Elastotic Changes Research Articles

Elastoid Changes in the Gingiva of Aged Humans

Elastotic changes were demonstrable in the gingivae of both dentulous and edentulous jaws obtained from both male and female humans varying in age from 62–92 years. Sections of gingivae from all the aged individuals exhibited numerable thick fibers that stained positive with iron hematoxylin or orcein. These positive staining fibers were found in the lamina propria radiating into the connective tissue papillae, coursing throughout the zona reticularis, as well as appearing as black amorphous masses. Pretreatment of sections with acid hydrolysis before staining by the two elastic tissue stains led to a loss of stainable fibers for elastin. In contrast the gingivae of a young adult did not contain elastic positive fibers as seen in the aged gingivae. The thick elastotic fibers found in the aged gingivae were argyrophilic in nature when the sections were impregnated with silver nitrate indicating that they were collagenous in nature. It is felt that the elastoid‐like fibers in aging gingiva are another phase in the altering of collagen during the aging process.

Loss of Dermal Elastic Tissue in Solar Elastosis

Solar elastosis is histologically characterized by an elastotic change in the upper dermis. 1 During a study of solar elastosis, I noted a band-like loss of dermal elastic tissue (elastolysis) in the middle dermis of biopsy specimens from the sun-exposed skin of one individual. This unique, apparently suninduced phenomenon is reported. Report of a Case A 72-year-old man had noticed wrinkling of the skin of the sun-exposed areas, especially the face, neck, and extensor aspect of the forearms, for many years. Past history indicated an appendectomy at the age of 16 years. There was no history of urticaria or any other inflammatory or noninflammatory skin disorders except for sunburn. Results of a general physical examination were normal. The skin of sun-exposed areas was thick, wrinkled, and leathery (Fig 1). There were no signs of atrophy or inflammation; there were no circinate margins in the affected areas. Complete blood cell count,

Early Destructive Effect of Sunlight on Human Skin

The facial skin of white persons has been assessed throughout the human life span for the severity of elasticfiber changes as an indicator of sunlight damage. Elastic hyperplasia began as early as the first decade and was clearly evident in a majority of young adults before the age of 30. Beyond the fourth decade most persons had serious elastic-tissue abnormalities culminating in massive degeneration. The elastotic changes were quite advanced before the extensiveness of the damage became visible clinically. The unexposed skin of the buttock exhibited only a slight increase in elastic fibers in old age. The degree of elastic-tissue damage in different regions of the face was in relation to the amount of sunlight these received, greatest on the ear rim and cheek, least under the chin and eyebrows. Sunlight, not innate aging, is mainly responsible for the worst manifestation of senile skin.

Early destructive effect of sunlight on human skin

The facial skin of white persons has been assessed throughout the human life span for the severity of elasticfiber changes as an indicator of sunlight damage. Elastic hyperplasia began as early as the first decade and was clearly evident in a majority of young adults before the age of 30. Beyond the fourth decade most persons had serious elastic-tissue abnormalities culminating in massive degeneration. The elastotic changes were quite advanced before the extensiveness of the damage became visible clinically. The unexposed skin of the buttock exhibited only a slight increase in elastic fibers in old age. The degree of elastic-tissue damage in different regions of the face was in relation to the amount of sunlight these received, greatest on the ear rim and cheek, least under the chin and eyebrows. Sunlight, not innate aging, is mainly responsible for the worst manifestation of senile skin.

Histopathology of Rosacea

Biopsies from 108 patients with rosacea have been examined and the histological changes correlated with the clinical condition. There is no single histological feature unique to rosacea but it is characterized by a combination of several histological signs; various types of rosacea represent an exaggeration of one or another aspect of the basic pathological changes; the disease is neither primarily a folliculitis nor an inflammatory disorder of small blood vessels. There is disorganization of the upper dermal connective tissue with edema, disruption of fibers, and frequently severe elastosis. A comparison of 39 rosacea patients with 39 controls for solar elastotic change indicated an increased incidence and degree of elastosis in rosacea patients. It is suggested that loss of integrity of upper dermal connective tissue may permit vascular dilatation and that this may have an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Some clinical and pathogenetic problems of porphyria.

SUMMARY The light sensitivity of porphyries catenae predisposes to an early ageing of the skin. In Australia where there is a high incidence of early ageing of the exposed skin, porphyries might easily remain undiagnosed. The classical manifestation of porphyries catenae tar da, the traumatic blistering, is an intermittent phenomenon and appears only over exposed skin areas showing the clinical manifestations of actinic elastics. The changes of the fine elastic fibers of the dermal papillae and the damaged basement membrane of the demo-epidermal junction predisposes the aged skin to derma-epidermal blister formation. The ultimate cause of the blistering is not photo- sensitivity, but probably a toxic factor which further damages the derma-epidermal connections without the intervention of inflammatory phenomena. Porphyries will cause blistering in aged skin, but various non-specific, non-diagnostic manifestations, due to photo-sensitivity occur in skin areas without elastotic changes.