title: Dermal matrix affects translucency of incident light on the skin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The age-dependent changes in the optical reflection characteristics have been studied about skin hydration, melanin index, or skin color. However, the age-dependent changes in the optical reflection have little attention on inner skin structures. To control the factors affecting the optical reflection except for dermal matrix, subjects were selected as our guideline and we evaluated the optical reflection of subsurface on skin layers of two age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young and old healthy volunteers were recruited after signing a written informed consent form. Facial skin was measured by means of noninvasive measurements: skin hydration, color, epidermis and dermis thickness, dermal density, subsurface reflectance, and transmittance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to young group, old group showed that dermal density and thickness was decreased significantly although epidermis thickness was not changed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, dermal density is one of the major factors which affects the subsurface reflectance in skin.
authors.affiliation: Skin Research Center, DERMAPRO LTD., Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Eo
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008875:Middle Aged; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dermal matrix; radiance; subsurface reflection; translucency