Age-related changes of the cutaneous microcirculation in vivo.
BACKGROUND
The architectural frameworks of the skin microcirculation are rather complex and change continuously with aging. But these changes are yet poorly documented in vivo.


OBJECTIVE
Using non-invasive methods belonging to the field of biometrology, the study aimed to investigate quantitatively the changes of the cutaneous microvasculature in different anatomic sites with age.


METHODS
Measurements were performed on crow's feet, forehead, volar forearm and dorsum of hand in 50 women (aged 20-74 years who consisted of 10 probands in each live decades). The superficial vascular plexus was scanned by videocapillaroscopy and assessed with the software Capilab Toolbox. The subpapillary vascular plexus was explored with laser Doppler flowmetry. The skin color a* was analyzed by chromametry.


RESULTS
A marked site and age effect on the skin microcirculation has been demonstrated. The density of capillary loops in the eldest group decreased by about 40-70% compared with the youngest group whereas the vascular length increased by 35-156%. The capillary density in the back of the hand was 4 times higher than in the crow's feet. The vascular length in the crow's feet was 3 times longer than in the back of the hand. Both blood flow and skin redness (a*) increased also with age.


CONCLUSIONS
Both morphology and quantification of the cutaneous microvasculature showed changes with site and age. Videocapillaroscopy associated to an image processing and laser Doppler flowmetry revealed different vascular layers. So the combination of both instruments offers an easy way to observe the architectural frameworks in vivo.
Li
Li
L
Cutaneous Engineering and Biology Laboratory and IFR 133 Cell and Tissue Engineering and Biology, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
Mac-Mary
Sophie
S
Sainthillier
Jean-Marie
JM
Nouveau
Stephanie
S
de Lacharriere
Olivier
O
Humbert
Philippe
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000502:physiology*