[In vivo fluorescence spectroscopy of human skin: principles and application to penetration measurements]

The fluorescence properties of untreated human skin and the penetration of topically applied drugs were measured in vivo using a commercially available fluorescence spectrometer which was adapted to in vivo-measurements on skin by means of optical fibres and a remote viewing head. The intensity and characteristics of the intrinsic fluorescences of human skin and their dependences upon several parameters like pigmentation, water content of the skin or depth of the horny layer are shown. The principles of the penetration measurements based on the fluorescence of the skin or the fluorescence of the drug topically applied to the skin are described and measurements of the penetration of some drugs are reported.