AGE-RELATED-CHANGES IN FACIAL SKIN CONTOURS AND RHEOLOGY

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the age effect on both the mechanical properti es and wrinkling of facial skin. This topic has not previously been ad dressed in the literature. DESIGN: A total of 180 white women aged 18 to 67 years participated in the study. Each of the 5 decades of age wa s represented by 30 subjects, with the exception of menopausal women a ged 48 to 57 years who were allocated to two groups of 30 according to the use or non-use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). SETTING: A U niversity medical center, Belgian SSTC Research Unit 5596. MEASUREMENT S: Mechanical properties of the skin were measured on the face using a computerized suction device. Skin contours were assessed using optica l profilometry and computerized image analysis. RESULTS: Skin aging of the face is characterized by a progressive increase in extensibility associated with a decreased elasticity. The loss of tonicity is accomp anied by a progressive deepening of facial creases. HRT appears to lim it the age-related rheological changes without showing a preventive ef fect on wrinkling of facial skin. CONCLUSION: Aging of facial skin res embles, in some ways, the features previously reported on sun-protecte d areas of the forearms. HRT has a beneficial effect that may slow the overall process of aging without, however, limiting the number and de pth of wrinkles.