EEMCO Guidance for the Measurement of Skin Microcirculation

Abstract

The blood supply to the skin is provided by a network of arterioles, capillaries and venules organized into a superficial and a deep plexus. The assessment of skin microcirculation is of valuable interest in cosmetology in the quantification of the sun protection factor, skin irritation and efficacy of antiredness treatments. Skin microcirculation can be measured by means of different techniques, based mainly on the quantification of optical and thermal properties of the skin which are modified by the amount of blood perfusion. Relevant and reproducible data can be obtained only through the understanding of the biophysical background of the technique(s) utilized. Standardization of measuring conditions and procedures is particularly required for blood flow assessment. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of the main techniques in use are discussed, and optimization of measurements for laser Doppler techniques is described.

Blushing in rosacea sufferers

“…Doppler-shifted laser beams were detected by an MBF3D Laser Blood Flow Monitor (Moor Instruments Ltd., England) and converted into a digital signal 200 times per second via an MP100 data acquisition system (Biopac Systems, Goleta, California). Laser Doppler fluxmetry is a well-validated method of 5 measuring relative changes in skin blood flow [17], and has previously been used to detect increases in forehead blood flow associated with blushing [18,19].…”

Comparing passive leg raising and suprasystolic ankle occlusion responses to quantify age-related microcirculatory status

“…Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) and transcutaneous (tc) gasimetry are among some of the most widely employed techniques to assess this microcirculatory status [4][5][6] . However, standardization of procedures and measuring conditions is lacking [7][8][9][10] , which justifies their limited use and their limited diagnostic utility. Since the measurement of resting microcirculation does not provide relevant information of the microcirculation, "provocation" tests are often used to increase the sensitivity of these quantification techniques.…”

“…A fluxometria por laser Doppler (FLD) e a gasimetria transcutânea (tc) estão entre algumas das técnicas mais amplamente utilizadas para avaliar este estado da microcirculação [4][5][6] . No entanto, a padronização de procedimentos e condições de medição está em falta [7][8][9][10] , o que justifica a sua utilização limitada bem como a sua limiatada utilidade diagnóstica. Uma vez que a medição da microcirculação em repouso não fornece informações relevantes acerca da microcirculação, são muitas vezes utilizados testes de "provocação" para aumentar a sensibilidade destas técnicas de quantificação.…”

Exploring the oxygen challenge test as a microcirculation evaluation model

“…[10] A Fluxometria por Laser Doppler (FLD), a Gasimetria Transcutânea e a Evaporimetria são tecnologias amplamente utilizadas que permitem uma avaliação sensível, contínua, não-invasiva e em tempo real de variáveis relacionadas com a circulação. [11][12][13][14] Estas técnicas são normalmente associadas a testes de provocação que podem estimular a reatividade vascular e, portanto, investigar a resposta fisiológica evocada sob controlo. [15] A administração de oxigénio normobárico, também conhecida como "teste de provocação com oxigénio", tem sido usada há vários anos como um meio para aumentar a sensibilidade e especificidade das medições da tc-pO 2 .…”

“…[10] Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF), Transcutaneous Gasimetry and Evaporimetry are extensively used technologies that enable sensitive, continuous, non-invasive and real-time assessment of circulation related variables. [11][12][13][14] Frequently, these techniques are coupled with provocation tests to stimulate vascular reactivity and therefore to investigate the physiological response evoked under control. [15] The administration of normobaric oxygen, also known as the "oxygen challenge test", has been used to increase the sensitivity and specificity of tc-pO 2 measurements.…”