A study of the postburned restored skin

The color of restored skin (RS) resulting from healing of partial skin thic kness burns was analyzed. Comparisons within symmetric skin areas were perf ormed between RS and healthy undamaged skin (HS), using spectrophotometry, in 118 subjects, 64 males, 54 females with an age range of 1-70 years. A to tal of 379 samples were analyzed. The CIE-1976 color system was adopted whe re L*, n* and b*, characterizes the sample color. L*, a* and b* values from restored and healthy skin were obtained and differences between them calcu lated. Age, sex, sun exposure and time span after burn were taken into acco unt and the data was submitted to statistical analysis: Wilcoxon test for a ge and chi(2) for other variables. RS became darker: one year after the ori ginal burn; in subjects with sun exposure and in older subjects. Sex did no t show any influence on brightness index. RS became more red in subjects wi th sun exposure; in older subjects; within the first six months after the b urn. Sex did not show any influence on a* chromaticity axis. RS became more blue: in male subjects and within one year after the burn. Age and sun exp osure did not yield any influence on b* chromaticity axis. (C) 1999 Elsevie r Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.