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Tracking of cutaneous vascular structural changes post‐UV irradiation using optical coherence tomography angiography
Author(s) -
Ninomiya Masato,
Hara Yusuke,
Kubo Yoshihide,
Yamashita Toyonobu,
Katagiri Chika
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/phpp.12542
Subject(s) - reticular dermis , irradiation , dermis , microangiography , optical coherence tomography , erythema , medicine , papillary dermis , vasodilation , human skin , optical coherence tomography angiography , microcirculation , angiography , pathology , biomedical engineering , nuclear medicine , dermatology , radiology , biology , physics , genetics , nuclear physics
Background Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to skin induces biological responses to protect and heal the wounded tissue. Cutaneous blood vessels play an important role in maintaining skin homeostasis, by inducing angiogenesis and vasodilation. However, the vascular dynamics in vivo, such as morphological changes over time and their depth dependency, are not fully understood. Methods Ten Asian males were enrolled in this study and received UV (UVA + UVB) irradiation at two minimal erythema dose (MED) to the inner upper arm. Changes in epidermal thickness and vascular structures associated with UV irradiation were evaluated over time for 28 days by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). This technique enables non‐invasive visualization of three‐dimensional vascular networks in human skin based on OCT assessment of skin structures with near‐infrared light. Results Notable dilation of vascular structures and increases in epidermal thickness were observed after UV irradiation. Vessel density was markedly increased from the papillary dermis to the upper reticular dermis at a depth of 200 µm. These increases in vascular density showed significant persistence even at 28 days after UV irradiation. Conclusion We visualized the vascular structural changes caused by UV irradiation and revealed that the effects of a single UV irradiation at 2 MED persisted for up to 28 days after exposure. The OCTA technique allows not only the in situ assessment of micro‐vasculature in human skin but also its monitoring of vascular dynamics over time.