Melatone Diagnostic Matrix · v0.1 · Internal aid

Skin profile engine

MST and Roberts classification decision-support. Anonymous, session-only, nothing stored or transmitted. For clinician review.

Internal decision-support reference. Not a regulated medical device. Not a diagnosis. All clinical determinations remain with the practitioner conducting in-person assessment.

1Skin tone

Match the swatch to the inner forearm in natural daylight. Monk Skin Tone Scale, 10 shades.

No tone selected.

2Reactivity

Four questions on sun reaction, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, scarring propensity, and active inflammation.

Sun reaction after 30 minutes of direct summer sun, no SPF.

Proxy for Fitzpatrick phototype.

Always burns, never tans Usually burns, tans minimally Sometimes burns, tans gradually Burns minimally, tans well Rarely burns, tans deeply Never burns

After a spot, scratch, or insect bite heals, what mark is left behind?

Roberts hyperpigmentation scale, 0 to 4.

Skin returns to normal within a week Pink or red mark for two to four weeks, then fades Brown mark lingers one to three months Brown mark lingers three to twelve months Permanent dark patch

Raised, lumpy scars (keloid or hypertrophic) from any past wound, piercing, or surgery?

Roberts scarring scale, 0 to 4.

Never Once, mild, resolved Occasionally in higher-tension areas (chest, back) Multiple sites, persistent Frequent, or family history of keloids

Active inflammation today: acne flare, eczema, rosacea, or any procedure within four weeks?

None Mild, occasional spots Moderate, ongoing Active flare or recent procedure

Peer-reviewed references

Monk E. The Monk Skin Tone Scale. Public release 2022. Referenced in FDA pulse-oximeter clinical evaluation guidance for skin pigmentation diversity standards.
Roberts WE. The Roberts Skin Type Classification System. J Drugs Dermatol 2008;7(5):452-6. PMID 18505137.
Davis EC, Callender VD. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: a review of the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment options in skin of color. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2010;3(7):20-31. PMID 20725554.
Alexis AF. Lasers and light-based therapies in ethnic skin: treatment options and recommendations for Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI. Br J Dermatol 2013;169 Suppl 3:91-7. PMID 24098906.
Polder KD, Bruce S. Treatment of melasma using a novel 1,927-nm fractional thulium fiber laser. Dermatol Surg 2012;38(2):199-206. PMID 22093148.
Battle EF, Hobbs LM. Laser-assisted hair removal for darker skin types. Dermatol Ther 2004;17(2):177-83. PMID 15113285.
Wu DC, Goldman MP, Wat H, Chan HHL. A systematic review of picosecond laser in dermatology: evidence and recommendations. Lasers Surg Med 2021;53(1):9-49. DOI 10.1002/lsm.23244.
Sarkar R, Bansal S, Garg VK. Chemical peels for melasma in dark-skinned patients. J Cutan Aesthet Surg 2012;5(4):247-53. PMID 23378708.
Cavallini M, Papagni M. Long-chain polynucleotides in regenerative aesthetic medicine. J Drugs Dermatol 2021;20(3 Suppl):s31-s35.
Alster TS, Graham PM. Microneedling: a review and practical guide. Dermatol Surg 2018;44(3):397-404. PMID 29481436.
Halder RM, Richards GM. Topical agents used in the management of hyperpigmentation. Skin Therapy Lett 2004;9(6):1-3. PMID 15334279.
Grimes PE. The safety and efficacy of salicylic acid chemical peels in darker racial-ethnic groups. Dermatol Surg 1999;25(1):18-22. PMID 9935087.

Scope and limits. This engine is an internal clinical reference and education aid. It does not constitute a medical diagnosis, does not replace in-person clinical assessment, and is not a regulated medical device. All treatment selections remain the responsibility of the registered practitioner. Anonymous inputs are held in browser session only and are discarded on close or refresh. Melatone Skin Clinic Ltd, company 16794829, registered office 128 City Road, London EC1V 2NX.