Advances and Applications in Dermatological Ultrasound

In recent years, dermatological ultrasound has made significant breakthroughs in the research and application of dermatology by virtue of its advantages of non-invasive, real-time imaging and high resolution. The increase of ultrasonic probe frequency makes it possible to visualize the skin structure. Different frequencies of high frequency or ultra-high-frequency ultrasound can realize different degrees of presentation of the fine structure of epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layer. The wide range of application of shear wave elastography provides a new ultrasonic evaluation index for skin diseases represented by scleroderma. This review provides a detailed summary of the latest application progress and research frontiers of ultrasound in different skin diseases. It includes the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of scleroderma, the diagnosis and activity evaluation of psoriasis, the diagnosis and follow-up of nevus punctatum, the differentiation of benign and malignant skin tumors, the evaluation of pathological scar, the application in the field of aesthetic medicine, and the evaluation of other common skin diseases. In the future, dermatological ultrasound is expected to play a more important role in accurate classification of diseases and prognosis prediction with the further innovation of equipment and the deep exploration of skin diseases.