Electrical Impedance Dermography: Background, Current State, and Emerging Clinical Opportunities

Electrical impedance dermography (EID), based on electrical impedance spectroscopy, is a specific technique for the evaluation of skin disorders that relies upon the application and measurement of painless, alternating electrical current. EID assesses pathological changes to the normal composition and architecture of the skin that influence the flow of electrical current, including changes associated with inflammation, keratinocyte and melanocyte carcinogenesis, and scarring. Assessing the electrical properties of the skin across a range of frequencies and in multiple directions of current flow can provide diagnostic information to aid in the identification of pathologic skin conditions. EID holds the promise of serving as a diagnostic biomarker and potential to be used in skin cancer detection and staging. EID may also be useful as a biomarker in monitoring effectiveness of treatment in individual patients and in therapeutic research. This review highlights ongoing efforts to improve mechanistic understanding of skin electrical changes, study of EID in a variety of clinical contexts, and further refine the technology to find greater clinical use in dermatology and dermatologic research.