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The objective of the study was to associate, on the same Chinese male subjects, changes in facial ageing signs with some biomechanical skin properties.The severities of 20 facial ageing signs of 219 differently aged Chinese men (20-65 years) were graded in blind by trained experts through standardized photographs, using a referential skin Atlas dedicated to Asian men. On each subject, the mechanical properties were assessed on the cheek area (left or right at random) by the validated suction technique Cutometer®. Finally, the skin colour parameters were assessed on images from VISIA-CR device.Clinically speaking, the severity of almost all facial ageing signs increases from 30 to 65 years, in a linear-like progression, whereas the 20-30 years shows weak increases. Skin colour shows slight but progressive decreases in Luminance and ITA, whereas the yellow and red components slightly increased between 40 and 65 years. At the exception of skin firmness, the skin mechanical properties show a clear decline during the 30-50 years period and plateau beyond.The present study suggests that the 20-30 years period, albeit more clinically 'silent' than the other periods of age, seems to be an age range during which early alterations of some dermal elements' onset. Deeper in vivo investigating techniques (Echography, Multiphotonic microscopy) are needed to confirm such hypothesis.Pouvoir associer, sur les mêmes sujets masculins chinois, les modifications des signes de vieillissement faciaux avec certaines propriétés mécaniques du tégument. MÉTHODES: Les sévérités de vingt signes du vieillissement faciaux de 219 hommes chinois de différents âges (de 20 à 65 ans) ont été évalués en aveugle par des experts entraînés sur des photographies standardisées en utilisant des échelles cliniques de référence pour les hommes asiatiques issues des Atlas du vieillissement. Sur chaque sujet les propriétés biomécaniques ont été enregistrées sur la zone de la joue (droite ou gauche suivant un plan de randomization) avec un appareil de succion validé, le Cutometer®. Enfin, les paramètres coloriels ont été mesurés sur des images enregistrées avec le VISIA-CR. RÉSULTATS: D'un point de vue clinique, la sévérité de la plupart des signes étudiés augmentent de manière linéaire de 30 à 65 ans, tandis qu'entre 20 et 30 ans les augmentations sont faibles. La couleur de la peau présente une faible, mais linéaire, chute de la luminance et de l'ITA, tandis que les composantes jaune et rouge augmentent légèrement entre 40 et 65 ans. A exception de la fermeté de la peau, les propriétés mécaniques présentent une chute importante entre 30 et 50 ans et un plateau ensuite.Cette étude suggère que la période entre 20 et 30 ans, observée comme “silencieuse” d'un point de vue Clinique contrairement aux autres classes d’âge, semble être un moment charnière durant lequel les premières altérations dermiques s'opèrent. De plus amples investigations in vivo usant de techniques d’imageries structurelles (Microscopie Multi-photonique, Echographie…) seraient nécessaires pour confirmer de tells hypothèses.

Skin ageing and gender influences on the scalp have been seldom studied. We revisited the changes in the interfollicular scalp. The study was performed on a population of 650 volunteers (300 women and 350 men) for over 7 years. Three age groups were selected in both genders, namely, subjects aged 20–35, 50–60, and 60–70 years. The hair status was further considered according to nonalopecic and alopecic patterns and severity (discrete, moderate, and severe). Biopsies from the parietal area were processed for immunohistochemistry. Stromal cells were distinguished according to the presence of vimentin, Factor XIIIa, CD117, and versican. Blood and lymphatic vessels were highlighted by Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 and human podoplanin immunoreactivities, respectively. Actinic elastosis was identified by the lysozyme coating of elastic fibres. The epidermis was explored using the CD44 variant 3 and Ki67 immunolabellings. Biplot analyses were performed. Immunohistochemistry revealed a prominent gender effect in young adults. Both Factor XIIIa+ dermal dendrocytes and the microvasculature size decreased with scalp ageing. Alopecia changes mimicked stress-induced premature senescence.

Based on the clinical presentation of some skin pigmentation disorders it is thought that a bicompartmental functional system exists in the epidermal melanocyte population. It corresponds to the perifollicular and interfollicular compartments, respectively. The present study was undertaken looking for the presence of such a system on scalp unaffected by pigmentary disorders. The scalps of 100 men with incipient to severe androgenic alopecia were examined using a videocamera equipped with an internal ultraviolet light-emitting unit. The face, trunk and limbs were similarly examined in 45 of these adults and in 13 children of both sexes. In 92 men, a subclinical hypermelanosis was found as a speckled pattern centered on every single follicle. With increasing baldness severity, another epidermal hyperpigmentation pattern involving the interfollicular area was superimposed to the perifollicular pattern. These stereotyped patterns of subclinical melanoderma were also disclosed on the face of adults, but not in children. In addition, the spotty perifollicular pattern was discrete or not apparent on the other parts of the body. It is concluded that the perifollicular subclinical melanotic pattern is a regional characteristic of cephalic skin, perhaps related to the local production of melanocortins, particularly alpha-MSH by the pilosebaceous unit.