ABSTRACT
For centuries, dermatologists have depended on their eyes and fingers to assess visible and tactile changes of the skin. In most cases, this is sufficient for making a clinical diagnosis. An increased understanding of the skin surface is obtained using macrophotography (1) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of skin replicas (2). Skin surface topography is a mirror of the functional skin status and its evaluation is of great interest for dermatological research. Surface features of the skin can be quantified using computerized digital image analysis.
