title: Three-dimensional morphological characterization of the skin surface micro-topography using a skin replica and changes with age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Skin surface micro-topography (SSMT), consisting of pores, ridges and furrows, reflects the skin condition and is an important factor determining the aesthetics of the skin. Most previous studies evaluating SSMT have employed two-dimensional image analysis of magnified pictures captured by a video microscope. To improve the accuracy of SSMT analysis, we established a three-dimensional (3D) analysis method for SSMT and developed various parameters including the skin ridge number, and applied the method to study the age-dependent change in skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used for 3D measurement of the surface morphology of silicon replicas taken from the cheek. We then used these data to calculate the parameters that reflect the nature of SSTM including the skin ridge number using originally developed software. Employing a superscription technique, we investigated the variation in SSMT with age for replicas taken from the cheeks of 103 Japanese females (5-85 years old).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The skin surface area and roughness, the area of pores, the area, length, depth and width of skin furrows and the number of skin ridges were examined. The surface roughness, the area of pores and the depth of skin furrows increased with age. The area and length of skin furrows and the number of skin ridges decreased with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method proposed to analyse SSMT three dimensionally is an effective tool with which to characterize the condition of the skin.
authors.affiliation: Shiseido Research Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oguri
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morinaga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D002610:Cheek / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ageing; skin furrow; skin pore; skin ridge; skin surface micro-topography; three-dimensional morphological characterization