Confocal laser‐scanning capillaroscopy: a novel approach to the analysis of skin capillaries in vivo

Background: New techniques for diagnostics and therapy in dermatology are becoming increasingly non‐invasive, among which confocal laser‐scanning microscopy (CLSM) is the most prevalent. It allows visualization of cellular structures of the skin up to a depth of 300 μm in vivo. Until now, most studies have been conducted on pathologically altered skin, mostly oncologic lesions. We now present a detailed analysis of capillaries located in the upper dermal papillae.

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