Open AccessSkin indentation firmness and tissue dielectric constant assessed in face, neck, and arm skin of young healthy women
Author(s) -
Mayrovitz Harvey N.,
Corbitt Kelly,
Grammenos Alexandra,
Abello Allen,
Mammino Jason
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
skin research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.521
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1600-0846
pISSN - 0909-752X
DOI - 10.1111/srt.12310
Subject(s) - skin conductance , skin thickness , population , medicine , materials science , nuclear medicine , chemistry , biomedical engineering , environmental health
Purpose Our goal was to test the hypothesis that skin firmness correlates with skin hydration. Methods Dermal water was assessed by tissue dielectric constant ( TDC ) at 0.5 mm ( TDC 0.5 ) and 2.5 mm ( TDC 2.5 ) depths on four face sites and two arm sites of 35 women (25.0 ± 1.6 years). Firmness was determined by force ( mN ) to indent skin to 0.3 mm (F 0.3 ) and 1.3 mm (F 1.3 ). Results F 0.3 was similar among face sites (avg = 16.2 ± 7.2 mN ) but F 1.3 varied (avg = 32.5 ± 4.1 mN ). TDC 2.5 was similar among face sites (avg = 37.7 ± 4.2) but TDC 0.5 varied (avg = 36.2 ± 4.8). F 1.3 of arm sites was similar (avg = 60.2 ± 18.6 mN ) and both greater than F 1.3 of neck (28.3 ± 7.1 mN ) and face. Regression analysis showed a near‐zero correlation between forces and TDC at all sites. Conclusion The near‐zero correlation may be due to low skin interstitial hydraulic resistance to mobile water movement in healthy young skin. If true, then conditions in which dermal hydraulic conductance is reduced as in lymphedematous, diabetic, or aged skin are more likely show the hypothesized relationship. Our findings provide normalized reference values and suggest that such persons are an important population to study to test for a possible skin water–indentation force relationship and its utilization for early diagnosis.