Optical properties of human skin

Tom Lister; Philip A. Wright; Paul H. Chappell

doi:10.1117/1.JBO.17.9.090901

24 September 2012 Optical properties of human skin

Tom Lister, Philip A. Wright, Paul H. Chappell

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 17, Issue 9, 090901 (September 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.17.9.090901

Abstract

A survey of the literature is presented that provides an analysis of the optical properties of human skin, with particular regard to their applications in medicine. Included is a description of the primary interactions of light with skin and how these are commonly estimated using radiative transfer theory (RTT). This is followed by analysis of measured RTT coefficients available in the literature. Orders of magnitude differences are found within published absorption and reduced-scattering coefficients. Causes for these discrepancies are discussed in detail, including contrasts between data acquired in vitro and in vivo. An analysis of the phase functions applied in skin optics, along with the remaining optical coefficients (anisotropy factors and refractive indices) is also included. The survey concludes that further work in the field is necessary to establish a definitive range of realistic coefficients for clinically normal skin.

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Tom Lister, Philip A. Wright, and Paul H. Chappell "Optical properties of human skin," Journal of Biomedical Optics 17(9), 090901 (24 September 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.17.9.090901

Published: 24 September 2012

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