Modulated photoacoustic spectroscopy study of an artificial tanning on human skin induced by dihydroxyacetone.

A modulated photoacoustic spectroscopy study on the effect of dihydroxyacetone, commonly used for artificial tan, is presented. The study was carried out in the presence and absence of dimethylisosorbide (a solvent for dihydroxyacetone) on fresh human skin, obtained from the breast region of recent autopsy cases (two females), at a frequency of 25 Hz, which enabled us to study the effect at a depth of 30 microm in the stratum corneum and beneath. By monitoring the photoacoustic signal intensity with time in the region of 300-400 nm, which is a specific region for melanin pigment, it is demonstrated that dihydroxyacetone in combination with dimethylisosorbide enhances the process of tanning. Dihydroxyacetone also has an effect on the amino acids and nucleic acids which is bad for the skin.

Study of the diffusion of some emulsions in the human skin by pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy.

We previously used pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy (PPAS) to quantify sunscreen diffusion into human skin, and suggested a methodology to evaluate the time and the depth diffusion profile. These results were obtained by the analysis of the photoacoustic maximum response signal Pmax decrease, the time delay tmax and the Fourier transform representation of the photoacoustic signal. In this study we present the results obtained for diffusion of four typical emulsions used in sunscreen compositions that show, for the first time, a particular behaviour for one of these emulsions due to a chemical reaction inside the skin during the diffusion process. This result provides a particularly interesting technique through the PPAS, to evaluate in situ the eventual chemical reactions that can occur during drug diffusion into human skin.

Pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy applied to the diffusion of sunscreen chromophores in human skin: the weakly absorbent regime.

Pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to study the penetration of sunscreen chromophores into human skin. This study focuses on basic solutions containing single typical filter molecules, as used in current sunscreens, dissolved in mineral oil. The pulsed form of the photoacoustic technique was preferred because it provides more detailed information on the filter distribution within the different layers of human skin. A new methodology provides better insight into the diffusion process through signal analysis in the time and frequency domains, allowing for global and depth-related characterization. The penetration of the chromophore influences the response signal by inducing changes in the optical and thermal properties at different depths within the medium. The light scattering effect of titanium dioxide was demonstrated by the same technique.

Pulsed photoacoustic study of the diffusion of chromophores in human skin.

The technique of pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to investigate the diffusion of chromophores in human skin. The kinetic of diffusion has been studied for five solutions at different concentrations in a mixture of chromophores, as used in commercial sunscreens. In addition to the classical macroscopic interpretation of the diffusion process, a new method is shown to give more detailed information on chromophore presence at different depths in skin. For the first time, results are expressed in the frequency domain by means of the Fourier transform applied to the photoacoustic signal. The spectra are discussed versus the depth in skin samples and the time of diffusion kinetics. This new method of data analysis is shown to be very useful for understanding the influence of the internal structure of a medium on the penetration rate of chromophores into skin.