The performance of a medico-cosmetic consultation unit

Synopsis The facial skin of almost 500 women was measured by low pressure indentometry and surface pH-metry. The women's skin was also classified by visual observation by a well-trained cosmetician. Agreement between indentometry and cosmetic definition was found to be well correlated, except in the group of young women with dry skin. In this group, we believe, indentometry more accurately describes skin status. A significant relationship was found between high skin pH (>5.9) and lack of elasticity in the older age group with dry skin. It is hypothesized that high skin surface pH below the age of 70 is an expression of accelerated ageing process, and further, that chronic, high pH treatment of the skin leads to accelerated loss of skin elasticity.