In vivo skin characterization by confocal Raman microspectroscopy

Abstract

Various areas of skin research depend on detailed knowledge of the molecular composition of skin and molecular structure of skin constituents. On a microscopic scale the skin is a highly heterogeneous tissue. Molecular composition and structure vary tremendously, depending on depth and location on the body, and may be affected by skin disorders and environmental factors such as sun exposure, seasonal variation, and cosmetic or medical treatments can influence the molecular properties of the skin. For many aspects of skin research or skin characterization, noninvasive methods are particularly welcome. This is partly because they cause less discomfort for the patient or volunteer, as the skin is not damaged, but more importantly because noninvasive methods enable investigation of the skin in its natural state, without affecting its integrity, morphology or molecular composition. Only noninvasive measurements can be performed repeatedly on the same skin area, and can thus be used to monitor skin changes. The aim of the work presented in this thesis was to develop confocal Raman microspectroscopy as a noninvasive technique for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the molecular composition of the human skin in vivo.