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Noninvasive Assessment of Melasma Pathological Features: Side-By-Side Comparison of Two-Photon Microscopy and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy.

Authors:

Xiaoli Ning, Jungang Yang, Hongfei Ouyang, Lingfan Jiang, Jiahui Han, Ziyuan Tian, Jingkai Xu, Yujun Sheng, Xianbo Zuo, Yong Cui

Publication:

Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research

Publication Date:

30/09/2025

This study conducted a comparative analysis of melasma, a persistent hyperpigmentation disorder, using Two-Photon Microscopy (TPM) and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM). The findings showed significant agreement between the two techniques in detecting increased epidermal melanin and activated melanocytes at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that TPM's quantified melanin had a positive correlation with the Melanin Index (MI) and a negative correlation with the Individual Typology Angle (ITA). RCM images demonstrated that dermal inflammatory cells were more common during the active phase of melasma. However, TPM excelled in visualizing intracellular melanin distribution and signs of solar elastosis, while RCM was more effective in identifying activated melanocytes. In conclusion, TPM is better for assessing melasma severity, while RCM is more suited for evaluating disease activity.