The surface structural alterations of elastic fibers and elastotic material in solar elastosis: a scanning electron microscopic study

The surface structure of altered elastic fibers and elastotic material in solar elastosis has been described using a scanning electron microscope. There were 3 different areas in the dermis, depending on the degree of changes in elastic fibers: areas of (1) normal-looking fibers, (2) thick, cylindrical fibers, and (3) a large mass of markedly changed fibers. They were mainly located in the deep, middle, and upper dermis, respectively. The normal-looking fibers were the same as the normal elastic fiber. The thick, cylindrical fibers showed various findings ranging from relatively normal to heavily damaged surface. The large mass was composed of a cord-like element and a fine net-like one. There was a transition between the thick, cylindrical fibers and the large mass. It is suggested that the thick, cylindrical fiber is an early event and the mass is more damaged, as one of the elastotic changes in solar elastosis. It is also suggested that the thick, cylindrical fiber corresponds to the fibrous form and the mass to the amorphous form of the elastotic material.