Skin bioengineering: Techniques and applicationsin dermatology and cosmetology; volume 26 (Current Problems in Dermatology)

Abstract

Skin bioengineering: Techniques and applications in dermatology and cosmetology; volume 26 (Current Problems in Dermatology) P. Eisner, A. O. Barel, E. Beradesca, B. Gabard, and J. Serup, editors. Basel, 1998, Karger. 250 pages. $216.50. This is a clearly written, hard-bound manual designed to introduce the reader to new and emerging skin bioengineering techniques. The book is volume 26 in the Current Problems in Dermatology series published in Switzerland by Karger Publishing House. Like its North American counterparts, such as Dermatology Clinics or Clinics in Dermatology, the volume is dedicated to one topic of skin bioengineering and has 5 well-known and respected editors and many authors. The book is subdivided into 4 sections. The first section, entitled “Advances in Skin Bioengineering Techniques,” deals with either new emerging techniques or modification or improvement of the old ones. The most fascinating chapter in this section describes optical coherence tomography. Similar to skin magnetic resonance imaging, optical coherence tomography was initially used by ophthalmologists before it found its way to dermatology and provides noninvasive high-resolution images that have axial resolution of 15 μm and depth of penetration of up to 1 mm. This technique will clearly be widely used in the next century both in cosmetic science for dermatologic research and perhaps in clinical dermatology. Other interesting chapters in this section describe cutaneous microdialysis and the first reported successful proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy images (however, the data on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy are very preliminary and the authors do not have peak assignments). My only suggestion for this section would be to include a chapter on telemedicine. The second section addresses disease monitoring. It primarily focuses on high-frequency ultrasound monitoring of disease activities in psoriasis, scleroderma, and occupational diseases. Unfortunately, this section ignores cutaneous oncology, magnetic resonance imaging, epiluminescence, and laser Doppler perfusion imaging. The third section deals with cosmetic product testing. I think this section is extremely useful for cosmetic scientists and dermatologists interested in cosmetology. I found the chapter on climatic influences affecting cosmetic skin parameters informative. It appears that skin physiologic changes affected by climate cannot be compensated for by acclimatization in air-conditioned laboratories. The final section deals with design and legal aspects of skin bioengineering. The Sixth Amendment to the Cosmetic Directive passed by the European Parliament that gradually bans the use of animals in cosmetic industry testing and established the European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods was a major boost for the prestige and acceptance of European cosmetic scientists and skin bioengineers. As pointed out in the last chapter of the book, the cosmetic industry claims in Europe, such as antiaging, hydration, skin firmness, and skin smoothness, are now validated by bioengineering instruments in correlation with self-appraisal performed by human volunteers. I highly recommend this book to the dermatologist who wants to learn about new advances in skin bioengineering. Furthermore, this manual is obviously a must for cosmetic industry scientists. However, this book does not replace the slightly outdated, but still comprehensive, encyclopedic work edited by J. Serup and G. B. E. Jemec (Handbook of noninvasive methods and the skin. Boca Raton FL: CRC Press; 1995). As far as skin bioengineering is concerned (except for telemedicine and a few other areas), US dermatology is lagging behind that of the European community where knowledge of skin bioengineering is required for dermatology board certification (in Germany) (Kligman AM. The future of bioengineering: a dermatologist’s perspective. Skin Res Technol 1995;1:2-3). My hope is that as the United States continues to lead the world in computer science, digital imaging, and bioengineering fields, we as dermatologists will apply these advances to clinical practice and dermatologic science.