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Effects of ageing on dermal echogenicity
1Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Summary
High-frequency skin ultrasonography can detect dermal changes related to aging. A ratio of echogenicity between the upper and lower dermis may serve as an objective marker for quantifying skin photoaging.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Medical Imaging
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging causes dermal changes detectable by high-frequency skin ultrasonography.
- Photoaged skin exhibits a subepidermal low echo-genic band (SLEB), likely representing papillary dermal elastosis and edema.
- SLEB thickness and echogenicity on exposed sites have been proposed as quantitative markers for skin photoaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of SLEB as a quantitative marker for skin aging.
- To determine the prevalence and characteristics of SLEB in forearm skin across different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Assessed SLEB prevalence in 55 individuals aged 18-57 years using high-frequency skin ultrasonography.
- Quantified SLEB size by counting low echogenic pixels in the subepidermal area.
- Calculated the ratio of echogenicity between the upper and lower dermis.
Main Results:
- SLEB prevalence increased with age, though it was also observed in younger individuals.
- Subepidermal area echogenicity did not show a direct age-dependent trend.
- A linear relationship between the upper/lower dermis echogenicity ratio and age was identified.
Conclusions:
- Skin echogenicity, specifically the ratio between upper and lower dermis, offers an objective method for estimating skin photoaging.
- This ratio may serve as a reliable quantitative marker for assessing age-related dermal changes.