High resolution skin colorimetry, strain mapping and mechanobiology.
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.
Devillers
C
C
Laboratories of Dermatopathology, Department of Dermatopathology, University Hospital of Liege, BE-4000 Liege, Belgium.
Piérard-Franchimont
C
C
Schreder
A
A
Docquier
V
V
Piérard
G E
GE
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