SUBCLINICAL SKIN STIFFENING IN ADULTS SUFFERING FROM TYPE-1 DIABETES-MELLITUS - A COMPARISON WITH RAYNAUDS-SYNDROME

Acral skin of patients suffering from either type 1 diabetes mellitus or Raynaud's syndrome may become stiffer than normal Such changes have not yet been thoroughly assessed using biometrological methods. The p urpose of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of skin in these two conditions. Subclinical alterations were looked for on th e back of the hands. We used an in vivo suction device equipped with t wo probes measuring skin extensibility and elasticity of the superfici al and deep layers of the skin, respectively. A total of 58 middle age d adults with type 1 diabetes, 26 patients suffering from Raynaud's sy ndrome and 50 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers participated in the study. There is evidence that both diseases affect the biomechanic al properties Of the dermis and of the underlying tissues. The dual ch anges are apparently opposite, corresponding to a superficial dermal l axity whit the deep dermo-hypodermal tissues show some stiffening. Fro m a biomechanical point of view, type 1 diabetes aggravates skin agein g and is also responsible for a subclinical skin stiffening in many pa tients. Raynaud's syndrome shows similar changes although the skin age ing effect is less prominent and the skin stiffening more frequent.