Characterization of age-related effects in human skin: A comparative study that applies confocal laser scanning microscopy and optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Skin structure and age-related changes in human skin were characterized in vivo by applying confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The overall effect of aging skin, derived from studies of volunteers belonging to two age groups, was found to be a significant decrease in the maximum thickness of the epidermis and flattening of the dermo-epidermal junction. At a certain depth in the dermis, well below the basal layer, a reflecting layer of fibrous structure is observed in CLSM images. The location of this layer strongly depends on age and is situated much deeper below the skin surface in younger than in older skin. In addition, large structural changes were observed with age. The OCT images show two bright reflecting layers. The first one is due to scattering at the skin surface. The second band appears to be caused by a layer of fibrous structure in the dermis. Direct comparison of CLSM and OCT suggests that the same fibrous layer is imaged by the two techniques. This layer might be due to the transition between the papillary and reticular dermis. A comparison of CLSM and OCT enables a better understanding of the images.

Using optical coherence tomography to evaluate skin sun damage and precancer

“…Therefore in general in OCT images, the papillary ridges are not well defined. This effect may be heightened in our study because of the demographics of our patient population; age has been shown to flatten the dermoepidermal junction [12]. While individual collagen and elastin bundles cannot be seen, their cumulative backscattering and attenuation creates a characteristic texture.…”

“…A deeper brightly reflecting layer is seen below the epidermis. By comparing OCT images with confocal microscopy images, it has been shown that this hyperintense layer in OCT images is not the epidermal-dermal junction [12]. Rather, it appears to be caused by a layer of fibrous structure in the dermis that may be due to the transition from the papillary to the reticular dermis.…”

“…Fitting to a line was considered appropriate because an exponential decrease in backscattered light intensity with depth occurred, yet the demodulation electronics performed a logarithmic function on the detected signal. Because previous studies have found differences in skin with age [12,13], the data were analyzed to determine whether sorting by age or sex was necessary. Images on both the forearm and upper inner arm were evaluated.…”

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in skin ageing: a review

“…There are large differences in skin thickness with respect to body site, ranging from <0.5 mm on the eyelids to more than 6 mm on the soles of the feet [24]. The decrease in epidermal thickness with ageing was found to be smaller at the temple than at the volar forearm [21,25], which may be the effect of cumulative photoageing.…”

“…There are large differences in skin thickness with respect to body site, ranging from <0.5 mm on the eyelids to more than 6 mm on the soles of the feet [24]. The decrease in epidermal thickness with ageing was found to be smaller at the temple than at the volar forearm [21,25], which may be the effect of cumulative photoageing.The lipid composition of human stratum corneum displays striking regional variation in both content and compositional profile [23]. There is a much higher proportion of sphingolipids and cholesterol in palmoplantar stratum corneum than on extensor surfaces of the extremities, abdominal or facial stratum corneum [23].…”