Skin biomechanical properties

The ability of cleansers to positively affect the moisturization of skin can further be measured by evaluating biomechanical properties that are intrinsically linked to hydration state. For example, changes in skin softness are directly related to hydration state, and Figure 31.16 shows how biomechanical... 

Wilkes GL, Brown lA, and Wildnauer RH. The Biomechanical Properties of Skin. 

Krouskop et al. [5, 8] applied Doppler ultrasound techniques to measure the point-to-point biomechanical property of the human skin and subcutaneous musculatures. Tests of the forearms and legs suggested that the elastic moduli are strongly dependent on the contraction status of the muscles. A 16-fold increase (from 6.2 kPa to 109 kPa) in the modulus... 

Scientists have created artificial skin with biomechanical properties similar to real skin using biomaterials such as fibrin (from blood), agarose (from seaweed), chitosan (from crustacean shells), and collagen. 

Determining the biomechanical properties (also qualified as rheological properties by some authors) of the skin enables the dermal state to be assessed. Parameters such as age, sex, thickness and hydration of the skin in the sample zone, and obviously the use of cosmetics influence the experimental values obtained (Black et al, 1998 Pierard et al, 1998 Rodrigues and Pinto, 2004). By evaluating the differences detected pre- and post-treatment allows one to judge the efficacy of the tested products. 

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