Histologic changes in the skin with photoaging

Background: In white people, a distinction between intrinsic aging and photoaging has been well documented in histologic studies. However, no histological studies to date have attempted to announce morphological changes with photoaged skin of Koreans. Objective: Our purpose was to compare the histologic change with advancing age between exposed skin and nonexposed skin of Koreans. Methods: Twenty-one male volunteers between 20 and 80 years of age were recruited. The histochemical and immunhistochemical studies were performed with the skin obtained from face and buttock. Results: 1. With advancing age, there was a decreasing tendency in the epidermal thickness. However, there was no difference between exposed skin and non-exposed skin. 2. Density of dopa-positive melanocytes was much higher in the face than in the buttock at all ages. Decline of melanocyte density with advancing age is not prominent in the facial skin. 3. In the facial skin, accumulation of thickened degraded elastic fibers and a decrease in collagen fibers are evident with advancing age. In the facial skin, increase of acid mucopolysaccharides is also found with advancing age. Conclusion: Koreans, the histologic changes in the skin with photoaging are distinct from those in the skin with intrinsic aging.