Fluorescent fibre‐optic confocal characterization of in vivo epidermal changes in atopic eczema

Abstract

Various non-invasive tools for evaluation of the skin in its natural state were recently introduced. Reflectance confocal laser microscopy (RCM) in vivo can be used in studies of epidermal cells in various inflammatory skin diseases. 1-5 Atopic skin has been studied by RCM. 5 We have applied another mode of confocal microscopy namely fluorescent fibre-optic confocal imaging (FOCI), enabling visualization of the epidermis and outer dermis at higher cellular resolution, for example, at 1000× magnification. 6 Atopic eczema (AE) is a common skin disease in children dominated by eczema, inflammation, and itch. 7 Adults also may suffer from AD. In recent years, the focus has been on epidermal barrier dysfunction measured by increased trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). 8 The pathology includes increased desquamation, loss of corneocyte cohesiveness, and extracellular lipid contents, thus, changes which might be imaged by FOCI.