Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (Aug 2024)
The Characteristics and Inheriting Pattern of Skin Aging in Chinese Women: An Intergenerational Study of Mothers and Daughters
Abstract
Zhuying Zhang,1,2,* Mai Shi,1,2,* Jinghui Li,3 Dian Chen,1,2 Jie Ren,1,2 Zhenghui Li,1,2 Hsiaohan Tuan,1,2,* Yi Zhao1,2,* 1Department of Dermatology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Photomedicine Laboratory, Institute of Precision Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yi Zhao; Hsiaohan Tuan, Department of Dermatology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, No. 168 Litang Road, Changping District, Beijing, 102218, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13718646181 ; +86-18610015166, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: The aging of the skin, which is affected by both external and internal causes, can reflect the external age and the internal health status. While the aging characteristics differ across ethnic groups, the specific changes in skin aging within the Chinese population have been underexplored. Moreover, investigating the similarity of aging skin characteristics between parent-offspring pairs remains uncharted territory. This study aims to fill these gaps by examining the skin aging features of Chinese women and assessing the similarity in aging skin characteristics between mother-daughter pairs.Methods: A total of 40 mother-daughter pairs were recruited and analyzed. The perceived ages of the participants were evaluated, and their aging skin traits were systematically graded. Statistical methods were employed to discern the trends of the aging skin characteristics. By introducing a novel similarity parameter, we compared whether various skin aging characteristics have similar patterns between mothers and daughters.Results: Our findings indicate that age 50 represents a pivotal point in skin aging. Beyond this age, the increase in rhytides and laxity scores accelerated noticeably, whereas the escalation in dyschromia scores became less marked. By introducing similar parameters between mother-daughter pairs and the radar map, we discovered that the skin aging characteristics are remarkably consistent between mother-daughter pairs.Conclusion: Understanding the main aging skin characteristics of different age groups can allow caregivers to devise treatments for preventing skin aging in women of various ages. The mother’s skin aging trend is also significant for the daughter’s skin aging prevention.Plain Language Summary: Skin aging, a complex process influenced by both internal and external factors, exhibits distinct patterns across ethnic groups. Despite this, the specific aging characteristics within the Chinese population and the hereditary similarities between parents and offspring have not been thoroughly investigated. To address this gap, our study focused on the skin aging features of Chinese women and explored the resemblance in these features between mother-daughter pairs. Eighty-seven women from the same community, including 40 mother-daughter pairs, participated in our study. We assessed how old each participant appeared to be and methodically evaluated their skin aging signs by a modified scale. With the introduction of a new similarity parameter, we further examined the extent to which skin aging traits showed parallel trends between mothers and their daughters.Our findings pinpoint age 50 as a pivotal moment in the skin aging trajectory, where the increase in wrinkles and skin laxity becomes more pronounced, contrasting with a deceleration in skin discoloration. Remarkably, a consistent pattern of aging characteristics was observed between mother-daughter pairs, suggesting a potential genetic influence. This study not only sheds light on the specific skin aging patterns among Chinese women but also underscores the significance of genetic factors in shaping these patterns. The insights gained pave the way for developing targeted interventions for skin aging prevention and treatment, emphasizing the importance of considering familial aging trends.Keywords: Chinese female, skin aging pattern, aging characteristics, intergenerational analysis
