Confocal laser microscope.

The confocal laser microscope is a novel and interesting noninvasive tool for imaging skin lesions and subsurface skin lesions that are not visible to the naked eye or even by dermoscopy. Skin can be imaged in vivo or freshly biopsied (in vitro) skin specimens can be visualized immediately without the processing that is required for routine histopathology. Dynamic events (real time imaging) in the epidermis, papillary dermis and superficial reticular dermis to a maximum depth of 350 μm below the stratum corneum can also be visualized. It has potential for diagnosing skin lesions with precision and could also become a tool for monitoring treatments in some cases.