title: Asymmetric facial skin viscoelasticity during climacteric aging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Climacteric skin aging affects certain biophysical characteristics of facial skin. The purpose of the present study was to assess the symmetric involvement of the cheeks in this stage of the aging process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin viscoelasticity was compared on both cheeks in premenopausal and post-menopausal women with indoor occupational activities somewhat limiting the influence of chronic sun exposure. Eighty-four healthy women comprising 36 premenopausal women and 48 early post-menopausal women off hormone replacement therapy were enrolled in two groups. The tensile characteristics of both cheeks were tested and compared in each group. A computerized suction device equipped with a 2 mm diameter hollow probe was used to derive viscoelasticity parameters during a five-cycle procedure of 2 seconds each. Skin unfolding, intrinsic distensibility, biological elasticity, and creep extension were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both biological elasticity and creep extension were asymmetric on the cheeks of the post-menopausal women. In contrast, these differences were more discrete in the premenopausal women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Facial skin viscoelasticity appeared to be asymmetric following menopause. The possibility of asymmetry should be taken into account in future studies of the effects of hormone replacement therapy and any antiaging procedure on the face in menopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Skin Bioengineering and Imaging, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gérald E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Piérard
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Skin Bioengineering and Imaging, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Trinh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hermanns-Lê
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ulysse
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gaspard
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Skin Bioengineering and Imaging, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piérard-Franchimont
keywords: biological elasticity; biomechanics; climacteric aging; photoaging; skin tensile properties; skin unfolding
references.citation: Maturitas. 2013 Jul;75(3):246-52
references.pmid: 23642541
references.citation: Skin Res Technol. 2000 Aug;6(3):118-27
references.pmid: 11428954
references.citation: Expert Opin Med Diagn. 2013 Sep;7(5):455-62
references.pmid: 23919262
references.citation: ScientificWorldJournal. 2012;2012:386936
references.pmid: 22536139
references.citation: J Invest Dermatol. 2013 Jul 01;133(E1):E2-6
references.pmid: 23820721
references.citation: ISRN Dermatol. 2013 Aug 05;2013:841217
references.pmid: 23986871
references.citation: Maturitas. 2010 Feb;65(2):161-6
references.pmid: 19733988
references.citation: Dermatology. 1996;193(4):273-4
references.pmid: 8993948
references.citation: Maturitas. 1999 Jun 21;32(2):87-93
references.pmid: 10465376
references.citation: Curr Drug Targets. 2013 Sep;14(10):1128-34
references.pmid: 23834148
references.citation: Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:971760
references.pmid: 24455744
references.citation: Skin Res Technol. 2008 Aug;14(3):354-8
references.pmid: 19159383
references.citation: Exp Dermatol. 2006 Feb;15(2):83-94
references.pmid: 16433679
references.citation: Exp Gerontol. 2003 Mar;38(3):327-31
references.pmid: 12581798
references.citation: Int J Cosmet Sci. 2008 Apr;30(2):87-95
references.pmid: 18377617
references.citation: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Dec;189(6):1646-53
references.pmid: 14710092
references.citation: Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4(6):371-8
references.pmid: 12762829
references.citation: Skin Res Technol. 2011 May;17(2):141-8
references.pmid: 21281361
references.citation: Skin Res Technol. 1998 Nov;4(4):237-43
references.pmid: 27332694
references.citation: Expert Opin Med Diagn. 2013 Mar;7(2):119-25
references.pmid: 23530882
references.citation: Gerontology. 1998;44(3):159-61
references.pmid: 9592688
references.citation: Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014 Feb;36(1):88-92
references.pmid: 24152248