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Optical coherence tomography quantifying photo aging: skin microvasculature depth, epidermal thickness and UV exposure

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Abstract

Introduction

Photo aging predominantly occurs in the face, neck and hands due to UVA and UVB irradiation. It is associated with skin cancer and histological studies indicate thinning of the epidermis and elastosis occurs. Dynamic Optical coherence tomography (D-OCT) is a non-invasive imaging tool able to visualize the epidermis and upper dermis and its blood vessels as well as to evaluate epidermal thickness (ET) and blood flow.

Objective

To investigate ET and blood vessel depth using D-OCT in human subjects correlated to UV exposure.

Methods

We evaluated data from 249 healthy adults, that had D-OCT-scans conducted at four different regions (forehead, neck, arm and hand) and correlated ET and blood vessel depth with occupational UV exposure (total standard erythema dose, Total SED), season and demographic data.

Results

Regional differences in ET and blood vessel depth were found (p values < 0.001). Multiple linear regressions showed a seasonal effect on both ET (− 0.113 to − 0.288 µm/day, p values < 0.001) and blood vessel depth (0.168–0.347 µm/day, p values < 0.001–0.007) during August–December. Significant age-related decrease of ET was seen in forehead, arm and hand (0.207–0.328 µm/year, p values = 0.002–0.18) and blood vessel depth in forehead (0.064–0.553 µm/year, p values = 0.01–0.61). Males had thicker epidermis (3.92–10.93 µm, p values = 0.002–0.15).

Conclusion

Changing seasons are a major predictor of both ET and blood vessel depth, showing strongest effect in non-exposed areas, suggesting a systemic effect, possibly due to seasonal vitamin D fluctuation. Sex, age and occupational UV exposure affect ET. This study demonstrated the feasibility of D-OCT to evaluate epidermal thickness and blood vessel depth.

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Availability of data materials

Due to confidentiality towards the participants, data on individual observations is will not be made available.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Friis, KBE, MD, for her assistance in patient inclusion.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors in connection with the completion of this study.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jonas Olsen and Giovanni Gaetti first authorship.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Health Sciences Faculty, Zealand University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Sygehusvej 10, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    Jonas Olsen, Giovanni Gaetti & Gregor Borut Ernst Jemec M.D., DMSc

  2. Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Holbæk, Smedelundsgade 60, 4300, Holbæk, Denmark

    Kasper Grandahl M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, 2730, Herlev, Denmark

    Jonas Olsen

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  1. Jonas Olsen
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  2. Giovanni Gaetti
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  3. Kasper Grandahl M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Gregor Borut Ernst Jemec M.D., DMSc
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Contributions

OJ data acquisition, image analysis, statistical analysis, article preparation. GG image analysis, article preparation. GK data acquisition, data analysis, article preparation. JGBE: image analysis, statistical analysis, article preparation, supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonas Olsen.

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Conflicts of interest

GBE Jemec has received honoraria from AbbVie, Chemocentryx, Coloplast, Incyte, Inflarx, Novartis, Pierre Fabre and UCB for participation on advisory boards, and grants from Abbvie, Astra-Zeneca, Inflarx, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Regeneron and Sanofi, for participation as an investigator, and received speaker honoraria from AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Galderma, MSD and Novartis. He has also received unrestricted departmental grants from Leo Pharma and Novartis. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Human and animal rights

As declared above this observational study involving human participants is in compliance with ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained and potential conflicts of interests have been disclosed.

Ethics approval

This observational study was approved by the Regional Science Ethics committee of Zealand on the 15th of December 2015, study ID SJ-509. The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Olsen, J., Gaetti, G., Grandahl, K. et al. Optical coherence tomography quantifying photo aging: skin microvasculature depth, epidermal thickness and UV exposure. Arch Dermatol Res 314, 469–476 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-021-02245-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-021-02245-8

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