Electrical properties of normal and scarred skin

Author

Zhao, L. ; Hung, L.K. ; Zhang, Y.T.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

Volume

6

fYear

1998

fDate

29 Oct-1 Nov 1998

Firstpage

2917

Abstract

The electrical properties of normal human skin are important in iontophoresis. The electrical properties change if the skin epidermis is broken down by burning. In this study, the change of scar impedance was evaluated using an impedance device. The results showed that the capacitance of scar tissue was greater than that of normal skin. The resistance of scarred skin was lower than that of normal skin and higher than that of deep tissues. Whether the impedance of scar tissue is higher or lower than that of normal skin depends on the depth and density of the scar tissue. It is concluded that the low-resistance property of scarred skin can be suitably treated by iontophoretic drug delivery, and the high-reactance property of scar tissues can be very suitably treated by iontophoresis of PDC

Keywords

bioelectric phenomena; capacitance; electric impedance; electric resistance; electrophoresis; patient treatment; skin; epidermis; high-reactance property; iontophoresis; iontophoretic drug delivery; low-resistance property; normal skin; scar impedance; scarred skin; skin electrical properties; Circuits; Drug delivery; Electric resistance; Electrical resistance measurement; Humans; Immune system; Impedance; Resistors; Skin; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1998. Proceedings of the 20th Annual International Conference of the IEEE

Conference_Location

Hong Kong

ISSN

1094-687X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5164-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.1998.746098

Filename

746098