Senescence in the skin.

Abstract

No difference was found between groups of senescent subjects and younger adults in the control of skin temperature, heat radiation and transcutaneous oxygen pressure. Although capillary numbers decline in elderly skin, transcutaneous oxygen pressure at 43 degrees C in elderly skin is no lower than in young subjects. Topical tretinoin (0.05%) increases heat radiation from the skin, but there is no correlation with an improvement in superficial wrinkles. No conclusion is possible regarding the effects of topical tretinoin on transcutaneous oxygen diffusion due to a wide variability in results; sometimes it is increased and sometimes it is decreased. In different regions of the skin, such as the face and thigh, increased skin radiation and skin contact temperature are not associated with increased transcutaneous oxygen diffusion.