SET-UP
1. Which batteries?
Two (2) ea high-quality AAA
2. Calibration?
Not needed. Unit is pre-calibrated at the factory and auto-calibrates every time it’s turned on.
OPERATION
1. How much do I press in?
There’s a relatively soft spring on the sensor. Contact the skin and apply just enough pressure to completely push sensor into unit casing.
2. How do I position the sensor against the skin?
Hold it directly onto the skin, perpendicular, making sure the entire sensor is equally contacting the skin. Differences in angle, pressure, and position of the sensor against the skin can all influence the readings.
3. Why do the readings vary in the same place from reading to reading?
There is some variability inherent in the moisture content of skin, moment to moment, hour to hour. Also, the skin may sweat in the test area, and the rate of renewal/uptake may vary from person to person.
And there is a small variability (< 10%) associated with the unit’s electronics, slight drift, etc.
Lastly, the condition of the sensor, how much oil or product buildup is on it, how well it was cleaned, will all have some effect on the readings.
INTERPRETATION OF READINGS
1. Is the scale absolute or relative?
It’s absolute % water. The standard of the percentage value is established from a ratio of moisture included in film of protein used in medical treatments. Water amounts are weighed to determine % content, and the unit is calibrated accordingly.
2. What’s normal? Dry?
Readings are absolute, but they may be interpreted differently, depending on the situation, environment, and other factors.
For most users of this device, they find their clientele to be “normally" hydrated when the reading lies between 30 and 40. Readings below 30 tend to indicate some degree of dryness. Readings above 40 usually indicate some moisturizer product resident on the surface.
Empirical data has been collected from hundreds of people interviewed to know the condition of their skin. A cosmetics lab has compiled the results to validate the readings.
3. What depth of skin is influencing the readings?
80% of the moisture content shown on the readout is influenced by the top 10 microns of the skin, and 90% by the top 200 microns.
4. What if I check out someone’s moisture content, perform some services for them in my spa, and then re-check them only to find that their moisture level dropped?!?
Many skin treatments result in a reduced amount of hydration. This would be a clear indication that the client needed to be further moisturized prior to leaving the spa.
5. How do I know if the sensor is too dirty to yield an accurate reading?
An error code will alert the user that the sensor is too dirty.
CLEANING
1. How do I clean the sensor?
Ideally use only a clean soft dry cloth to clear any debris or oil from the sensor.
If sterilization through alcohol is required, use only a small amount, squeeze out any liquid from the cloth prior to applying it to the sensor, and finish the cleaning with a dry cloth.
Problems arise when the sensor is cleaned with too much liquid, such that some liquid is trapped between the sensor and the film covering the sensor. Always be sure that the sensor is completely dry prior to re-use.
DEFECT SYMPTOMS / POSSIBLE CAUSES
1. No display – Check batteries.
2. Unit displays “0.0” but no reading when placed on skin –
a) Make sure the unit is being pressed perpendicular to the area being checked, i.e., push the sensor straight onto the skin.
b) Make sure the area you are checking is not too sweaty, dirty, wet, or has hair. When there is only a short distance between a wet area (sweaty, etc.) and a dry area where the moisture content is to me measured, the measured value may fluctuate greatly. A large fluctuation may occur even if the position of the sensor is changed slightly on the surface. Therefore, avoid sweaty areas.
3. “EO1” is displayed – Check position of sensor on skin and check that sensor is clean.
4. “EO2” is displayed – Ensure sensor surface is clean and dry.
5. “Lo” is displayed - Replace batteries asap.
6. “tol” is displayed – Checker is in External output mode. Reactive it by depressing the power switch for 5 seconds.
