PERRY XIAO*, CHRISTOS BONTOZOGLOU
*Corresponding Author
School of Engineering, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road,
London SE1 0AA, United Kingdom

Abstract

We present our latest study on in-vivo hair and nail water content measurements by using capacitive contact imaging. Previous studies showed that capacitive contact imaging based fingerprint sensors, originally designed for biometric applications, can be used for skin hydration imaging, skin surface analysis, 3D skin surface profiles, skin micro-relief as well as solvent penetration measurements. In this study, we have found it can also be used for in-vivo hair and nail water content measurements, despite the low water content in hair and nail. The results show that capacitive contact imaging can effectively differentiate different hairs from different people, normal hair from wet hair, and water content changes in nails.

INTRODUCTION

Capacitive contact imaging based fingerprint sensors, originally designed for biometric applications, has demonstrated its capabilities for skin hydration imaging, skin surface analysis, 3D skin surface profiles, skin micro-relief as well as solvent penetration measurements in previous studies (1-4). In this study, we have found it can also be used for in-vivo human hair and nail water content measurements. Human hair and nail are skin appendages which have huge cosmetic importance (5-7). The water in human hair and nail plays a key role in their cosmetic properties. Barba et al studied the water content in hair and nail, and investigated how water content changes in damaged hair and nail (8). Jablecka et al studied the dielectric properties of diabetic and healthy human fingernails, indicate that the dielectric measurements of ... ...