Age-related Wrinkles Research Articles

The effect of smiling on the perceived age of male and female faces across the lifespan

Previous research has shown an unintuitive effect of facial expression on perceived age: smiling faces are perceived as older compared to neutral faces of the same people. The aging effect of smiling (AES), which is thought to result from the presence of smile-related wrinkles around the eyes, contradicts the common belief that smiling faces should be perceived as younger, not older. Previous research, however, has focused on faces of young adults, where the absence of inherent, age-related wrinkles and other age signs is offset by the weight of the smile-related wrinkles. In a series of experiments, we tested whether the AES extends to male and female faces in older age groups. We replicated the AES in young adults (20–39) and showed that it disappeared in older adults (60–79) of both genders. For photos of middle-aged adults (40–59), however, AES was found only for male, but not for female faces, who showed fewer and less prominent smile-related wrinkles. The results suggest that a person’s apparent age is perceived in a holistic manner in which age-related cues in the region of the eyes are weighted against age cues in other regions of the face.

610 Hibiscus abelmoschus seed extract induces remodelling of the papillary dermal fibrillin-rich microfibrils

Hibiscus abelmoschus seed extract is used in anti-ageing cosmetics and improves both the firmness of skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Whilst it promotes collagen production, less is known about its wider impact upon the remodelling of the dermal extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study we investigated its effects upon the expression and deposition of key ECM biomarkers. A formulation containing the botanical derivative was prepared as an oil in water gel cream and applied to photoaged extensor forearm of healthy individuals (n=9; aged 61-79). The test product and vehicle control (30 μl) were re-applied every 4 days over a 12-day period under occlusion; all-trans retinoic acid (RA; 0.025%) was applied for the final 4 days, as a positive control. Skin biopsies (3 mm diameter) were obtained from all sites and the expression of selected biomarkers compared against baseline biopsies derived from an area of untreated but occluded extensor forearm skin. Epidermal thickness was significantly increased in skin treated with RA (63.6 ± 23 μm) compared to baseline (37.1 ± 5.8 μm; p< 0.0001). Epidermal convolution, and elastic fibre deposition, as determined by Weigert’s Fuchsin staining, were found to be unaffected by any of the applications. Using a semi-quantitative ordinal scale to assess de novo ECM deposition, papillary dermal fibrillin-rich microfibrils were found to be significantly increased in response to treatment with H. abelmoschus (3.42 ± 0.53, p<0.01) or RA (3.4 ± 0.46, p<0.01) compared to the baseline (2.48 ± 0.52). There was no significant difference between the baseline and the vehicle control (vehicle, 2.99 ± 0.85). This study suggests that remodelling and new synthesis of papillary dermal fibrillin-rich microfibrils, induced by the H. abelmoschus seed extract, may contribute towards the marked improvement in the appearance of age-related wrinkles when included in over-the-counter anti-ageing cosmetics.

Ecografía cutánea y rellenos dermatológicos

Requests for fillers or dermatological implants have dramatically increased in dermatology consultations in the last few years, either for the correction of superficial age-related wrinkles and cutaneous creases or to increase the volume of specific areas (cheeks, lips...). Dermatologists are often the first professionals to provide these treatments. Nevertheless, in other situations, the patients have already been treated, and many of them do not know the type of material that has been implanted or may even deny previous treatment, even when evident on clinical examination. In these occasions, cutaneous ultrasound is an effective and reliable tool for the real-time diagnosis of the kind of implant that has been used, its location, and the study of its possible complications.

Relationship between the echogenicity of subcutaneous tissue and the depth of forehead wrinkles

Subcutaneous tissue is rarely studied in research on wrinkles. We used diagnostic ultrasonography to produce images of subcutaneous tissue of the forehead, one of the areas where age-related wrinkles form. We quantified the resulting echogenicity and investigated its relationship with wrinkle depth. One hundred and seventy-three Japanese subjects were divided into four age groups (21-28 years, 35-41 years, 47-59 years, 65-75 years). Maximum wrinkle depth (Rmax) was measured in the forehead. On an ultrasound image, which was captured by scanning perpendicular to the deepest wrinkle, we set a 12.5-mm-wide region of interest by aligning the deepest point of the wrinkle at its center and then obtained the ratio of the area exceeding this threshold to the total area as the echogenicity. R max increased and the echogenicity decreased with age. A negative correlation was found in the oldest group but was not found in other groups, presumably due to individual differences in the echogenicity among younger subjects. This study suggests that the internal structure of subcutaneous tissue, as observed by ultrasonography, is related to wrinkle depth. The relationship between wrinkle depth and echogenicity of subcutaneous tissue is particularly pronounced in the elderly.

No Benefit from HRT in Reducing Age-Related Wrinkles and Crow’s Feet

No Benefit from HRT in Reducing Age-Related Wrinkles and Crow’s Feet

Wire scalpel for surgical correction of soft tissue contour defects by subcutaneous dissection.

Increasing demand exists for cosmetic correction of soft tissue contour defects. Treatments include simple tissue augmentation techniques or more complex surgeries with consequent relevant recuperation time for the patient. The search for new simple techniques to correct scars and age-related wrinkles and folds is therefore one of the main goals of cosmetic dermatologic surgery. To improve the cosmetic outcome of patients suffering from soft tissue contour defects by the use of a novel surgical instrument and technique, subcutaneous dissection by wire scalpel. Fifty-four patients were treated with the wire scalpel technique with no skin incisions to correct a total of 132 depressed cosmetic defects of the face. Forehead lines, glabellar, nasolabial and oral commissure folds, upper lip wrinkles, and acne scars were treated. A 2-month to 4-year follow-up allowed subjective and photographic evaluation of results. Good or satisfactory results were obtained in 79.7% and 16.6% of the cases, respectively. Minor complications did not change the overall positive outcome of the surgery. Subcutaneous dissection by wire scalpel is a simple, safe, and effective method to improve the contour appearance of patients affected with scars or age-related contour defects.

Granulomes de jouvence

A 61-year-old lady received, outside Switzerland, injections of a mixture containing Zyderm DNA and probably another nonidentified compound to eliminate age-related wrinkles on the face. She developed granulomatous lesions that persisted over 3 years and showed histological aspects of paraffinoma.