In vivo blood flow imaging of inflammatory human skin induced by tape stripping using optical microangiography.

Vasculature response is a hallmark for most inflammatory skin disorders. Tape stripping on human skin causes a minor inflammation which leads to changes in microvasculature. In this study, optical microangiography (OMAG), noninvasive volumetric microvasculature in vivo imaging method, has been used to track the vascular responses after tape stripping. Vessel density has been quantified and used to correlate with the degree of skin irritation. The proved capability of OMAG technique in visualizing the microvasculature network under inflamed skin condition can play an important role in clinical trials of treatment and diagnosis of inflammatory skin disorders.