Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Skin Biopsy for Diagnosing Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: June 10, 2025
Diagnostic opportunities based on skin biomarkers
Sumit Paliwal1, Byeong Hee Hwang, Kenneth Y Tsai
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, United States.
Abstract:
Systemic as well as localized skin diseases modify the molecular composition of human skin. Changes in skin chemistry have been observed in diseases such as cancer, psoriasis, eczema, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Skin chemistry, represented by an enormous wealth of disease biomarkers including lipids, structural proteins, inflammatory mediators, nucleic acids and small molecules, therefore, can serve as a "window to body's health". Various methods including tape-stripping, iontophoresis, microneedles and ultrasound, among others, are being developed to access skin biomarkers and understand skin's detailed molecular composition. This information provides opportunities to diagnose various diseases and their response to therapeutic treatments. This review provides an overview of such diagnostic and theranostic opportunities.
More Related Videos
09:37Combining Reflectance Confocal Microscopy with Optical Coherence Tomography for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Skin Cancers via Image Acquisition
Published on: August 18, 2022
06:18Absorbent Microbiopsy Sampling and RNA Extraction for Minimally Invasive, Simultaneous Blood and Skin Analysis
Published on: February 21, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
The Skin Microbiota
Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells