Loss of elastic fibers causes skin wrinkles in sun-damaged human skin

• Published in: Journal of dermatological science Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 99 - 107
• Main Authors: Lee, Jin Young, Kim, Yeon Kyung, Seo, Jin Young, Choi, Chong Won, Hwang, Jae Sung, Lee, Byeong Gon, Chang, Ih Seop, Chung, Jin Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.2008
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dermatologic Agents - administration & dosage; Dermatology; Double-Blind Method; Elastic fiber; Elastic Tissue - drug effects; Elastic Tissue - metabolism; Elastic Tissue - pathology; Elastic Tissue - radiation effects; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - metabolism; Face; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Regeneration - drug effects; Retinoid; Severity of Illness Index; Skin - drug effects; Skin - metabolism; Skin - pathology; Skin - radiation effects; Skin aging; Skin Aging - drug effects; Skin Aging - pathology; Skin Aging - radiation effects; Skin wrinkle; Sunlight - adverse effects; Treatment Outcome; Tretinoin - administration & dosage; Elastic fiber; Skin wrinkle; Skin aging; Retinoid
• ISSN: 0923-1811; 1873-569X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2007.11.010

Summary Background Although wrinkling is the most obvious sign of aged skin, the detailed pathomechanism of wrinkle development has not been elucidated. Objectives In this study, we investigated the role of elastic fibers in the formation of skin wrinkles. Methods Loss of elastic fibers was measured quantitatively in the facial skins of subjects representing seven decades, and then compared with wrinkle severities. We also investigated whether topical retinoic acid treatment to photoaged human skin can restore destroyed elastic fiber, and the correlation between wrinkle improvement with increase in elastic fibers in RA-treated facial skin. Results We found a significant correlation between decreases in the length, width, number and total area of oxytalan fibers and wrinkle severity. Furthermore, we found that topical application of retinoic acid (0.025%) to chronically photodamaged skin regenerated and restored elastic fibers, and that there was a significant positive correlation between the amount of newly regenerated elastic fiber and the wrinkle improvement caused by retinoic acid. Conclusions Our results provide an objective insight into the role of elastic fibers in skin wrinkle formation by providing a quantitative correlation between changes in oxytalan fibers and the severity of skin wrinkling.