Infant skin maturation: Preliminary outcomes for color and biomechanical properties.
Skin Res Technol
; 23(4): 545-551, 2017 Nov.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28303612
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Newborn infant skin changes after birth but studies have focused on the epidermal barrier. Dermal properties are relevant for care, but literature on postnatal changes is sparse. We further characterized skin maturational changes in lightness, color and response to biomechanical stress.METHODS:
Normal skin sites from subsets of participants in a trial on the progression and stage of infantile hemangiomas were retrospectively examined. Standardized photographs were analyzed as L*, a*, and b* images. Biomechanics were measured with the Cutometer® .RESULTS:
Color changed significantly with increasing age. Skin was darker and redder at 2.0 vs. 5.4, 8.5 and 12.8 months. Yellow color increased, with higher values at 12.8 vs. 2.0, 3.5 and 5.4 months. Chest tissue was consistently more elastic than arm and face sites, with significantly higher elasticity for the youngest and oldest age groups. Biological elasticity, elastic recovery, and total recovery were significantly greater for the oldest subjects. Viscoelasticity and elastic deformation were lower at 5.5 vs. 8.8 and 17.6 months. Arm viscoelastic creep was highest at 2.8 months.CONCLUSION:
Skin maturation continues into year two. Increasing elasticity and decreasing viscoelasticity may reflect increased collagen structure/function. The findings have implications for prevention of skin injury associated with mechanical forces.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Skin Physiological Phenomena
/
Skin Aging
Type of study:
Observational_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Skin Res Technol
Journal subject:
DERMATOLOGIA
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States