In vivo evaluation of human skin viscoelastic properties for palpation quantification

—Investigation of annual changes in skin viscoelasticity and the effects of body composition on skin viscoelasticity—

Abstract

Skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis which has a prevalence of 2.1% to 4.9% in developed countries, are a worldwide problem. The results of diagnosis by general palpation are influenced by the skill and sensibility of physicians, and appropriate medical treatment may not be provided. We believe that the measurement of skin viscoelasticity can quantify factors described as "skin texture" by palpation, and we are studying the relationship between disease states and changes in skin viscoelasticity. This study aims to understand the effects of body composition changes on skin viscoelasticity and annual changes in skin viscoelasticity before investigating the impact of diseases. Measurements were taken on 14 subjects, 13 males in their 20s and 1 male in his 30s. Viscoelastic properties were measured on the right forearm and cheek using a cutometer, which can be regarded as a simple creep test. Measurements were taken every 1 or 2 months from May 2023 to March 2024.The results show that skin elasticity increases on the cheeks in summer. This suggests that skin elasticity of the body parts with a higher density of sebaceous glands such as the cheeks is seasonally related. The elasticity and viscosity of the cheeks were also found to be related to changes in body fat percentage and body water content. In areas with thin skin, viscoelasticity may be affected by body composition. This suggests the necessity to consider influences other than skin diseases when evaluating the course of skin diseases in patients with significant changes in sebum levels and body composition.