Despite constant developments in esthetic medicine, there is a lack of objective methods to assess the effectiveness of antiaging treatments and their impact on the skin. Histopathological examination of the skin section provides most of the key information about the condition of the skin, but it is an invasive procedure that requires a skin biopsy, which may be associated with the formation of a scar that is considered to be an aesthetic defect. Non-invasive imaging methods of the skin like dermoscopy, skin ultrasonography and reflectance confocal microscopy may be a useful solution.

The objective of a new study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology was to present the possible application of noninvasive skin imaging methods in esthetic medicine.

This systematic review entailed a literature search via medical database – PubMed, Google Scholar.

The findings suggested the use of dermoscopy during laser therapy, for the targeted treatment of vascular lesions and appropriate adjustment of laser parameters. It was also noted that skin ultrasonography, especially high-frequency ultrasonography, has been widely used in esthetic medicine-during and after volumetric treatments and in the assessment of the effects of anti-cellulite therapies, for treatments that correct discolorations and improve skin quality. The importance of reflexive confocal microscopy in the evaluation of the results of anti-aging treatments using the fractional laser, moisturizing preparations or micro puncturing combined with hyaluronic acid injections—were also highlighted.

From the results, it was concluded that non-invasive skin imaging methods are useful tools for pre- and postoperative assessment in esthetic medicine and their wide application may help to objectively assess the impact of anti-aging procedures on the skin.

Source: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2020 Sep 10. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13685.