Assessment of Photoaging: A Multiaparametric Approach

Photoaging refers to skin damage caused by repetitive ultraviolet exposures. Characteristics of photoaging include dry, sallow skin, fine lines, coarse wrinkles, alteration of epidermal and dermal components and loss of elasticity. Free radicals, glycation, environmental factors, dietary habits and smoking all are factors contributing to skin damage. Consumers are looking to reverse the signs of aging and preserve youthfulness. Several non‐invasive tools may be used for identifying aging skin characteristics and also for evaluating product efficacy. Our objective was to identify skin aging parameters using bioengineering tools. Clinical studies were conducted in healthy women (35–60y) that gave signed informed consent and met the study criteria. Various measurements using techniques involving capacitance for study stratum corneum hydration, evaporimetry for transepidermal water loss, chromameter for skin color, ballistometry for skin elasticity and silicon replicas for wrinkles and roughness were carried out. Also, subjective questionnaires, clinical visual evaluation by trained grader and digital photography were included. Our results showed changes in skin hydration, transepidermal water loss and elasticity suggesting biophysical methods, subjective questionnaires, clinical evaluation and digital photography can help provide useful information about skin aging. In conclusion the value of a multi‐parametric approach is important in understanding photoaging. This may have important implications in studying product efficacy as well as efficay differences between various antiaging products.