Using sandpaper for noninvasive transepidermal optical skin clearing agent delivery.

We present a gentle mechanical method for the noninvasive transepidermal delivery of topically applied optical skin clearing agents. Optical skin clearing reduces light scattering in highly turbid skin with the aid of hyperosmotic chemicals such as glycerol, polyethylene glycol, and solutions of dextrose. Transepidermal delivery of such agents is believed to be most patient compliant and most likely to be used in a clinical environment.

Enhancement of transepidermal skin clearing agent delivery using a 980 nm diode laser.

Background And Objectives: Patient compliant optical skin clearing requires non-invasive topical delivery of clearing agents such as glycerol. This requires reducing the skin barrier function by disrupting stratum corneum integrity, which was achieved using a 980 nm diode laser with artificial absorption substrates on the skin surface. Reduction of light scattering has the potential to improve many current and novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications of lasers in medicine.