Evaluation of Physical Parameters of Skin by Consecutive Ultrasonic Image Processing During Ultraviolet Radiation in an Animal Model of Wrinkled Skin

Skin aging is divided into two categories of intrinsic and extrinsic aging. Skin aging due to repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation (extrinsic aging) is different from aging caused by time (intrinsic aging). The appearance of wrinkles caused by sunlight is due to subcutaneous fat atrophy and reduced production of collagen and elastin, thereby altering the biomechanical properties of the skin tissue. This study was conducted to investigate the skin damage caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation by consecutive ultrasonic image processing with high resolution.

In this experimental study, we evaluated the skin injury process among 25 C57BL/6 mice in healthy group (zero dose), and case group exposed to UVB radiation at 0.03 milliwatts per square centimeter (5 times a week for 5 weeks) due to differences in skin characteristics. Physical parameters of dermal and epidermal layers were measured and evaluated weekly from day 7 to day 35 using ultrasonic image processing.

The thickness of the dermal and epidermal layers obtained by ultrasonic processing during the process of ultraviolet radiation injury in the mouse model significantly increased during the 5 – week study (p < 0.05). In addition, the percentage of changes in the thickness of the epidermis layer (from 0.22±0.01 mm on day zero to 0.37 ± 0.02 mm on the thirty-fifth day) and the dermal layer (from 0.57 ± 0.05 on day zero to 0.90 ± 0.08 mm on the thirty-fifth day) showed 68% and 57% increase, respectively.

The results showed that UVB radiation increased the thickness of the skin layers.