Infant skin maturation: Preliminary outcomes for color and biomechanical properties

Abstract

Background: Newborn infant skin changes after birth but studies have focused on the epidermal barrier. Dermal properties are relevant for care, but literature on postnatal changes is sparse. We further characterized skin maturational changes in lightness, color and response to biomechanical stress.

Methods: Normal skin sites from subsets of participants in a trial on the progression and stage of infantile hemangiomas were retrospectively examined. Standardized photographs were analyzed as L*, a*, and b* images. Biomechanics were measured with the Cutometer® .

Results: Color changed significantly with increasing age. Skin was darker and redder at 2.0 vs. 5.4, 8.5 and 12.8 months. Yellow color increased, with higher values at 12.8 vs. 2.0, 3.5 and 5.4 months. Chest tissue was consistently more elastic than arm and face sites, with significantly higher elasticity for the youngest and oldest age groups. Biological elasticity, elastic recovery, and total recovery were significantly greater for the oldest subjects. Viscoelasticity and elastic deformation were lower at 5.5 vs. 8.8 and 17.6 months. Arm viscoelastic creep was highest at 2.8 months.

Conclusion: Skin maturation continues into year two. Increasing elasticity and decreasing viscoelasticity may reflect increased collagen structure/function. The findings have implications for prevention of skin injury associated with mechanical forces.

Keywords: Infant; Lightness; Skin; biomechanical properties; deformation; elastic recovery; elasticity; objective measurement; red color; yellow color.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Figures

Figure 1 a,b,c

Skin Color by Age Group L values were higher, indicating lighter skin, at 12.8 versus 2.0 and 3.5 months and at 5.4 and 8.5 versus 2.0 months (F = 3.6, p = 0.009) (Figure 1a). Red color was higher at 2.0 months than any other time and higher at 2.0 and 3.5 versus 12.8 months (F = 5.6, p = 0.001) (Figure 1b). Yellow color was lower at 2.0 and 3.5 versus 5.4 and 12.8 months and lower at 5.4 than 12.8 months (F = 9.2, p

Figure 1 a,b,c

Skin Color by Age Group L values were higher, indicating lighter skin, at 12.8 versus 2.0 and 3.5 months and at 5.4 and 8.5 versus 2.0 months (F = 3.6, p = 0.009) (Figure 1a). Red color was higher at 2.0 months than any other time and higher at 2.0 and 3.5 versus 12.8 months (F = 5.6, p = 0.001) (Figure 1b). Yellow color was lower at 2.0 and 3.5 versus 5.4 and 12.8 months and lower at 5.4 than 12.8 months (F = 9.2, p

Figure 1 a,b,c

Skin Color by Age Group L values were higher, indicating lighter skin, at 12.8 versus 2.0 and 3.5 months and at 5.4 and 8.5 versus 2.0 months (F = 3.6, p = 0.009) (Figure 1a). Red color was higher at 2.0 months than any other time and higher at 2.0 and 3.5 versus 12.8 months (F = 5.6, p = 0.001) (Figure 1b). Yellow color was lower at 2.0 and 3.5 versus 5.4 and 12.8 months and lower at 5.4 than 12.8 months (F = 9.2, p

Figure 2 a,b

Biomechanical Properties for Skin Sites by Mean Group Age. Fig 2a. Biological elasticity (Ur/Uf) was significantly higher at the chest versus arm and face at 3.1 and 16.6 months. # Indicates significantly higher biological elasticity for chest versus arm and face sites. Fig 2b. Total recovery (Ua) was significantly higher for chest versus face at 8.8 months. All sites differed at 16.6 months with the highest values for chest and lowest for face. b. *Indicates all sites different . # Indicates significantly higher biological elasticity for chest versus arm and face sites.

Figure 2 a,b

Biomechanical Properties for Skin Sites by Mean Group Age. Fig 2a. Biological elasticity (Ur/Uf) was significantly higher at the chest versus arm and face at 3.1 and 16.6 months. # Indicates significantly higher biological elasticity for chest versus arm and face sites. Fig 2b. Total recovery (Ua) was significantly higher for chest versus face at 8.8 months. All sites differed at 16.6 months with the highest values for chest and lowest for face. b. *Indicates all sites different . # Indicates significantly higher biological elasticity for chest versus arm and face sites.

Figure 3

Chest Site Elastic Recovery Versus Age. Moderate, significant positive correlations were found with age and some of the biomechanical properties. The relationship for chest site elastic recovery (Ur) is shown here.