Objective quantification of epidermal melanin concentration (EMC) should be useful in laser dermatology to determine the individual maximum safe radiant exposure (IMSRE). We propose a single-wavelength remittance measurement at as an alternative optical method to determine EMC and IMSRE. Remittance spectra , melanin index (MI) measurements and the transient radiometric temperature increase, , upon skin irradiation with an Alexandrite laser (, pulse duration, ) were measured on 749 skin spots (arm and calf) on 23 volunteers (skin phototypes I to IV). Due to the shallow penetration depth and independence of blood oxygen saturation (isosbestic point), remittance at appears to provide better estimates for EMC and IMSRE than MI.
