Capillaroscopy and videocapillaroscopy assessment of skin microcirculation: dermatologic and cosmetic approaches

Abstract

The determination of structural or dynamic changes in the cutaneous microcirculation belongs to the noninvasive techniques of the biometrological domain. Thus, every capillary modification resulting from topical cosmetic products, or chemical agents can be observed. In pathology, numerous conditions can be better examined with this system. Associated with the potential of numerical image analysis, capillaroscopy techniques will probably extend their application fields to the assessment of the influence of arterial and venous diseases on the skin nutritional circulation.

Videodermoscopy of the hyponychium in nail bed psoriasis

“…Previous studies 2 have examined these changes in nail psoriasis, with potentially confusing results, in the authors' opinion caused by the special hairpin arrangement of nailfold capillaries. In contrast, the simple architecture of the hyponychium capillary network makes capillary loops in this anatomic area appear as regular red dots because of their perpendicular arrangement to the skin (each red dot observed represents the top of one loop) 3 and more easy to study and quantify or qualify.…”

“…To the Editor: The necessity for physicians to be effective leaders is widely accepted. [1][2][3][4][5] Nevertheless, current residency curricula continue to focus on creating knowledgeable and skilled physicians in the realms of clinical judgment and technical skills, but generally do not emphasize leadership skill training. 1-3 Although we agree with many that …”

Assessment of psoriatic plaquein vivowith correlation mapping optical coherence tomography

“…There are numerous techniques available for in vivo imaging of blood vessels within skin. Capillaroscopy and videocapillaroscopy techniques are frequently employed , but these methods are limited to microvascular morphology within a very superficial layer. Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging (LDI) and Dynamic Laser Speckle Imaging (LSI) are also broadly used for non‐invasive assessment of vascular abnormalities within skin, but these techniques are unable to provide microvascular information at a penetration depth which is needed for accurate evaluation of disease within skin.…”

Uso da capilaroscopia ungueal como método diagnóstico e prognóstico de rosácea

“…Capillaroscopy and videocapillaroscopy represent non-invasive techniques that arise as methods for assessing skin microvasculature and the dynamics of microcirculation 6,14,15 . Capillaroscopy of the nailfold capillary bed is widely used for the diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatic diseases (scleroderma, dermatomyositis) and for the distinction of primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon 2,6 .…”