A treatment plan built on guesswork is just guesswork. Alma IQ skin analysis uses multi-spectral imaging to measure what's happening beneath the surface of your skin — pigmentation, redness, texture, pore size, and sun damage — so every recommendation we make is grounded in data, not a visual impression.
What Alma IQ Measures
Alma IQ captures six distinct skin parameters using multi-spectral light technology. Each one is measured objectively, scored, and compared to a baseline so we can track how your skin changes over time.
- Pigmentation: Detects uneven melanin distribution, including sun spots and early melasma not yet visible to the naked eye.
- Redness: Maps vascular activity and diffuse redness associated with rosacea, sensitivity, or post-inflammatory response.
- Texture: Quantifies surface irregularity from acne scarring, enlarged pores, or cumulative sun exposure.
- Pores: Measures pore size and distribution across the treatment zone.
- Sun damage: Identifies UV-induced changes in the deeper layers of the skin before they fully surface.
- Wrinkles and fine lines: Scores depth and density to establish a baseline before any injectable or resurfacing treatment begins.
Every scan produces a report you can see and keep. We review it with you before any treatment is discussed.
Why We Scan Before We Plan
Most med spas assess your skin the same way a stranger would — by looking at it. That approach misses subsurface damage, underestimates redness that reads as normal coloring, and produces treatment recommendations that reflect what the provider sees rather than what the skin actually needs.
Alma IQ changes that sequence. We scan first, read the data, and then build a treatment plan around what the imaging shows. If the scan reveals that your primary concern is UV-driven pigmentation sitting below the surface, we address that specifically. If it shows vascular activity driving redness rather than pigmentation, the treatment path is different. The scan determines the plan — not the other way around.
This also means we have an objective record of where your skin started. Every follow-up scan measures the same parameters against your personal baseline, so progress is documented rather than estimated.
How the Scan Works
Step 1: Preparation
You arrive with a clean face — no makeup, no sunscreen. The scan takes approximately five minutes and involves no contact with the skin.
Step 2: Multi-Spectral Imaging
The Alma IQ device captures images of your skin under different light wavelengths. Each wavelength reveals a different layer and type of skin characteristic. The system processes the images and scores each parameter automatically.
Step 3: Results Review with Dr. Erdman
Dr. Erdman reviews your scan results with you directly. She explains what each score means, which concerns are most significant, and which treatment options — or combination of options — are appropriate given what the imaging shows.
Step 4: Treatment Plan
If you choose to move forward, your treatment plan is written from the scan data. If a Universkin custom serum is appropriate, it is prescribed directly off the results. Follow-up scans track your progress at intervals that match your treatment timeline.
Alma IQ and Universkin: From Scan to Custom Serum
One of the more direct applications of Alma IQ is its integration with Universkin, a serum system that compounds active ingredients per patient based on specific skin findings. When your scan identifies measurable pigmentation, redness, or texture concerns, Dr. Erdman uses those results to prescribe a serum formulated for your skin — not a product selected from a shelf.
Universkin serums contain no preservatives and carry a 90-day shelf life. Each formulation is built around your scan data and adjusted if a follow-up scan shows your skin has responded and the targets have shifted.
Learn more about how we build your personalized serum on the Universkin custom serums page.
Who Benefits Most from an Alma IQ Scan
Alma IQ is useful across a wide range of skin concerns, but it is particularly valuable in four situations.
- Before a first treatment: If you are new to medical aesthetics and want to understand your skin before committing to anything, the scan gives you an objective starting point and takes the guesswork out of the first conversation.
- Mixed or unclear concerns: If you have multiple concerns — redness, uneven tone, texture — and are unsure which to address first or whether they are related, the scan separates them and prioritizes by severity.
- Tracking treatment progress: If you are already in a treatment plan and want to measure whether it is working, follow-up scans provide documentation that a mirror cannot.
- Skin that has been treated elsewhere without results: If you have had treatments at another provider and are not seeing improvement, the scan often reveals why — either the wrong concern was targeted or the right concern was undertreated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alma IQ Skin Analysis
Start with a Scan, Not a Guess
If you are trying to decide what your skin needs — or whether what you have been doing is working — the Alma IQ scan is the most direct way to find out. Book a consultation and we will review your results with you before any treatment is recommended.
Or text us directly at 216-202-4261. Dr. Erdman answers personally.
Your Questions Answered
Is the Alma IQ scan painful or invasive?
No. The device does not touch your skin. It captures images using multi-spectral light, which is not felt. The scan takes approximately five minutes and requires no recovery time.Do I need to book a separate appointment for the scan?
The scan can be incorporated into a consultation appointment. If you are coming in to discuss a treatment plan, we recommend scheduling a consultation so we have time to review the results together and answer your questions before any decisions are made.Can Alma IQ detect skin cancer?
No. Alma IQ is a cosmetic skin analysis tool designed to measure aesthetic parameters — pigmentation, redness, texture, pores, and sun damage. It is not a diagnostic tool for skin cancer or any medical condition. If you have concerns about a lesion or mole, please see a dermatologist.How often should I get a follow-up scan?
It depends on what you are treating. For most treatment plans, a follow-up scan at three to six months gives enough time for measurable change to register. Dr. Erdman will recommend a follow-up interval that matches your specific plan.Is the Alma IQ scan included in the cost of a treatment, or is it billed separately?
Pricing is discussed during your consultation. Contact us directly to ask about current scan pricing and how it applies to your first visit.What is multi-spectral imaging and how is it different from a regular photo?
A standard photograph captures what is visible under white light. Multi-spectral imaging captures the same area under multiple wavelengths, each of which penetrates the skin to a different depth and reveals a different type of tissue characteristic. This allows Alma IQ to detect pigmentation and vascular changes that are not yet visible on the surface.
