Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of Skin Photoaging with Reflectance Confocal Microscopy

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Daily Routine in Cosmetic Dermatology

Abstract

The reflectance confocal microscopy is a very important and widely used technique to evaluate the morphological and structural characteristics of the skin, including the photoaging effects on the epidermis and dermal-epidermal junction. The analyses are made with the equipment VivaScope 1500®, which utilizes a laser beam of 35 mW, in a near-infrared wavelength (830 nm) and 30× objective lens. With this new technique, it is possible to scan even the least accessible body parts with no discomfort to the patient, offering the possibility to assess the effect of antiaging treatments and to identify early signs of solar damage. It is utilized in dermatological trials, in specific skin lesions, and the progress during a treatment can also be analyzed. In the cosmetic area, among other objectives, this technique is widely used in the assessment of skin aging and the efficacy of cosmetic products in real conditions of use. The main characteristics that can be studied in this analysis are the epidermal thickness, dermal papillae depth, skin pigmentation, and kerotinocyte morphology. In addition, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a reliable diagnostic technique for evaluation of skin photoaging with objective criteria. In summary, the RCM is a very important technique to analyze the skin morphology without invasive measures, allowing conclusive and complementary results, creating substantial skin biology knowledge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aghassi D, Anderson R, Gonzalez S. Confocal laser microscopic imaging of actinic keratosis in vivo: a preliminary report. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;43:42–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarez-Román R, et al. Visualization of skin penetration using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2004;58(2):301–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andrade JP, Mercurio DG, Maia Campos PMBG. Avaliação celular das estruturas cutâneas por meio da microscopia confocal de reflectância. Rev Bras Med. 2015;71:5–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielfeldt S, Böhling A, Wilhelm KP. Bioengineering methods to assess aging parameters in the depth of the skin. SOFW J. 2011;37:2–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilac C, Sahin MT, Öztürkcan S. Chronic actinic damage of facial skin. Clin Dermatol. 2014a;32(6):752–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Branzan AL, Landthaler M, Szeimies RM. In vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy in dermatology. Lasers Med Sci. 2007;22(2):73–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calzavara-Pinton P, Longo C, Venturini M, Sala R, Pellacani G. Reflectance confocal microscopy for in vivo skin imaging. Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84:1421–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corcuff P, Bertrand C, Leveque JL. Morphometry of human epidermis in vivo by real-time confocal microscopy. Arch Dermatol Res. 1993;285(8):475–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diridollou S, et al. Skin ageing: changes of physical properties of human skin in vivo. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2001;23(6):353–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gianeti MD, Gaspar LR, Camargo Júnior FB, Maia Campos PMBG. Benefits of combinations of vitamin A, C and E derivatives in the stability of cosmetic formulations. Molecules. 2012;17:2219–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez S, Gilaberte-Calzada Y. In vivo reflectance-mode confocal microscopy in clinical dermatology and cosmetology. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2008;30(1):1–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huzaira M, et al. Topographic variations in normal skin, as viewed by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy. J Investig Dermatol. 2001;116(6):846–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jester JV, et al. In vivo, real-time confocal imaging. J Electron Microsc Tech. 1991;18:50–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kawasaki K, Yamanishi K, Yamadam H. Age-related morphometric changes of inner structures of the skin assessed by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy. Int J Dermatol. 2015;54(3):295–301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kligman LH, Kligman AM. The nature of photoaging: its prevention and repair. Photo-Dermatology. 1986;3(4):215–27.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lagarrigue SG, George J, Questel E, Lauze C, Meyer N, Lagarde J-M, Simon M, Schmitt A-M, Serre G, Paul C. In vivo quantification of epidermis pigmentation and dermis papilla density with reflectance confocal microscopy: variations with age and skin phototype. Exp Dermatol. 2012;21:281–6. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01451.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Langley RG, Burton E, Walsh N, Propperova I, Murray SJ. In vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy of benign lentigines: comparison to conventional histology and in vivo characteristics of Lentigo maligna. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55:88–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Longo C, et al. Skin aging: in vivo microscopic assessment of epidermal and dermal changes by means of confocal microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013b;68(3):e73–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Majdzadeh A, et al. Real-time visualization of melanin granules in normal human skin using combined multiphoton and reflectance confocal microscopy. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2015;31(3):141–8. doi:10.1111/phpp.12161.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manfredini M, et al. Acne: in vivo morphologic study of lesions and surrounding skin by means of reflectance confocal microscopy. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015;29(5):933–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mercurio DG, Maia Campos PMBG. Reflectance confocal microscopy as a support for the clinical evaluation of the changes caused by aging skin. Surg Cosmet Dermatol. 2015;7(3):236–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercurio DG, Jdid R, Morizot F, Masson P, Maia Campos PMBG. Morphological, structural and biophysical properties of French and Brazilian photoaged skin. Br J Dermatol. 2016;174:553–61. doi:10.1111/bjd.14280.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mizukoshi K, et al. Changes in dermal papilla structures due to aging in the facial cheek region. Skin Res Technol. 2015;21(2):224–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nishimori Y, et al. Degenerative alterations of dermal collagen fiber bundles in photodamaged human skin and UV-irradiated hairless mouse skin: possible effect on decreasing skin mechanical properties and appearance of wrinkles. J Investig Dermatol. 2001;117(6):1458–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pierard GE. In vivo confocal microscopy: a new paradigm in dermatology. Dermatology. 1993;186(1):4–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rajadhyaksha M, Grossman M, Esterowitz D. In vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy of human skin: melanin provides strong contrast. J Investig Dermatol. 1995;104:946–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sauermann K, et al. Age related changes of human skin investigated with histometric measurements by confocal laser scanning microscopy in vivo. Skin Res Technol. 2002;8(1):52–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swindells K, et al. Reflectance confocal microscopy may differentiate acute allergic and irritant contact dermatitis in vivo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50(2):220–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich M, et al. Comparison of UV-induced skin changes in sun-exposed vs. sun-protected skin- preliminary evaluation by reflectance confocal microscopy. Br J Dermatol. 2009;161:46–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wurm EMT, Soyer HP. The confocal story. In: Reflectance confocal microscopy for skin diseases, vol. l. Berlin: Springer; 2012. p. 3–5.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Xiang W, et al. In vivo visualization of honeycomb pattern, cobblestone pattern, ringed pattern, and dermal papillae by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Skin Res Technol. 2016;22:32–9. doi:10.1111/srt.12225.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NEATEC, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Patrícia M. B. G. Maia Campos, Maísa Oliveira de Melo & Daiane Garcia Mercurio

Authors
  1. Patrícia M. B. G. Maia Campos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maísa Oliveira de Melo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daiane Garcia Mercurio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrícia M. B. G. Maia Campos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, São Paulo, Brazil

    Maria Claudia Almeida Issa

  2. Lexbios Medica S/S, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bhertha Tamura

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

About this entry

Cite this entry

Maia Campos, P.M.B.G., de Melo, M.O., Mercurio, D.G. (2016). Assessment of Skin Photoaging with Reflectance Confocal Microscopy. In: Issa, M., Tamura, B. (eds) Daily Routine in Cosmetic Dermatology. Clinical Approaches and Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20250-1_38-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20250-1_38-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20250-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation