A novel method for visualising and quantifying through-plane skin layer deformations

► A novel imaging-based method for quantifying skin layer deformations is presented. ► Experimental data provided insights into through-plane shear strain profiles of full thickness skin. ► Study revealed inhomogeneous skin deformation, characterised by low (epidermis) and high shear strain regimes (dermis). ► Shear moduli of the epidermis are up to 4 times higher than those in the dermis. ► Local skin strains can be more than two times higher than global strains.