Assessment of skin photoaging with reflectance confocal microscopy

Abstract

Reflectance confocal microscopy is a reliable diagnostic technique for evaluation of skin photoaging with objective criteria. With the new emerging compact models it is possible to scan even the least accessible body parts with no discomfort to the patient, which offers the possibility to assess the effect of antiaging applications and to identify early signs of solar damage in cosmetically sensitive areas.

Photoageing‐related skin changes in different age groups: a clinical evaluation by biophysical and imaging techniques

“…A previous study by Kutlu Haytoglu and collaborators (2014) showed that ‘mottled pigmentation’ was observed in the malar region of all age groups, with an increase of this percentage in photoexposed regions of the body, demonstrating that this parameter is strongly related to photoageing .…”

“…Concerning the confocal descriptors (Table ) for the epidermis and dermis, the main changes in the epidermis of G1 were the presence of mottled pigmentation (presence of clustered bright keratinocytes within a honeycomb pattern the spinous layer and of polycyclic papillae and irregular rings in the DEJ (bulbous projections and cords, sometimes anastomosing and with variably convoluted arrangement – Figure ). In the dermis, some participants showed changes in collagen structure, with the presence of coarse collagen structures (coarse filamentous thick structures forming a grossly arranged web‐like pattern with larger and irregularly spaced meshes ) and huddled collagen (large hyporefractive blotches of amorphous material ). The main changes observed in G2 were also mottled pigmentation, shape of the papillae and alterations in the collagen structure (Figure ).…”

“…The evaluation of these alterations was based on the findings in the literature that well describes which alterations can be closely related to the UV exposure and these parameters were investigated in this study .…”

“…In addition, we also assessed changes in collagen structure since they can be directly influenced by solar radiation exposure . Thin collagen structures are typical of young skin and sun‐protected areas , whereas coarse collagen structures, huddled collagen and curled bright structures are characteristics of depletion of collagen fibres and solar elastosis, which are caused by photoageing .…”

“…The microscopic images were obtained using the VivaStack system that provides multiple confocal images at successive depths of a specific tissue site (3 μm by 3 μm to a depth of 150 μm). The macroscopic images were obtained using a digital camera of macroscopic dermatoscopic quality (VivaCam; Lucid) .…”