Rebecca's research is especially significant for people who require prosthetic limbs as a high percentage of users’ report experiencing high levels of discomfort on a daily basis. Cuts, abrasions, and blisters occur on the surface of the skin as a result of a variety of factors. These occur due to damage in the skin tissue; however, it is not well understood how this damage affects the skin cells.
Additionally, skin is a multi-layered structure and so it is important to understand how different forms of damage affects the different layers. This research could allow for a greater understanding of how this damage occurs at macro- and micro-scale and can, in turn, allow for the introduction of improved preventative measures in an attempt to mitigate pain and discomfort.