AGE-RELATED DISCONTINUOUS CHANGES IN THE IN-VIVO FLUORESCENCE OF HUMAN FACIAL SKIN

We measured the 325-nm laser-induced fluorescence of the skin of the f ace and ventral forearm in seventy Japanese female volunteers, and eva luated the effects of age and exposure to sunlight. The subjects were arbitrarily grouped into 10-year age-groups. In slightly exposed areas such as the ventral forearm: the average laser-induced intensity rati o at 390 nm to 430 nm showed no significant differences with the age g roup. In areas markedly exposed to sunlight such as the corners of the eyes and mouth, the average laser-induced intensity ratio showed a di scontinuous decrease with age. These findings suggested that dermal fl uorphore changes differ with the skin areas and are affected by sunlig ht exposure. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.