Biomedical optical imaging of acne pathology: from single-modality methods to multimodal integration

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory skin condition requiring accurate severity assessment for effective treatment.
• Current evaluation methods are subjective and time-consuming, hindering clinical efficiency.
• Optical imaging provides non-invasive, high-resolution visualization of microstructural skin changes relevant to acne pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of optical imaging techniques for assessing acne vulgaris severity.
• To summarize photobiological properties of acne biomarkers and their imaging potential.
• To highlight the advantages of multimodal imaging over single-modality approaches.

Main Methods:

• Review of single-modality optical imaging techniques (OCT, RCM, dermoscopy, LSCI, UV fluorescence, HSI).
• Analysis of multimodal imaging approaches integrating complementary techniques.
• Discussion of key pathological features visualized by optical methods (hyperkeratinization, sebaceous hyperactivity, inflammation).

Main Results:

• Single-modality imaging visualizes specific acne features but has limitations.
• Multimodal imaging offers a comprehensive pathological profile with significant clinical potential.
• Optical imaging can visualize biomarkers like follicular hyperkeratinization and inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Optical imaging, particularly multimodal approaches, shows promise for objective acne severity assessment.
• Future advancements require enhanced resolution, sensitivity, and AI integration for improved precision.
• Harnessing photobiological properties through imaging can enhance acne diagnosis and management.