Abstract. A modulated photoacoustic spectroscopy study on the effect of dihydroxyacetone, commonly used for artificial tan, is presented. The study was carried out in the presence and absence of dimethylisosorbide (a solvent for dihydroxyacetone) on fresh human skin, obtained from the breast region of recent autopsy cases (two females), at a frequency of 25 Hz, which enabled us to study the effect at a depth of 30 µm in the stratum corneum and beneath. By monitoring the photoacoustic signal intensity with time in the region of 300–400 nm, which is a specific region for melanin pigment, it is demonstrated that dihydroxyacetone in combination with dimethylisosorbide enhances the process of tanning. Dihydroxyacetone also has an effect on the amino acids and nucleic acids which is bad for the skin.

Keywords: photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), stratum corneum (SC), dihydroxyacetone (DHA), dimethylisosorbide (DMI)

Print publication: Issue 5 (October 2004)
Received 6 May 2004, accepted for publication 8 June 2004
Published 6 August 2004