Skin deep details

A new optical method that can image subsurface structures under skin has been demonstrated by scientists at the

(NIST) and the

.

The method relies on differences in the way surface and subsurface features of various materials scatter light. It was demonstrated with small pieces of pigskin and inorganic materials but might eventually prove useful for imaging living tissues to help diagnose or determine the extent of various types of skin cancers.

The imaging process involves illuminating a sample with polarised light, which has its electric field oriented in a particular direction, and using a digital camera with a rotating polarisation filter to image the light scattered from the sample.

Researchers manipulated the polarisation to minimise light scattered from the rough skin surface, and positioned the light source in multiple locations to separate out, and delete, light scattered more than one time from deeper sample layers. By using certain polarisation settings and combining two images made with the light source in different positions, they generated a processed image that reveals significant subsurface structure.

Polarised light imaging already is used in dermatology to identify the edges of lesions. The new method minimises the effects of two types of unwanted light scattering at once, and, if confirmed by other methods, might someday be used in a clinical setting to produce more detailed images of deeper layers of skin.

The method was developed under a Co-operative Research and Development Agreement between the two institutions. The project adapted light scattering techniques originally developed by NIST researchers to image surface and subsurface features in inorganic materials such as silicon wafers, mirrors and paint coatings. Scientists currently are working on making the new method easier and faster to use.