Laser-induced photoacoustic signal phase study of stratum corneum and epidermis.

Laser-induced photoacoustic signal phase was employed for measurements of optothermal parameters of pig abdomen stratum corneum and epidermis. The non-radiative relaxation time was found to be 28 ms and the thermal diffusion time was 370 ms, yielding a thermal diffusivity value of (4.1 +/- 0.8) x 10(-4) cm2 s-1. This value compares well with other literature values for skin obtained using photothermal techniques.