Use of a novel indentometer to evaluate skin stiffness in healthy and diseased human skin

Abstract

Background: Mechanical behavior of the skin can be evaluated by different noninvasive methods. In this study, we applied a new measurement device based on indentometry to determine the skin mechanical properties in healthy individuals and in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Material and methods:Three studies were performed. Study 1 included 100 healthy individuals (46 male and 54 female) divided into four age groups with mean ages of 21.5, 28.9, 51.2, and 69.3 years, respectively. Test sites were located on the center of the forehead and the middle of both volar forearms. Study 2 included 16 healthy individuals (two males and 14 females). Test sites were on both volar forearms. Measurements were made before and after the application of Vaseline and emulsion with 12% urea. Study 3 included 20 patients (one male and 19 females) with SSc and 60 agematched healthy individuals (23 males and 37 females). Test sites were on the center of the forehead and the middle of both volar forearms. Skin stiffness was measured with skin Indentometer IDM 800 (Courage + Khazaka, Cologne, Germany) equipped with two probes with pin diameters of 3 and 5 mm, respectively. The stiffer the skin, the less deep the displacement by the indenter. The smaller the diameter, the deeper the pin will go into the skin when using the same force. In addition, the Corneometer CM 820 (Courage + Khazaka) was used to determine epidermal water content in study 2. Results: Indentometric (IDM) values of healthy subjects measured with both probeswere lower on the forehead compared to volar forearms. There was no significant difference between both forearms. In all age groups, the IDM values on the male forearms were lower than on the female forearms whereas there was no significant difference on the forehead. In both sex and on all test locations a significant positive correlation between age and IDM values measured with both probes was observed. There was a significant positive correlation between IDM values measured with both probes.The application of moisturizers induced significant changes in epidermal water content whereas the IDM values remained unchanged. At both the forehead and volar forearms, the IDM values in patients with SSc were significantly lower compared to the healthy control skin.

Correlation analysis between texture features and elasticity of skin hyperspectral images in the near‐infrared band

“…This study measured skin elasticity using a skin elastimeter (Delfin, Kuopio, Finland). 16 , 17 A skin elastimeter measures the value (N/m) per unit area in which the indenter of the device is in contact with the skin. When the indenter at the center of a 23 mm diameter plate was manually pressed into the skin for approximately 2 s, with the participant lying comfortably on a mat, the instantaneous force required to deform the skin was measured.…”

“…Definition of elasticity in this study "Elasticity," as defined in this study, is the force required to press the skin when pressed inward. 16 Therefore, the harder the skin, the higher its resistance, which requires a large force to deform, resulting in a high elasticity value.…”

Efficacy and Safety of Monopolar Radiofrequency for Tightening the Skin of Aged Faces

“…We measured skin firmness on the cheek with an indentometer (Courage+Khazaka electronic GmbH, Köln, Germany) [14,15]. The tip was placed perpendicularly on the skin, and the force exerted by the spring on the tip causes deformation of the skin surface.…”