The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the depth of the dermis\non the measured collagen and elastin levels and to establish the correlation between\nthe amount of these two extra cellular matrix (ECM) components and age. Multiphoton\nMicroscopy (MPM) that measures the auto fluorescence (AF) and second harmonic\ngeneration (SHG) was used to quantify the levels of elastin and collagen and to determine\nthe SAAID (SHG-to-AF Aging Index of Dermis) at two different skin depths. A 50 MHz\nultrasound scanner was used for the calculation of the Sub Epidermal Non Echogenic Band\n(SENEB). The measurements of the skin mechanical properties were done with a cutometer.\nAll measurements were performed on two groups of 30 healthy female volunteers.\nThe MPM showed a decrease of the quantity of collagen and elastin as a function of depth\nof the dermis as well as age. The SAAID was lower for the older skin in the deeper dermis.\nUltrasound imaging revealed a significant decrease of SENEB as a function of aging.\nThe mechanical properties confirmed a loss of cutaneous elasticity and firmness. Although\nmultiphoton microscopy is a powerful technique to study the characteristics of the dermis\nand its age-related damage, the location of the measurements (depth) remains very\nimportant for the validation of these variations. These variations do not seem to be\nhomogeneous according to the part of the dermis that is studied.
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