Optical properties of melanin in the skin and skin-like phantoms

ABSTRACT Experimental study and computer modeling were used to investigate the optical properties of melanin in the skin and skinlike phantoms. To investigate light scattering by melanosomes in skin we made skin-like phantoms on the base of gelatin with different content of melanin particles. Spectra of total transmittance and diffuse reflectance of the phantoms were obtained in the wavelength range from 400 to 800 nm. Absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of melanin were calculated. Mie theory was used to estimate the optical properties ofmelanin particles. Wavelength dependence of refractive indices of eumelanin particles (isolated and purified from the ink of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis) and synthetic melanin particles was estimated

Mathematical modeling of changes in the optical properties of epidermis due to UV-induced melanogenesis

ABSTRACT In the work the mathematical model of melanogenesis is presented that allows to predict a qualitative change of epidermis absorption and scattering under UV-irradiation. Epidermal sublayers and inhomogeneous melanin distribution are taken into account

Mathematical modeling of clearing liquid penetration into the skin

ABSTRACT The mathematical model of clearing agent penetration at topical administration of the agent on skin surface has been developed. Two-dimensional plane case has been considered. Skin was presented as multilayer medium with different diffusion coefficients in each layer and boundary conditions between adjacent layers. Analytical solution of the boundary problem has been obtained and approximation for large time interval has been derived