Quantification of the skin's topography by skin profilometry

Abstract

Synopsis A method of skin profilometry is presented. The data generated using this method are used to (a) uncover sources of variation in skin profilometry, (b) provide information regarding the choice of roughness parameters best suited for characterizing the skin's topography, and (c) determine if skin profilometry is a valuable tool for quantitatively assessing changes in the skin's surface pattern. The data show the roughness parameter values to be dependent on the orientation of the tracings with regard to the major grooves and ridges present in the surface patterns. Large variabilities of roughness parameter values obtained for multiple scans within small areas of replicas are indicative of the nonhomogeneity of the skin's surface. The number of peaks, mean peak size, mean depth of roughness, depth of smoothness, and residual profile length appear to be the most utile roughness parameters for quantifying changes in the skin's topography. The ability of skin profilometry to detect subtle changes in the skin's surface pattern due to hydration indicates the method is a sensitive means of quantifying the skin's topography.

Inactivation of bacterial opportunistic skin pathogens by nonthermal DC-operated afterglow atmospheric plasma

“…Although the methods of detection were different (Benediktsdottir and Hambraeus 1983;Sullivan et al 2004), the level of inactivation was similar to that found in another study using an argon-operated plasma on infected wounds (Ermolaeva et al 2011). Skin roughness is difficult to quantify (Cook et al 1982;Van Neste 1991;Fischer et al 1999;Bargo and Kollias 2010;Bloemen et al 2011) and varies with age, anatomic site and the use of hand cream (Manuskiatti et al 1998;Kampf and Ennen 2006), so skin roughness may remain a significant variable for clinical applications. Interestingly, A. baumannii was the most sensitive to atmospheric plasma application on the skin surface.…”

Topical ascorbic acid on photoaged skin. Clinical, topographical and ultrastructural evaluation: double‐blind study vs. placebo

“…Optical profilometry of a skin replica was used to quantify these changes. It is a valid and objective measure of skin topography (14,18–23). The 3D relief parameters according to the Industrial Standards known from surface engineering (17) have often been used in the field of cosmetic dermatology for the quantitative analysis of human skin relief.…”

A randomized, prospective study using the LPG® technique in treating radiation‐induced skin fibrosis: clinical and profilometric analysis

“…The patients were asked to relax for 15 min and then, in a sitting position, 3 mm thick silicon prints were taken of the treated breast and the non‐treated breast in symmetrical areas using a silicon‐print technique and a protocol described previously (9). Measurements were taken for all patients of the upper interior breast quadrant so that the location would be the same for all and so that the differing breast sizes would not affect the results of the profilometric study.…”