Mechanical properties of the skin: a comparison between two suction cup methods.
OBJECTIVE
The objective measure of mechanical properties of the skin is relevant to the clinician as well as to the researcher concerned with skin physiology. The lack of standardization among methods used to obtain visco-elastic data from the skin is however, apparent and represents an obstacle to comparison of the results derived from the various studies concerning the subject.


METHODS
The mechanical properties of the ventral forearm were studied in 35 healthy volunteers. The Dermaflex and the DermaLab (Both Cortex Technology, Hadsund, Denmark) were compared. The results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and correlations using non-parametric methods. Measurement accuracy was assessed using coefficient of variation. Sub analysis was made in groups according to gender and age.


RESULTS
The overall correlations between the two methods were moderate (r = 0.383-0.437). A greater coefficient of variation was found in the DermaLab machine. Significant differences were found between all values of both methods when comparing the mechanical properties of the skin in 30-39 years olds versus the group of 40-58 years olds. No differences were found between the genders.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that both methods are useful in the study of the mechanical aspects of the skin, especially for detecting age-related changes. The Dermaflex seems to produce more accurate for data. This is thought to be due to the conceptual design differences between the two methods. The methods measure related but not identical values of the mechanical properties of the skin, as reflected by the limited positive correlation between them.
Pedersen
L
L
Department of medicine, Roskilde Hospital and Osteoporosis Research Centre, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. louisepedersen@get2net.dk
Hansen
B
B
Jemec
G B E
GB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003880:Dermatology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000502:physiology; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014618:Vacuum; D014783:Viscosity