Vasomotor responses in facial and finger skin to acute changes in blood pressure

Abstract

We examined the effects of acute changes in blood pressure on facial and finger vasomotion in nine healthy males using laser speckle flowgraphy and laser‐dopplar flowmetry, respectively. Skin blood flow was measured during acute changes in the rise of blood pressure (using maximum static handgrip: HG), and in the reduction of blood pressure (using acute release of 2‐min thigh cuff pressure at 250mmHg: CR). Skin vascular conductance (VC) values at baseline and the first four seconds of HG and CR were calculated from the ratio of skin blood flow and mean arterial pressure. During the HG, VC in forehead, eyelid, nose, cheek and upper lip significantly increased, whereas that in finger decreased compared to the baseline. During the CR, VC in forehead, eyelid, nose, cheek, upper lip and finger significantly decreased compared to the baseline. The results obtained in finger skin were similar to previous studies (Durand et al 2004, Saad et al 2001). These results obtained in facial skin suggest that changes in VC do not serve to maintain facial skin blood flow against acute changes in blood pressure.