Invecchiamento, fotoesposizione ed irradiazione della cute: correlazione tra segni ecografici e reperti istologici

Purpose. We described the ultrasound (US) signs that can define the aging, photoaging and radiated skin. So, they can help the dermatologist in the diagnosis and clinical evaluation of “anti-aging” treatments. Materials and methods The dermis and hypoderma of 450 subjects (5 groups of 45 men and 45 women everyone), were studied with US test. We emploied a 10 MHz probe and recorded the thickness and the ecogenicity of the dermis and hypoderma. US images were correlated with hystological findings in 160 subjects. Results No phothoaging skin show increase in thickness and reduction in ecogenicity, while in phothoaging skin appear reduction in thickness and increase in ecogenicity. The radiated skin in the benigging phase shows increase in thickness of the dermis-hypoderma and in the chronic phase a reduction in thickness of dermis-hypoderma. Conclusion The photoaging produce increase in elastic fibres and therefore the hyperecogenicity of the dermis. After, in chronic phase, the loss of collagene and elastic fibres justify the reduction in thickness and in ecogenicity od the dermis. In the radiated skin the inflammatory process causes increase in thickness of the dermis-hypoderma and reduction in ecogenicity of the connettival plot. The absence of the interfaces shows reduction of soma tissues. These findings allows as to define the US signs of the aging, photoaging and radiated skin in 5 clinical-ultrasound stages.