Effects of aging and postmenopausal hypoestrogenism on skin elasticity and bone mineral density in Japanese women

Skin collagen content and bone mass decrease with aging. Loss of collagen from the skin might decrease its elasticity. We investigated associations between skin elasticity, bone mineral density (BMD), age, and menopausal hypoestrogenism. Thirty-eight healthy Japanese postmenopausal women were studied (mean age, 55.7 +/- 5.9 yr; range, 48 to 7 1). Skin elasticity was measured using a suction device applied to the dorsal right forearm. BMD values of L2 to 4 vertebral bodies were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Age showed significant negative correlations with both skin elasticity and BMD (r = -0.57, p < 0.001 and r = -0.40, p < 0.05, respectively). Years since menopause also showed significant negative correlations with both skin elasticity and BMD (r = -0.51, p < 0.01 and r = -0.41, p < 0.05, respectively). We also found a positive correlation between skin elasticity and BMD in these postmenopausal women (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). In conclusion, we demonstrated declining skin elasticity and bone mass in postmenopausal women to possibly be age- and estrogen-related. Additionally, decreased skin elasticity might serve as a predictor of bone loss in postmenopausal women.