Age-related changes on cutaneous microcirculation

Objective: To evaluate whether skin aging can affect the skin microcirculation. Methods: PIM2-Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging （PIM2-LDPI） was used to measure skin blood perfusion and the microcirculation microscope was used to observe nail fold microcirculation in left ring finger. Results: For the old group,their mean cutaneous blood flows in the forehead, the back of the left hand fingers and acupoint of the gate of vitality were no significant differences compared with young group. The density of nail fold cross blood capillary:1.54±1.23 vessels/mm （young） versus 2.82 1.70 vessels/mm （old,P =0.00）;The vein plexuses under the derma papilla,the derma papilla and the integral around blood capillary showed significant age-related differences. Conclusion: Consistently age-related differences in skin blood perfusion could not be demonstrated. However,the density of nail fold cross blood capillary,the vein plexuses under the derma papilla,the derma papilla and the integral around blood capillary can be used as sensitive indices of skin aging on microcirculation.