Microspectroscopic Confocal Raman and Macroscopic Biophysical Measurements in the in vivo Assessment of the Skin Barrier: Perspective for Dermatology and Cosmetic Sciences

Falcone, Denise; Uzunbajakava, N.; Varghese, Babu; Santos, Gabriela Ricardo de Aquino; Richters, R.J.H.; Kerkhof, P.C.M. van de; Erp, P.E.J. van

doi:10.1159/000439031

Cited by 19 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…In previous studies, the skin barrier function of SS subjects was predominantly analyzed at baseline or after stimulation using these macroscopic biophysical methods and significant differences between SS and NSS subjects could rarely be detected [13,14,16,18,20,26,49,50]. A range of limitations of these easy-to-use, rapid measurements are known [33], and our study demonstrates that more sensitive and specific tools for the in vivo analysis of the skin barrier in general and in SS in particular are needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Raman spectroscopy has already established a strong position in non-invasive skin analysis for many applications, ranging from the detection of non-melanoma skin cancer [30] to evaluation of skin barrier composition in AD [31,32]. As CRS is able to detect differences at the molecular level and at a high spatial resolution, it could provide a breakthrough in the evaluation of barrier function involvement in SS, which so far is not possible with macroscopic biophysical techniques [33]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sensitive Skin: Assessment of the Skin Barrier Using Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy

Richters

Falcone

Uzunbajakava

et al. 2017

Skin Pharmacol Physiol

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Background/Aims: Sensitive skin (SS), a frequently reported condition in the Western world, has been suggested to be underlined by an impaired skin barrier. The aim of this study was to investigate the skin barrier molecular composition in SS subjects using confocal Raman microspectroscopy (CRS), and to compare it with that of non-SS (NSS) individuals as well as atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR) subjects, who frequently report SS. Methods: Subjects with SS (n = 29), NSS (n = 30), AD (n = 11), and AR (n = 27) were included. Stratum corneum (SC) thickness, water, ceramides/fatty acids, and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) were measured by CRS along with transepidermal water loss and capacitance on the ventral forearm, thenar, and cheek. Sebum levels were additionally measured on the forearm and cheek. Results: No differences between SS and NSS subjects were found regarding SC thickness, water, and NMF content, yet a trend towards lower ceramides/fatty acids was observed in the cheek. Compared to AD subjects, the SS group showed higher ceramides/fatty acid content in the forearm, whereas no differences emerged with AR. The correlation of macroscopic biophysical techniques and CRS was weak,yetCRS confirmed the well-known lower content of NMF and water, and thinner SC in subjects with filaggrin mutations. Conclusion: The skin barrier in SS is not impaired in terms of SC thickness, water, NMF, and ceramides/fatty acid content. The failure of biophysical techniques to follow alterations in the molecular composition of the skin barrier revealed by CRS emphasizes a strong need in sensitive and specific tools for in vivo skin barrier analysis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitive Skin: Assessment of the Skin Barrier Using Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy

Richters

Falcone

Uzunbajakava

et al. 2017

Skin Pharmacol Physiol

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“…Confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) is a powerful non‐invasive tool to measure depth profiles of molecular components in the SC , in which the skin components are measured depth‐dependently in vivo / ex vivo at high spatial resolution. An area of interest using CRM in dermatology is the analysis of the penetration into the skin , the skin barrier function provided by the SC , and collagen of the dermis . Our group recently introduced methods to determine the molecular properties of skin barrier function‐related parameters, such as water bonding states , ICL ordering and secondary and tertiary structures of keratin in the SC in vivo.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human skin in vivo has a higher skin barrier function than porcine skin ex vivo—comprehensive Raman microscopic study of the stratum corneum

Choe¹,

Schleusener

Lademann

et al. 2018

Journal of Biophotonics

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Porcine skin is widely used as a human skin model in dermatology. For both, porcine stratum corneum (SC) ex vivo and human SC in vivo, the hydrogen bonding states of water, the secondary and tertiary structures of keratin, the natural moisturizing factor (NMF) concentrations and the intercellular lipids' (ICL) lateral organization are investigated depth-dependently using confocal Raman microscopy. The SC depth profiles show that porcine SC ex vivo is characterized by lower hydrogen bonding states of water (10%-30% SC depth), lower NMF concentration in the whole SC, more β-sheet form of keratin (10%-90% SC depth), more folded tertiary keratin structures (30%-70% SC depth) and higher hexagonal lateral packing order of ICL (10%-50% SC depth) compared to human SC in vivo. The results clearly show a higher value of skin barrier function of human SC in vivo than of porcine SC ex vivo. Thus, the human SC in vivo is less permeable for lipophilic and hydrophilic substances than porcine SC ex vivo. Considering the porcine SC as an ex vivo model of human SC in vivo, these findings should be taken into consideration.

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“…Commonly used methods to evaluate SC barrier function and hydration include transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and electrical approaches, such as capacitance or conductance, respectively. These rapid, noninvasive, in vivo measurements are easy to perform; however, the electrical approaches are influenced by the ambient environment, topical agents, anatomical site, and the presence of skin appendages . Furthermore, these techniques do not provide specific information regarding molecular level alterations in the skin barrier or the depth profile/spatial distribution of changes in hydration level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel confocal Raman microscopy method to investigate hydration mechanisms in human skin

Wang

Zhang

Mao

et al. 2019

Skin Research and Technology

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Background Skin hydration is essential for maintaining stratum corneum (SC) flexibility and facilitating maturation events. Moisturizers contain multiple ingredients to maintain and improve skin hydration although a complete understanding of hydration mechanisms is lacking. The ability to differentiate the source of the hydration (water from the environment or deeper skin regions) upon application of product will aid in designing more efficacious formulations. Materials and Methods Novel confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) experiments allow us to investigate mechanisms and levels of hydration in the SC. Using deuterium oxide (D2O) as a probe permits the differentiation of endogenous water (H2O) from exogenous D2O. Following topical application of D2O, we first compare in vivo skin depth profiles with those obtained using ex vivo skin. Additional ex vivo experiments are conducted to quantify the kinetics of D2O diffusion in the epidermis by introducing D2O under the dermis. Results Relative D2O depth profiles from in vivo and ex vivo measurements compare well considering procedural and instrumental differences. Additional in vivo experiments where D2O was applied following topical glycerin application increased the longevity of D2O in the SC. Reproducible rates of D2O diffusion as a function of depth have been established for experiments where D2O is introduced under ex vivo skin. Conclusion Unique information regarding hydration mechanisms are obtained from CRM experiments using D2O as a probe. The source and relative rates of hydration can be delineated using ex vivo skin with D2O underneath. One can envision comparing these depth‐dependent rates in the presence and absence of topically applied hydrating agents to obtain mechanistic information.

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Microspectroscopic Confocal Raman and Macroscopic Biophysical Measurements in the in vivo Assessment of the Skin Barrier: Perspective for Dermatology and Cosmetic Sciences

Cited by 19 publications

References 83 publications

Sensitive Skin: Assessment of the Skin Barrier Using Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy

Sensitive Skin: Assessment of the Skin Barrier Using Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy

Human skin in vivo has a higher skin barrier function than porcine skin ex vivo—comprehensive Raman microscopic study of the stratum corneum

Novel confocal Raman microscopy method to investigate hydration mechanisms in human skin

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