Noninvasive characterization of human stratum corneum of undiseased skin of patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis as studied by Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

Etiopathogenetic regulatory disorders of epidermal metabolism and the subse quent changes in the molecular pattern of the stratum corneum play an impor tant role in the clinical differentiation of particular dermatoses (e.g., p soriasis, atopic der matitis). In this study we present in vitro Fourier tr ansform Raman spectra of the stratum corneum from healthy skin, as well as from clinically undiseased skin of the right heel of atopic and psoriatic v olunteers. Differences in the averaged spectra were detected, particularly in the spectral ranges of 1112-1142 (lipid band), 1185-1220, and 1394-1429 cm(-1). By using the first derivative of the averaged spectra and/or a stat istical evaluation of the spectroscopic data it was possible to distinguish the skin types examined. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.