EASYSTIFF®, a portable and innovative device able to separately analyze each skin compartment for the evaluation of mechanical properties

Abstract

AbstractHuman skin is submitted to various factors leading to either extrinsic or intrinsic aging. In addition to inducing molecular and morphological changes, skin aging is characterized by modifications in skin biomechanical properties modifications. These modifications can be used as biomarkers to both evaluate the degree of advancement in skin aging but also to detect potential pathologies. Hence, it is from critical interest to be able to evaluate skin biomechanical properties to fully detect and monitor these alterations. Here we introduce a portable and innovative®device, EASYSTIFF®, which is thought toin vivomeasure stiffness properties of skin. Based on indentation principle, EASYSTIFF allows to identify both global stiffness of skin (all confounded cutaneous compartment) or compartmentalized stiffness, in which stiffness values of each compartment, i.e., the stratum corneum, the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis, are separately analyzed. Thus, EASYSTIFF is a complementary tool to 2D and 3Din/ex vivomodel and an alternative to existing devices that measure skin mechanical properties, for assessing the effectiveness of cosmetic products, monitoring skin stiffness over time and to provide better understanding in the evolution of skin mechanical properties.