From Skin Microrelief to Wrinkles: An Area Ripe for Investigation

The document discussed how skin microrelief changes with age and how wrinkles are superimposed on these changes rather than resulting from them. Wrinkles were attributed to structural changes in the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, and were categorized into four types: atrophic, elastotic, expressional, and gravitational, each with distinct microanatomical changes and specific skin regions of development. The study highlighted that each wrinkle type might respond differently to treatments. It also noted that while skin microrelief and folds could be identified histologically, minimal dermal changes were observed beneath wrinkles compared to adjacent skin. Various objective and non-invasive methods were available to quantify wrinkle severity.