Measurements of scar properties by SkinFibroMeter®, SkinGlossMeter®, and Mexameter® and comparison with Vancouver Scar Scale

Background

An objective measurement of scar is important for evaluating treatment outcomes. However, to date, there is no 'gold standard' for quantitative measurement of properties of hypertrophic scar. Existing objective modalities are neither portable nor easy to use.

Objective

This study aims to validate the correlation between objective measurements with SkinFibrometer^®, SkinGlossMeter^®, and Mexameter^® and subjective assessment with Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) of keloid and hypertrophic scar.

Methods

A total of 25 patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide at 2–6 week intervals. Scar assessments using VSS, Skinfibrometer, Skinglossmeter, and Mexameter were performed in both scars and contralateral normal skin at each treatment session. Correlations between the measurements by these tools and VSS parameters were examined.

Results

We found statistically significant differences between scar and contralateral normal skin using Skinfibrometer, Skinglossmeter, and Mexameter. A strong correlation was found between the VSS pliability scores and the stiffness of skin of Skinfibrometer (r = 0.628, P < 0.001). VSS vascularity scores showed weak correlation with erythema index of Mexameter (r = 0.372, P < 0.001). However, no correlation appeared to exist between any parameters of VSS and Skinglossmeter and between VSS pigmentation scores and the melanin index of Mexameter.

Conclusion

In our study, Skinfibrometer can be an objective noninvasive evaluation tool for pliability of the scar.

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