Premature skin aging: clinical and morphological characteristics

Premature skin aging: clinical and morphological characteristics

N.N. Potekaev^1,2, O.B. Borzykh³, E.I. Karpova¹, M.M. Petrova³, N.A. Shnayder^3,4, D.V. Dmitrenko³, M.A. Zatolokina⁵

¹Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow

²Moscow Research and Practical Center for Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology, Moscow

³Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk

⁴V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, St. Petersburg

⁵Kursk State Medical University, Kursk, Russian Federation 

Aim: to describe clinical and morphological hallmarks of premature skin aging.

Patients and Methods: the study enrolled 78 women aged 35–45 who did not previously receive any esthetic treatment affecting the perceived age. All women were divided into two groups based on perceived age, i.e., premature skin aging (n=52) or healthy skin aging (n=26). Examinations included history taking, determining predominant aging type, visual inspection, physical examination (with the assessment of the severity of aging signs), ultrasound, and histology.

Results: premature skin aging most often manifests itself with a reduction in skin tonus and elasticity, volume loss in the nasolabial fold, mid-buccal sulcus, and infraorbital sulcus, and loose skin around the upper eyelid. The morphological feature of premature skin aging vs. healthy skin aging is a decrease in its thickness. Histological examination of premature skin aging revealed changes in its architectonics affecting all layers. The total thickness of the epidermis reduces along with an increase in the thickness of stratum corneum, epidermal ridges become narrower and longer, the contrast of the border between the papillary and reticular layers of the dermis increases, collagen fiber bundles of the reticular fold become rough and fragmented, interfiber optically empty spaces reduce. Knowing the hallmarks of clinical and morphological changes in premature skin aging, dermatologists and cosmetologists may develop personalized esthetic treatment programs.

Conclusion: premature skin aging is characterized by several clinical and morphological involution changes. Prescription of pathogenicallyoriented therapy for involution skin changes in premature aging delays involution changes and also preserves and prolongs skin regenerative potential.

Keywords: premature skin aging, aesthetic medicine, rejuvenation, cosmetology, histological changes.

For citation: Potekaev N.N., Borzykh O.B., Karpova E.I., Petrova M.M., Shnayder N.A., Dmitrenko D.V., Zatolokina M.A. Premature skin aging: clinical and morphological characteristics. RMJ. 2023;6:3–8.