The extensibility in human skin: variation according to age and site.

Normal skin extensibility in the living body of 94 healthy male subjects ranging in age from 3 months to 73 years was determined quantitatively with the Bio-Skin Tension Meter at 12 sites. In comparison with the age of 20-29 years, the skin extensibility, particularly in the age group of less than 2 years, was significantly high. However, no significant difference from the age groups of 12-14, 15-19, 30-49 and over 50 years was found at any site. Correlation by age was noted at the extremities, excluding the posterior upper arm and at the lower abdomen, with the extensibility of the group less than 1 year as the maximum value, decreasing gradually down to 3-5 or 6-8 years. At the cheek, shoulder, anterior chest, and posterior upper arm, however, no correlation with age was noted.