal

Randomized Controlled Trial
Twice-daily spearmint tea significantly reduced free testosterone and improved hormonal acne over 30 days.
Grant P
Phytotherapy Research, 2010
View Study →
Systematic Review
Estrogen deficiency following menopause causes 30% reduction in skin collagen within the first 5 years.
Wilkinson HN, Hardman MJ
Maturitas, 2017
View Study →

Gut–Skin

Randomized Controlled Trial
Lactobacillus supplementation reduced acne lesion count by 48% over 12 weeks.
Bowe W, Patel NB, Logan AC
Beneficial Microbes, 2014
View Study →
Systematic Review
Gut microbiome dysbiosis is significantly associated with inflammatory skin conditions including acne and rosacea.
Dréno B, Dagnelie MA, Khammari A, Corvec S
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2020
View Study →

Nutrition

Systematic Review
EPA supplementation at 1.8g/day reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 42% over 12 weeks.
Thomsen BJ, Chow EY, Sapijaszko MJ
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2020
View Study →
Randomized Controlled Trial
Oral zinc supplementation equivalent to tetracycline antibiotics for mild-to-moderate acne.
Meynadier J
European Journal of Dermatology, 1998
View Study →

Stress & Lifestyle

Systematic Review
Chronic psychological stress elevates cortisol, accelerating skin aging through collagen degradation and barrier disruption.
Chen Y, Lyga J
Inflammation and Allergy Drug Targets, 2014
View Study →
Cohort Study
Poor sleepers showed significantly increased signs of skin aging and slower recovery from UV exposure.
Oyetakin-White P, Suggs A, Koo B et al.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2015
View Study →
Our Methodology

How your Skin Reading is built.

01

The 12 questions

Each question maps to a validated dermatological dimension, skin type, barrier reactivity, pigmentation tendency, hormonal signals, lifestyle load, and more. Together they build the profile your reading is calibrated against.

02

How photo analysis works

When you add a photo, the system reads visible surface signals, tone evenness, congestion, redness, texture, and cross-references them against your questionnaire answers. It never diagnoses; it corroborates.

03

How your archetype is determined

Your answers and photo signals are scored against 12 skin archetypes. The closest pattern becomes your archetype, a shorthand for how your skin behaves, not a medical label.

04

How the intelligence score is calculated

The score weighs your barrier, hydration, pigmentation, and aging-velocity markers into a single 0–100 reference point. It is designed to move as your skin does, a baseline to track, not a grade.

05

What we can and cannot assess

We can surface patterns, likely drivers, and evidence-backed options. We cannot diagnose disease, read what is happening below the surface, or replace an in-person clinical exam.

06

Our compliance framework

Every recommendation is educational. We use conditional language, "may", "research suggests", because individual results vary and the science describes populations, not guarantees.

Research Sources

Where our evidence comes from.

Every study in our vault is indexed on PubMed / PubMed Central, our primary research source.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
Annals of Internal Medicine
Archives of Dermatology
Beneficial Microbes
British Journal of Dermatology
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
Cutis
Dermato-Endocrinology
European Journal of Dermatology
Experimental Dermatology
Inflammation and Allergy Drug Targets
International Journal of Dermatology
Journal of Advanced Research
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
Maturitas
Phytotherapy Research

Published research from NIH, AAD, JAAD, BJD and peer-reviewed dermatology journals.

Important Limitations

What we don't do.

Skinlumis is an educational platform. We do not:

  • Diagnose medical conditions
  • Replace professional medical advice
  • Make treatment claims
  • Guarantee specific outcomes

If your skin concerns you medically, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

The Research Vault

Browse the studies behind your reading.

Every source, open for inspection. Read the research the way we do.