BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: One phenomenon of skin aging is loss of cutaneous elasticity. Measurement of cutaneous resonance running time (CRRT) is a method to assess skin elasticity. Yet, information regarding the directional changes of CRRT associated with age, body sites and gender is not yet available. In the present study, we assessed whether changes in CRRT vary with age, body sites and gender in a normal Chinese population.

METHODS

A Reviscometer was used to measure CRRTs in various directions on the left dorsal hand, the forehead and the left canthus of 806 normal Chinese volunteers, aged 2.5-94 years.

RESULTS

With aging, CRRTs decreased in all directions on the hand, the forehead and the canthus. A more dramatic reduction in CRRTs on the forehead and the canthus was observed in both the 2-8 and the 3-9 o'clock directions. CRRTs in males aged 11-20 years were longer than those in females in some directions on all three body sites. Females aged between 21 years and 40 years showed longer CRRTs than males in some directions of the hand. There were no gender differences in subjects aged 0-10 (except on the canthus) and those over 80 years old.

CONCLUSION

CRRTs vary with age, body sites and gender.