Overcoming In Vivo Skin Measurement Challenges

In vivo Raman spectroscopy for investigating molecular features and structure–function relationships in human skin

Learning Points

• In vivo skin analysis is technically challenging due to the skin’s heterogeneous structure, strong inter-individual variability, and the need to avoid invasive sampling while maintaining high spatial resolution.
• Raman spectroscopy enables non-invasive molecular measurements in living skin with micrometer-scale resolution, allowing direct investigation of biochemical composition and structure.
• Spectral analysis can quantify key skin parameters, such as lipid conformation and hydration profiles, and detect differences between individuals.
• In vivo Raman approaches provide a useful tool for studying skin structure–function relationships and for evaluating the penetration and effects of topical formulations