Melanosome distribution patterns affecting skin reflectance: Implications for the in vivo estimation of epidermal melanin content

Several techniques employed in the in vivo estimation of epidermal melanin content rely on the assumption that the effects of different distribution patterns of aggregated melanin (clustered within the melanosomes) on skin spectral responses, particularly across the 600-1350 nm range, can be ignored. Accordingly, for all practical purposes, only the non-aggregated (colloidal) form of melanin is taken into account by these techniques. In this paper, however, we demonstrate through predictive computer simulations that these responses are directly influenced by the occurrence of both forms of melanin. Our in silico findings, in turn, indicate that such an assumption may lead to inaccurate estimations of epidermal melanin content.