Methods and systems are provided for analyzing microcirculation using photoacoustic spectroscopy by emitting continuous light at one or more frequencies. A photoacoustic spectroscopy monitor may utilize a slow modulation method to vaiy the wavelength of light emitted, such that different absorbers may be measured in a patient's tissue. The photoacoustic spectroscopy sensor may emit a lower power continuous light towards a patient's tissue. The acoustic response generated by the tissue may be sensed by a thin polymer sensing film at the detector of the sensor. Based on the amplitude and phase information of the acoustic response sensed by the detector, the monitor may determine a concentration of an absorber, as well as a location of the absorbers, in the patient's tissue.
