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.
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Maia Campos, P.M.B.G., de Melo, M.O., Mercurio, D.G. (2017). 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, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12589-3_38
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12589-3_38
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