title: Relevance of the directionality of skin elasticity to aging and sagging of the face.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Forces acting in facial skin have been suggested to show directionality. Non-invasive methods of measuring this directionality may thus provide information related to aging processes. The Reviscometer(®) RVM600 device is capable of measuring directionality of forces on the skin. This device has not been used previously in a published study to evaluate changes in directionality of forces on facial skin with aging.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The first objective of this pilot study was to investigate relationships between mechanical directionality using the Reviscometer(®) RVM600, the Cutometer(®) MPA580, and aging of the facial skin in a supine position. In addition, the study investigated relationships between mechanical directionality and 'skin sagging,' which may be caused by gravity. To validate this as a new measurement of mechanical directionality, we also performed double-blinded trials on two groups of subjects, with one group using a product containing an anti-aging substance and the other group using a placebo product without an anti-aging substance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 91 healthy Japanese women with a mean age of 48.5 years (range, 20-79 years) at the three sites on the face using the Reviscometer(®) RVM600 and the Cutometer(®) MPA580, and evaluation was performed for skin sagging in September and November 2008, and January 2009. The Reviscometer(®) RVM600 was used to measure resonance-running time (RRT) every 10° from 0° to 350°. Evaluation of skin sagging was undertaken by making marks on the face and using face photographs taken in both sitting and supine positions to calculate the sagging index. Usage testing was conducted on 38 healthy Japanese women in a double-blinded study with one group, using a preparation containing Yomogi AGEs Clearing (YAC) extract and another group using the same preparation without the YAC extract from October 2008 to April 2009. Mean age of these subjects was 44.0 years (range, 30-60 years). Measurements were taken at the three sites on the face using the Reviscometer(®) RVM600 and the Cutometer(®) MPA580 and sagging index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was identified between RRT parameters and subject age at all three measurement sites. Significant correlations between sagging index and RRT values were found for 110-170° and 290-350° only at the center of the cheek. Significant differences in RRT values were noted for 110-150° and 300-350° at this site between subjects with and without the use of YAC extract. A similar trend was found in sagging index for this site alone between subjects with and without YAC extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of non-invasive procedures to measure skin mechanical parameters on the face in all directions may evaluate aging and effective preventive and restorative support.
authors.affiliation: POLA Laboratories, POLA Chemical Industries Inc., Yokohama, Japan. ooshima@pola.co.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanamaru
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akamatsu
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019306:Artemisia; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004548:Elasticity; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D003094:Collagen