Profilometry of skin--A useful tool for the substantiation

Profilometry is a method of evaluating surface texture utilizing a stylus instrument. This method has been adopted by several skin researchers. Replicas of the horny layer have been used to transfer the peak and valley geometry from the skin's surface to a material more suited for stylus measurements. The surface profiles generated by the profilometers are quantified with a number of roughness parameters. Various methods of analysis have been used to investigate changes in the skin's topography as a function of: 1) direction of scan, 2) extensibility of the skin, 3) existing tension in the skin, 4) cohesographic force, 5) body site, 6) subject's age and 7) treatment with skin care products. The replication methods; STYLUS INSTRUMENTS; ROUGHNESS PARAMETERS; and ANALYSIS METHODS used by the various investigators applying profilometry to the skin are reviewed. The results of quantitative assessments of the EFFECTS OF COSMETIC PRODUCTS on the skin's topography are also reviewed. I