Changes in skinfold thickness with increasing age

Skinfold thickness measurements on 626 normal subjects of both sexes between the ages of 5 months and 73 years demonstrated a tri-phasic relationship between loss of skin thickness and age. Measurements for infants of either sex were indistinguishable and high, falling rapidly to levels which only changed slightly over the period 20-60 years. Thereafter, massive loss of skin-thickness occurred in both sexes. Throughout the major portion of adult life the values obtained for females were significantly lower than those for males. It is suggested that the three phases may be associated with progressive dehydration, failure to synthesize collagen and frank degradation of the collagen of the dermis.