title: High resolution skin colorimetry, strain mapping and mechanobiology.
abstract: Skin colours are notoriously different between individuals. They are governed by ethnicities and phototypes, and further influenced by a variety of factors including photoexposures and sustained mechanical stress. Indeed, mechanobiology is a feature affecting the epidermal melanization. High-resolution epiluminescence colorimetry helps in deciphering the effects of forces generated by Langer's lines or relaxed skin tension lines on the melanocyte activity. The same procedure shows a prominent laddering pattern of melanization in striae distensae contrasting with the regular honeycomb pattern in the surrounding skin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Dermatopathology, Department of Dermatopathology, University Hospital of Liege, BE-4000 Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Devillers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piérard-Franchimont
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schreder
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Docquier
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Piérard
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D003124:Colorimetry; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014463:Ultrasonography