Proceedings of the 20th Annual International Conference of the ZEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Vol.
20, No 6,1998
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF NORMAL AND SCARRED SKIN
IL. Zhao, L.K. Hung, and Y. T. Zhang *
Dept of Orthopaedics & Traumatology and *Dept of Electronic Engineering,
Chinese University of Hong Kong
E-mail: leungkimhung@cuhk.edu.hk
Abstract
The electrical properties of normal human skin is
important in iontophoresis. The electrical properties would
change if the epidexmis of skin was broken down by burn. In
this study, the change of scar impedance was evaluated using
an impedance device. Results showed that the capacitance
property of scar tissue was stronger than that of skin.
Resistance of scarred skin is lower than that of normal skin
and higher than that of deep tissues. Whether the impedance
of scar is higher or lower than that of normal skin depends on
the depth and density of scar tissue. The low-resistance
property of scarred skin could be suitably treated by
iontophoretic drug delivery, and the high-reactance property
of scar tissues could be very suitably treated by iontophoresis
of PDC .
Keywords
Scar , skin, impedance, resistance, iontophoresis,
Introduction
Knowledge of the electrical properties of normal human
skin (EPNHS) is important in iontophortic drug delivery. The
skin has been modeled as electrical circuit consisting of a
parallel resistor and capacitor, in series with a second resistor
[l]. EPNHS would change if the epidermis of skin were
broken down by burn. Research on electrical properties of
scarred human skin (EPSHS) has seldom been reported
although scar tissue has been treated by iontophoretic model
for many years [3,4]. In this study, the change of scar
impedance was evaluated using an impedance device. This is
a noninvasive and objective technique for quantitative
measurement. By comparing EPNHS and EPSHS, the
characteristics of scarred skin can be elucidated. This would
also provide a theoretical basis for transdermal iontophoretic
drug permeation into scar skin using a pulsed DC field [6].
Material and Method
The principle of measurement of three point method is
shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1., 1.B 1 and B2 provide a constant (IB)
of AC field current. This current would generate a position
gradient (V,) which was produced by impedance of scar
(scarred skin and scar tissue), subcutaneous, and deep tissues
between A, and B2 points. A1 and A2 received the signal
voltage (V,) which was computed, by using a PC, and the
0 1998 IEEE
0-7803-5164-9/98/$10.00 2917
-
resistance, reactance, impedance and phase angle of scarred
skin or normal skin were obtained.
Impedance device
II
I ' -
Computer I, wv-4 1
Fig. 1. Principle of measurement method
The relationship of resistance ( R ), reactance (Xc) and
impedance (Z) is written as: ZZ =R2 + Xc2 [2]. According to
previous studies, in the circuit of AC or PDC field, Vm=
V1+V2+V3,VI=IBXZ~,V~=IBX&; V3=IBx&; where VI and Z1
are the voltage and impedance of scar tissue, V2 and & are
the voltage and impedance of deep tissue (subcutaneous, fat
and muscle), V, and 5 are the voltage and impedance of
scarred skin. Because the current (IB) does not pass the skin
(Al) horizontally, the potential gradient of the skin (AI) is
zero. In adldition, the resistance (impedance) of deep tissue is
a relatively constant magnitude, and IB is constant current.
Therefore, in the circuit of three point method, the impedance
(Z) is the main impedance of scarred skin and scar tissue.
Because the impedance of scarred skin is much higher than
that of scar tissue, VAB was mainly influenced by the
resistance and reactance of scarred skin in three point method.
Therefore, the three point method mainly measured the
electrical properties of scarred skin. 125 scars (62 patients)
were measured with the three point method from July, 1995 to
January, 11996. 86 scars (45 patients) were analyzed by
computer. 36 of the patients were female, the age of the
patients ranged 1-54 years. 32 of the scars located in the
upperlimb, and 54 in the lowerlimb. Post-injury time was one
months to six years. A 4000b Bio-impedance Spectrum
Analyzer System was used. Detection parameters included
resistance (R), reactance (X),impedance (IMP) and electric
phase anglle (P). The frequencies at 45k, 108k and 1M Hz
were used for measurement.

