Exposure to fine particulate matter associated with senile lentigo in Chinese women: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
Skin ageing especially senile lentigo directly affects self-esteem. For decades, senile lentigo has been associated with chronic exposure to solar radiation. However, a study conducted recently in Caucasian subjects suggested that exposure to air pollution was significantly correlated with extrinsic skin ageing, in particular senile lentigines.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and skin ageing, particularly senile lentigo and seborrheic keratosis.


METHODS
The study enrolled 400 Chinese women aged 40-90 years including 210 from the Yanqing county in Beijing (low PM2.5exposure group) and 190 from the Xuanwumen in Beijing (high PM2.5exposure group). Skin ageing symptoms, particularly senile lentigines and seborrheic keratoses, were clinically assessed using scores of intrinsic and extrinsic skin ageing. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to analyse the effect of PM2.5on skin ageing adjusted for factors underlying skin ageing.


RESULTS
In the study population of Xuanwumen, we found that senile lentigo on cheeks and back of hands was 1.48 times and 2.8 times higher, respectively, compared with those from Yanqing county. However, no association was found between PM2.5and seborrheic keratosis. We found that other variables such as smoking, second-hand smoking, contact with fossil fuels and skin types were significantly associated with skin ageing.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that PM2.5was another extrinsic factor promoting skin ageing.
Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
F
F
Peng
Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
C-H
CH
Xue
Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
S K
SK
Hwang
Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
W-H
WH
Li
Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
Z
Z
Chen
Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
J-Z
JZ
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007911:Lentigo / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter; D015595:Skin Aging
D052638:Particulate Matter