Cited by 472Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy TechniquesOptical Coherence Tomography ApplicationsSpectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research

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Optical properties of human skin

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Lister, Tom, Wright, Philip A., Chappell, Paul H.·2012·Journal of Biomedical Optics

DOI 10.1117/1.jbo.17.9.090901

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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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Authors: Lister, T., Wright, P. A., & Chappell, P. H.
Affiliations: Salisbury District Hospital (GB)
University of Southampton (GB)
ORCID: Chappell, Paul H.
Venue: Journal of Biomedical Optics
Publisher: SPIE-Intl Soc Optical Eng
Published: 2012-09-24
Volume: 17
Issue: 9
Pages: 1-15
ISSN: 1083-3668 (ISSN-L)
1560-2281
DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.17.9.090901
OpenAlex: W2020476250
Cited by: 467
References: 127
Citations by year: 2026: 26 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 2.75
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Locations: Journal of Biomedical Optics (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Optical Coherence Tomography Applications
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
Keywords: human skin, optical properties, radiative transfer theory, optical absorption coefficient, reduced scattering coefficient, phase function, anisotropy parameter, refractive index
MeSH terms: Light, Models, Biological, Refractometry, Scattering, Radiation, Skin Physiological Phenomena

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