Non-Invasive Erythema Detection Using Spectral Imaging

Abstract

Erythema, or skin redness, seen after prolonged pressure application is a precursor to pressure ulcers. These occur in people with limited mobility and sensation including the elderly and people with SCI. Erythema is masked by melanin in persons with darkly pigmented skin making it hard to detect. This study addressed the feasibility of using spectral imaging to detect erythema. Erythema was induced in 32 healthy adults of varying skin color and photographed using 12 narrow-band filters. We mathematically combined the images and applied standard image processing techniques to make the erythema stand out. The results suggest that spectral imaging has potential for detecting erythema. Future work will use automatic optimization to quantitatively calculate the best processing method.