Skin Properties and Morphological Characteristics of Neck and Décolleté with Aging

Abstract

We determined skin properties and morphological characteristics in the neck and décolleté in 90 Japanese women aged 22–76 years old, then analyzed age-related changes and differences in those areas as compared to skin of the face. Our results showed that skin in the décolleté had higher water content, as well as lower TEWL and sebum levels as compared to the cheek, with the same tendency seen in the neck, e.g., the sebum-water balance in the skin of the neck and décolleté areas was greatly different from that in the skin of the cheek. Furthermore, in subjects aged 40 years and older, sebum levels and skin color lightness were significantly decreased in the neck and décolleté areas, while wrinkle morphology was also markedly different, suggesting that these areas showed marked alterations in women in their 40s, which may be attributed to the effects of ultraviolet (UV) to change skin elasticity and color. The shape of the neck and lower jaw area was also markedly changed in subjects aged 60 years older, indicating that subcutaneous tissue might exert varying age-dependent effects on lower jaw morphology.