Distensibility and Gross Elasticity of the Skin at Various Body Sites and Association with Pathological Scarring: A Case Study.

Objective

Pathological scars, including hypertrophic scars and keloids, have a strong predilection for specific regions of the body. Such site specificity might reflect regional differences in skin properties. Greater knowledge about the characteristics of the skin at various body regions can promote the development of clinical approaches to skin incision and flap design and reduce the formation of cutaneous scars. It could also help elucidate the etiology of pathological scar development and progression. Thus, we measured the distensibility and gross elasticity of the skin at various body sites.

Methods

Five healthy adult volunteers were enrolled. In each, the cutaneous viscoelasticity at 16 sites (forehead, superior eyelid, lower jaw, earlobe, deltoid, outside and medial side of the upper arm, palm, scapular region, anterior chest, upper abdomen, lateral abdomen, lower abdomen, lateral thigh, anterior lower leg, and planta) was examined using a Cutometer MPA 580® (Courage Khazaka electronic GmbH, Cologne, Germany).

Results

The skin was particularly distensible at the medial side of the upper arm, followed by the earlobe, lower jaw, upper abdomen, lateral abdomen, lower abdomen, and superior eyelid. It was poorly distensible at the planta, followed by the anterior lower leg, palm, and forehead. The skin was poorly elastic at the earlobe, superior eyelid, planta, and palm and highly elastic at the lateral and upper abdomen, scapular region, and deltoid.

Conclusions

Except for the earlobe, all regions with poorly distensible and hard skin are not prone to pathological scarring. This association between these skin properties and abnormal scarring could be useful for skin surgeons.