HOUSTON — Houston doctors say that sweat could determine if you have bone loss. All this thanks to new research on a patch that tests bone density through the skin.

And this could benefit everyone, from astronauts to athletes.

That's because from the moment of take off, the clock starts ticking on an astronaut’s bone loss.

“On the international space station they lose upwards of 1 percent per month,” University of Houston professor Mark Clarke said.

Floating from one assignment to the next weakens bones.

And if someday astronauts are sent to Mars, the long term assignment would take its toll.

“If they get out of the space ship and they have weak bone, they could potentially injure themselves,” University of Houston researcher Dan O’connor said.

Now researchers at the University of Houston are working on the best way to measure bone loss through sweat. 

The Dexa, or bone density scan, is the gold standard for measuring bone loss. The problem is it would difficult to take a big piece of equipment like that on a space mission.

But sticking a patch on your arm to measure bone loss through sweat would allow the astronauts to take immediate action.

The patch could also help female athletes like University of Houston cross country runner Kelcee Keenan.

“I have had 3 to 4 stress fractures just in college,” Keenan, who runs 60 to 65 miles a week, said.

Extensive workouts can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to bone loss.

Now the sweat patch could help Keenan prevent future injuries.

Doctors also say the applications could help the elderly with osteoporosis by allowing them to find out in days, instead of months, if the treatment is working.