Influence of age and regional differences on skin elasticity as measured by the Cutometer.
OBJECTIVE
Aging of skin is accompanied by decrease of skin elasticity. Using the noninvasive suction device Cutometer, we evaluated the age and regional body differences of the viscoelastic properties of human skin. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the correlation between age and the biomechanical parameters and the regional skin variations.


METHODS
A total of 96 healthy women aged 20-75 years were included in this study. The biomechanical properties of the skin were measured by using the Cutometer. Measurements were made on the face, upper arm and back.


RESULTS
The age of subjects showed significant positive correlation with R4 and R6, and negative correlation with R2, R5 and R7. The face showed bigger changes of elastic properties than the arm and the back. Especially, the R7 of face was most significantly decreased with aging. We could estimate the so-called 'skin age' by using a correlation equation for this parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
The viscoelastic properties were significantly influenced by aging. Also, significant regional variations in the viscoelastic properties were observed. Skin elasticity measurement is useful for the quantitative evaluation of age-related changes.
Ryu
Hyo Sub
HS
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Gyeonggi, Korea.
Joo
Young Hyun
YH
Kim
Sun Ok
SO
Park
Kyoung Chan
KC
Youn
Sang Woong
SW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014783:Viscosity; D055815:Young Adult