Nonlinear optical microscopy for skin in vivo: Basics, development and applications.

Multi-photon microscopy (MPM) and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) are two advanced nonlinear optical imaging techniques, which provide complementary information and have great potential in combination for noninvasive in vivo biomedical applications. This paper provides a detailed discussion of the basics, development and applications of these technologies for in vivo skin research, covering the following topics: The principle and advantage of MPM and CARS, instrumentation development for in vivo applications, MPM and CARS of normal skin, application of MPM and CARS in skin cancer and disease diagnosis; application of MPM in skin disease intervention, i.e., imaging guided two-photon photothermolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]