Assessment of skin photoaging with reflectance confocal microscopy

Background/Purpose Increased interest in antiaging methods, mandates a development of reliable noninvasive technique to assess skin aging. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of photoaging at histopathologic resolution by means of reflectance confocal microscopy. Method The sun‐exposed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Skin research and technology 2014-08, Vol.20 (3), p.363-372
Main Authors: Kutlu Haytoglu, N. S., Gurel, M. S., Erdemir, A., Falay, T., Dolgun, A., Haytoglu, T. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - physiology
Collagen
collagen changes
Dermoscopy - methods
elastosis
Female
Humans
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods
Male
Microscopy
Microscopy, Confocal - methods
Microscopy, Interference - methods
Middle Aged
noninvasive imaging
photoaging
reflectance confocal microscopy
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Skin
Skin - cytology
Skin - radiation effects
skin aging
Skin Aging - physiology
Sunlight
Wound healing
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Summary:Background/Purpose Increased interest in antiaging methods, mandates a development of reliable noninvasive technique to assess skin aging. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of photoaging at histopathologic resolution by means of reflectance confocal microscopy. Method The sun‐exposed malar area, the anterior aspect of ear lobule, and the sun‐protected posterior aspect of ear lobule had been evaluated in 120 volunteers from different age groups over 10 previously reported and new confocal parameters for skin aging. Result The sun‐exposed areas revealed more frequent irregular honeycomb pattern, polycylic papillary contours, coarse collagen, huddled collagen, curled bright structures with higher epidermal thickness, and furrow depth values. However, the incidence of thin reticulated collagen and the number of dermal papillae were statistically higher on the sun‐protected posterior aspect of ear lobule. Conclusion Reflectance confocal microscopy is a reliable diagnostic technique for evaluation of skin photoaging with objective criteria. With the new emerging compact models it is possible to scan even the least accessible body parts with no discomfort to the patient, which offers the possibility to assess the effect of antiaging applications and to identify early signs of solar damage in cosmetically sensitive areas.
ISSN:0909-752X
1600-0846
DOI:10.1111/srt.12127