Effect of skin color on optical properties and the implications for medical optical technologies: a review.
J Biomed Opt
; 29(1): 010901, 2024 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38269083
ABSTRACT
Significance:
Skin color affects light penetration leading to differences in its absorption and scattering properties. COVID-19 highlighted the importance of understanding of the interaction of light with different skin types, e.g., pulse oximetry (PO) unreliably determined oxygen saturation levels in people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds. Furthermore, with increased use of other medical wearables using light to provide disease information and photodynamic therapies to treat skin cancers, a thorough understanding of the effect skin color has on light is important for reducing healthcare disparities.Aim:
The aim of this work is to perform a thorough review on the effect of skin color on optical properties and the implication of variation on optical medical technologies.Approach:
Published in vivo optical coefficients associated with different skin colors were collated and their effects on optical penetration depth and transport mean free path (TMFP) assessed.Results:
Variation among reported values is significant. We show that absorption coefficients for dark skin are â¼6% to 74% greater than for light skin in the 400 to 1000 nm spectrum. Beyond 600 nm, the TMFP for light skin is greater than for dark skin. Maximum transmission for all skin types was beyond 940 nm in this spectrum. There are significant losses of light with increasing skin depth; in this spectrum, depending upon Fitzpatrick skin type (FST), on average 14% to 18% of light is lost by a depth of 0.1 mm compared with 90% to 97% of the remaining light being lost by a depth of 1.93 mm.Conclusions:
Current published data suggest that at wavelengths beyond 940 nm light transmission is greatest for all FSTs. Data beyond 1000 nm are minimal and further study is required. It is possible that the amount of light transmitted through skin for all skin colors will converge with increasing wavelength enabling optical medical technologies to become independent of skin color.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Fotoquimioterapia
/
COVID-19
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Biomed Opt
Asunto de la revista:
ENGENHARIA BIOMEDICA
/
OFTALMOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido
Pais de publicación:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
/
EUA
/
UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/
US
/
USA