Photoaging in Asians

Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2003 Jun;19(3):109-21. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0781.2003.00027.x.

Abstract

The aging process of the skin can be divided into intrinsic and photoaging. Clinically, naturally aged skin is smooth, pale and finely wrinkled. In contrast, photoaged skin is coarsely wrinkled and associated with dyspigmentation and telangiectasia. Although the population of Asia is more than half the population of the Earth, no well-designed study has been undertaken to investigate the characteristics of cutaneous photodamage in Asian skin. As Asian skin is more pigmented, the acute and chronic cutaneous responses to UV irradiation seen in brown skin differ from those in white skin. The clinical characteristics of photoaging in Asian skin, such as pigmentary changes and wrinkle patterns, differ from those of Caucasian skin. This review provides an outline of the characteristic features of photoaging on the brown skin of Asians.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Asian People*
  • Humans
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Skin Aging*
  • Skin Pigmentation
  • Sunlight / adverse effects*