[Skin mechanomedicine]

Abstract

Traditional research on skin diseases has mainly focused on biological characteristics for a long time. Recently, the integration of biomechanics and mechanobiology has introduced mechanical factors into skin disease research. The interaction between mechanical factors and skin's physiological and pathological changes has gradually been transformed in clinical diagnosis and treatment. The two emerging fields, mechanodiagnostics and mechanotherapy, have been developed to address clinical needs. However, clinicians often lack a comprehensive understanding of skin mechanical characteristics and the mechanobiological mechanisms in dermatology. Thus, we propose the concept of "skin mechanomedicine". By summarizing relevant research at home and abroad, this paper systematically elucidates the multiscale mechanical characteristics of skin diseases and their impact on biological behavior from four perspectives: skin biomechanics, skin mechanobiology, skin mechanodiagnostics, and skin mechanotherapy. Meanwhile, in-depth exploration was conducted on the potential application of mechanical factors in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases, aiming to provide new research perspectives and solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases.