Instrumental evaluation of cutaneous hydration (original) (raw)
1995, Clinics in Dermatology
fl kin bioengineering is a rapidly growing field. The need for objective data, not biased by subjective assessment, discerned noninvasively has stimulated engineers and physicists to develop instruments capable of reliably monitoring some parameters of skin function useful in evaluating, understanding, and quantifying pathophysiologic skin mechanisms. Although some researchers still reject the valuable data obtained noninvasively in vivo, trusting only subjective and visual judgments, the usefulness of bioengineering tools in the assessment of skin function has been increasingly documented.'-* Objective bioengineering techniques may provide important information concerning skin diseases, but also support the investigator in the evaluation of the "nonvisible" or "clinically nonquantifiable" pathology, such as uninvolved healthy skin in patients affected by various dermatoses and/or "dry skin." The measurement of skin hydration has gained considerable interest in recent years, as water content of the stratum corneum influences various physical characteristics of the skin such as barrier function, drug penetration, and mechanical properties. Skin hydration can be measured directly by means of capacitance, conductance, and impedance measurements. Indirect quantification of stratum corneum water content can be achieved by recordings of transepidermal water loss and evaluation of mechanical properties. Other techniques available are spectroscopy (Fourier transform) and magnetic resonance imaging.
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