Edwards C, Marks R
Department of Dermatology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Clin Dermatol. 1995 Jul-Aug;13(4):375-80. doi: 10.1016/0738-081x(95)00078-t.
Measurement of the physical properties of skin may seem "esoteric" and of little relevance to clinical science; however, the noninvasive nature of available techniques provides unique opportunities for monitoring the effects of disease, drugs, or cosmetics over time on exactly the same area of skin. In vitro testing gives repeatable standardized methods that can supply basic elastic and viscoelastic moduli for skin, which for low strain are comparable to results obtained from in vivo tests. Interpretation of in vivo tests can be difficult, as no analytical model has been developed that can relate measurements from these tests directly to basic skin properties. Each method and each implementation of that method has subtle differences from every other method so that results between studies are difficult to compare; however, the alternative to the bioengineering tests is the hand and eye, which provide subjective (and often biased), nonlinear, and notoriously variable data between individuals. Judging the severity of involvement, the changes due to treatment or progress of disease, and the efficacy of competing treatments is very difficult, even for an experienced clinician. Objective, numerical information on the effects of different active compounds and their formulations is essential if new preparations are to be optimized. Measurement of mechanical properties is one aspect of this important field of endeavor.
皮肤物理特性的测量可能看似“深奥”，与临床科学关联不大；然而，现有技术的非侵入性为长期监测疾病、药物或化妆品对同一皮肤区域的影响提供了独特机会。体外测试提供了可重复的标准化方法，能够为皮肤提供基本的弹性和粘弹性模量，在低应变情况下，这些模量与体内测试结果相当。体内测试结果的解读可能存在困难，因为尚未开发出能将这些测试的测量结果直接与皮肤基本特性相关联的分析模型。每种方法及其实施方式都与其他方法存在细微差异，导致不同研究之间的结果难以比较；然而，生物工程测试的替代方法是依靠肉眼判断，这种方式提供的是主观（且往往有偏差）、非线性且个体间差异极大的数据。即便对于经验丰富的临床医生而言，判断受累的严重程度、治疗引起或疾病进展导致的变化以及不同治疗方法的疗效都非常困难。如果要优化新制剂，关于不同活性化合物及其配方效果的客观、数值化信息至关重要。机械性能测量是这一重要研究领域的一个方面。
