Biothermomechanical behavior of skin tissue

Advances in laser, microwave and similar technologies have led to recent developments of thermal treatments involving skin tissue. The effectiveness of these treatments is governed by the coupled thermal, mechanical, biological and neural responses of the affected tissue: a favorable interaction results in a procedure with relatively little pain and no lasting side effects. Currently, even though each behavioral facet is to a certain extent established and understood, none exists to date in the interdisciplinary area. A highly interdisciplinary approach is required for studying the biothermomechanical behavior of skin, involving bioheat transfer, biomechanics and physiology. A comprehensive literature review pertinent to the subject is presented in this paper, covering four subject areas: (a) skin structure, (b) skin bioheat transfer and thermal damage, (c) skin biomechanics, and (d) skin biothermomechanics. The major problems, issues, and topics for further studies are also outlined. This review finds that significant advances in each of these aspects have been achieved in recent years. Although focus is placed upon the biothermomechanical behavior of skin tissue, the fundamental concepts and methodologies reviewed in this paper may also be applicable for studying other soft tissues.