title: Retrieving skin properties from in vivo spectral reflectance measurements.
abstract: A previously developed inverse method was applied to in vivo normal-hemispherical spectral reflectance measurements taken on the inner and outer forearm as well as the forehead of healthy white Caucasian and black African subjects. The inverse method was used to determine the thickness and melanin concentration in the epidermis, dermal blood volume fraction and oxygen saturation, and skin's spectral scattering coefficient. It was established that changes in melanin concentration due to racial difference and tanning, and differences in epidermal thickness and blood volume with anatomical location were detectable. The retrieved values were also consistent with independent measurements reported in the literature. The same method could be used for optical diagnosis of pathologies affecting the structure and pigmentation of human skin.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Biomedical Inter-Department Program, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1597, USA.
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yudovsky
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pilon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001810:Blood Volume; D020405:Dermis / Q000098:blood supply; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D010100:Oxygen