Results
According to the characteristics of scars, 86 scars were
divided into three groups: Convex group, most of scar tissues
raised above skin level. Flat group, scar tissue was flimsy and
soft. Concave group, most of scar tissues was both deep and
firm, extending below skin surface and had deep cicatrices
adhesion (Fig.2.).
The resistance and impedance of convex scars were
significantly lower than that of normal skin, the reactance of
scar was also lower than that of normal skin. The resistance
and impedance of flat scars were slightly lower than that of
normal skin (Table.1). The impedance of flat scar is lower
than normal skin(Table.2). The reactance and phase angle of
concave scars were significantly higher than that of normal
skin, and the impedance of scars was also higher than that of
skin, but the resistance was similar between scar and skin
(Table.3).

convex scar flat scar concave scar

skin
fat layer
muscle layer subcutaneous tissues

Fig.2. Characteristics of scars

Table. 1 . Electrical DroDerties of convex scar (MeanfSD N=34)

Scar-mean 296 238 177 314 160 34

Flat-scar R-45 R-108 R-1M x-45 X-108 X-1 M

Scar-mean 349 294 218 369 190 48
Scar-SD +88 +74 f57 fl51 +71 +21
Skin-mean 393 334 255 371 194 55
Skin-SD +96 +74 f53 +213 +loo +27
P value 0.215 0.183 0.139 0.491 0.466 0.311

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Skin-SD +156 fl47 +99
P value 0.473 0.405 0.246
Discussion
The results showed that the impedance of scarred skin and
normal skin were significantly different. According to the
characteristics of skin structure, the differences were
analyzed. The electrical properties of skin are very
complicated, and they are mainly determined by the structure
of skin in particular the epidermis. The epidermis is
composed of stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum
granulosum and stratum genninativum. The compact stratum
corneum is the first barrier as an ion impermeable layer. The
basement membrane of the germinating layer might be the
second barrier. A large capacitance with polarization element
was composed of the multi-layered structure of stratum
granulosum and stratum germinativum. Therefore, skin has
the characteristic of a capacitor. The sweat gland of high
conductance is a low-resistance pathway. The subcutaneous
tissues, including muscles and other deep tissues, are low
resistance area [6].
In this part of the study, it was shown that resistance
of convex scar was lower than that of normal skin (36%) (P <
0.05),and reactance of the scar was also lower than that of
normal skin but the difference did not reach statistical
significance (-0.07). Therefore, the lower resistance of scar
is the main reason of reduction of impedance of convex scar.
It is suggested that whole layers of skin are broken down. The
stratum corneum disappears almost completely and scarred
skin is thin. However, the compact collagen bundles of scar
tissue are not fully formed yet. Therefore, resistance and
reactance of scar are all decreased. In the meantime, the
normal deep tissues under scar tissues are not obviously
reduced. In addition, scar tissues only involve the superficial
layer of subcutaneous tissue. Therefore, resistance of scarred
skin is obviously decreased in convex type of scar. The
reactance of concave scar is higher than that of normal skin
(P<0.05), and the resistance of the scar is close to the
resistance of normal skin. Therefore, reactance of concave
scar is the main reason for the increase in impedance of
concave scar. It is suggested that in this situation the whole
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+lo1 It54 +6 1
0.014 0.024 0.475
layer of skin is also broken down, and that compact collagen
bundles of scar tissues are formed, which are similar to the
multi-layered structure of stratum granulosum and stratum
germinativum, and the scar tissue is much thicker than skin.
In the meantime, scar tissue involves the deep fat layer, and
the normal tissues under the scar are much decreased.
Therefore, the reactance of concave scar was obviously
increased and the resistance of scar is not reduced. The
impedance of flat scar is lower than that of normal skin. The
resistance of flat scar is the main factor of the decrease in
impedance of flat scar although the difference did not reach
statistical significance. It is proposed that skin has recovered
from injury.
Conclusions
Imitation equivalence circuit of electrical property of normal
skin indicated that capacitance property of skin is strong.
However, tlhis study showed that the capacitance property of
scar tissue was stronger than that of skin. Whether the
impedance of scar is higher or lower than that of normal skin
depends on the depth and density of scar tissue. Resistance of
scarred skin is lower than that of normal skin and higher than
that of deep1 tissues. Resistance of scar tissue might be higher
than that of subcutaneous and muscle tissues. Reactance of
scar tissue is higher than that of skin, fat and deep tissues.
The low-resistance property of scarred skin could be suitably
treated by iontophoretic drug delivery, and the high-reactance
property of scar tissues could be very suitably treated by
iontophoresis of PDC and PSPDC fields [7].
References
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hypertrophic scars: investigation of a new electronic
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