Influence of age on the wrinkling capacities of skin.
BACKGROUND
Comparisons of clinical assessment with measurement of physical parameters are rare.


OBJECTIVE
To standardize the horizontal wrinkling of the skin in order to define a reference chart of the different wrinkling grades and to propose an interpretation of the clinical pattern in terms of skin layers thickness and mechanical parameters.


METHODS
A device allowing reproducible wrinkling of the skin was made. The skin folds created in this way were clinically assessed on women of different ages. Measurements of the mechanical properties of the skin were carried out by using a Torquemeter. Skin layers' thicknesses were measured by using in vivo Confocal Microscopy (CM) and Ultrasound Imaging (B mode).


RESULTS
Skin wrinkling grades increase versus age. Skin elasticity, extensibility and echogenicity decrease also versus age and the wrinkling grade. Wrinkling appears to be related to skin rigidification (for both stratum corneum and dermis) coupled to a certain weakening of the upper dermis (loss of echogenicity).


CONCLUSIONS
This study points out the key role of the age-related alterations of the upper dermis in skin wrinkling capacities.
Batisse
Dominique
D
L'Oréal Recherche, 90 rue du Général Roguet, Chevilly Larue, 92583 Clichy cedex, France.
Bazin
Roland
R
Baldeweck
Thérèse
T
Querleux
Bernard
B
Lévêque
Jean-Luc
JL
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000295:instrumentation; D020405:Dermis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D014463:Ultrasonography