A team of German scientists is trying to understand why astronauts' skin gets thinner while in space. The team is also looking for a remedy for the unusual phenomenon using an advanced imaging technology to do so.

The team led by Professor Karsten Koenig from the Department of Biophotonics and Laser Technology at Saarland University is using high-resolution skin imaging tomography to study the skin cells of several astronauts before and after a trip into space.

The makers of this laser technology said in a statement that the spatial resolution is nearly thousand times higher than that of ultrasonic devices. They said it also has potential to revolutionize diagnoses in hospitals.

Koenig said, "Using femtosecond laser pulses we scan skin and get signals particularly fluorescence, also another signal called second harmonic generation. With these signals we can build up images and get precise look into skin with high resolution".

Some other health issue that astronauts go through while in space includes muscle wastage, reduced bone mass. Scientists said that the imaging technology they are using is similar to a real tissue biopsy providing detailed information to help researchers learn more about the skin layers after spending time in space.

It has been said that so far so far, astronauts Luca Parmitano, Samantha Cristoforetti and Alexander Gerst have been tested. Their skin was analyzed before and after their missions in the ISS.

Cristoforetti was first scanned before traveling to the ISS in November 2014 and was again scanned when she returned to earth in June this year after her record-setting 199-day mission

Scientists said the femtosecond laser pulses were applied to their skin in order to read for signs of fluorescence and harmonic generation.