Electrical bioimpedance related to structural differences and reactions in skin and oral mucosa

Electrical bioimpedance can reflect structural and chemical changes of the skin and the oral mucosa in the beta-dispersion frequency range. From our measured multifrequency data set, four physically distinct indices have been formulated to distinguish the electrical properties for different anatomical locations and to detect different reactions and conditions of the skin and the oral mucosa. In comparison with the skin, the differences for various anatomical regions were greater in the oral cavity, which showed as well a different impedance pattern after irritant responses. We conclude that the impedance technique is able to classify and quantify different responses and conditions, preferably by using contralateral reference sites, or following a site in time; however, mapping of baseline properties facilitates the use of the method even if a large part of the skin or the oral mucosa is involved. The method has the potential of becoming a diagnostic decision support tool.