POLARIZED-LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY ENHANCES VISUALIZATION OF INFLAMMATORY LESIONS OF ACNE-VULGARIS

Background: Polarized light photography has been used to selectively d ifferentiate surface from subsurface features of photoaged skin, Objec tive: Our purpose was to compare acne assessments obtained from clinic al evaluations with assessments from photographs obtained with Rash ph otography and with perpendicular polarized light photography. Methods: Assessments of acne with the Cunliffe scale were made of 32 subjects. Retrospective evaluations of standard and perpendicular polarized lig ht photographs were made in a blinded fashion by a panel of evaluators , Results: Visualization of inflammatory acne lesions was enhanced wit h perpendicular polarized Light photography, with clear delineation of erythematous borders. Acne assessments with the use of a Cunliffe sca le were significantly higher (p = 0.001) from perpendicular polarized light photographs than for clinical evaluations. Conclusion: Polarized light photography enhances visualization of inflammatory acne lesions in a manner nor possible with conventional flash photographs, permitt ing accurate evaluation of the extent of disease and the effectiveness of therapy.