Use of Cutometer area parameters in evaluating age-related changes in the skin elasticity of the cheek.
OBJECTIVE
The decrease of skin elasticity on the cheek is a major concern to woman. The Cutometer has been widely used to evaluate skin elasticity and its change with aging. Cutometer parameters derived from one suction have been traditionally used to evaluate skin elasticity, and few reports describe the use of multiple suctions to obtain parameters to assess the skin elasticity of the cheek. To find the most suitable Cutometer parameter that reflects age-related changes in the elasticity of cheek skin using multiple suctions.


METHODS
The cheeks of 32 healthy Japanese women (mean age, 42.3 years) were assessed using the Cutometer MPA580 by measuring the skin mechanical parameters R0-R9, F2 and F3. Parameters F2 and F3 were obtained by the multiple suction method. The relationship between age and these parameters were then examined.


RESULTS
Significant negative correlations were found between the age of subjects and R2, R3, R7, R8 and F3. Of these, the correlation coefficient was best between age and F3 (r = -0.641), followed R8 (r = -0.603).


CONCLUSIONS
Although R parameters have been used to evaluate skin elasticity, our study showed that F3 parameters derived from multiple suctions appear to be suitable for evaluating the elasticity of cheek skin, since this parameter is less influenced by environmental factors compared with R parameters.
POLA Laboratories, POLA Chemical Industries, Inc., Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Japan. ooshima@pola.co.jp
Hiroshi
H
Ohshima
Shigemi
S
Kinoshita
Midori
M
Oyobikawa
Mikayo
M
Futagawa
Hirotsugu
H
Takiwaki
Akira
A
Ishiko
Hiromi
H
Kanto
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002610:Cheek / Q000473:pathology*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D004548:Elasticity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena