The present invention provides non-invasive, in vivo, DISC-type methods of evaluating structural changes in skin due to a variety of exogenous or endogenous factors. It is possible to develop quantitative and qualitative characterizations of skin. For example, the skin may be characterized based on its structural age rather than its chronological age. Based on the structural age and type of an individual's skin, cosmetic, dermatologic, medicinal or manipulative treatment may be customized. The method is based, in part, on quantification of discontinuities that arise in the skin during normal facial expression. The methods provide for evaluating changes in human skin response that occur over a short term (one day) or long term (one or more years). The methods provide for evaluating the skin's response to cosmetic, dermatologic or medicinal treatment or to any other factor alleged to affect the skin.
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