Noninvasive Methods for Studying Skin with Different Morphotypes of Aging

Abstract

The aim of this work is to estimate changes in the functional state of the microvasculature and to study the peculiarities of the morphological parameters of skin by noninvasive research methods with different morphotypes of aging. The study involves 55 individuals aged 35–65 with involutional changes of the lower third of the face. Four morphotypes of aging are identified, depending on which patients are divided into the groups: the first group, 19 female patients with deformational type; second, 17 female patients with tired type; third, 8 female patients with fine-wrinkled type; and fourth, 11 female patients with mixed morphotype. Laser Doppler flowmetry and ultrasound examination of the skin (22 MHz) are used to study the state of the skin. Using the laser-Doppler-flowmetry method, significant changes are detected when comparing microcirculation indices and the ultrasound method for examination of the deformational and fine wrinkled types (p < 0.05). A predominantly atonic type of microcirculation is observed for the deformational and mixed types (9.42 ± 3.71 and 9.56 ± 2.31 perf. units, respectively); spasm type was observed for the fine-wrinkled morphotype (7.86 ± 1.6 perf. units); and for the tired morphotype, the microcirculation index was within the normal range (7.86 ± 1.6 perf. units). Data on skin ultrasound examination allows detection of the highest values of the thickness of the epidermis (125.94 ± 27.84 µm), dermis (1439 ± 118.11 µm), dermis density (12 ± 2.59 conv. units) in female patients with the deformational morphotype of aging as compared with the thickness of the epidermis (85 ± 22.01 µm), the thickness of the dermis (1130 ± 68.55 µm), and dermis density (7.87 ± 2.1 conv. units) with the fine-wrinkled morphotype of aging.