Ran out of funding

This research study aims to determine if there are differences in oxygen consumption between chronically sun exposed and less sun exposed skin. This study uses a new imaging device that can detection oxygenation properties skin in a non-invasive manner.

Sun and ultraviolet light exposure has both short term and long term effects on skin. While the short term effects, such as sunburn, are understood, chronic long-term sun exposure can cause changes to the skin that are not well characterized. One particular alteration may be how the skin consumes oxygen, a change that may be linked to biochemical alterations that have been observed in past studies. Measuring skin oxygen consumption has traditionally been difficult as the tools available have not been easy to incorporate into clinical studies. In this study, we overcome this barrier through the use of a new non-invasive oxygen-sensing device that can rapidly measure skin oxygenation properties such as oxygen consumption. This observational study will measure the oxygenation properties of both chronically sun exposed and less sun exposed skin in the predefined groups of both young and older men and women.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female
• Age groups: 20 - 30 and 55 - 65
• Fitzpatrick skin types I, II, III, and IV

Exclusion Criteria:

• Fitzpatrick skin types V and above
• Tattoo markings anywhere on the arm(s)
• Significant scarring or discoloration (e.g. birthmarks) on the arm(s)
• Any current injuries, infections or wounds on the arm(s)
• Routinely (4+ doses per week) take high dosages of anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen, corticosteroids), immunosuppressive drugs, or antihistamine medications. However steroid nose drops and/or eye drops are permitted.
• Has taken an anti-inflammatory drug (e.g. aspirin) within the prior 24 hours of the study visit.
• Have diabetes that is treated with injectable or oral insulin
• Have any other active or chronic skin problems on the arms
• Are currently participating in another skin care product study at this or any other facility
• Have participated in any type of skin product treatment study within the past 2 weeks
• Have or ever have had dermatographia
• Pregnant women
• Lactating women

The study is designed to gather data from two different age groups of men and women to evaluate the differences in skin oxygen properties, if any, between chronically sun exposed and less sun exposed skin. This study makes use of an oxygen sensing bandage device that can quantitatively measure both tissue oxygen partial pressure and oxygen consumption rate. Due to its early stage in development, the device has not yet been designed to control for high melanin content of skin. Thus only subjects with lower melanin content (i.e. Fitzpatrick skin types I - IV) will be included in the study. In addition, tattoo markings, scarring or significant natural discolorations can interfere with the imaging results by absorbing blue light and subjects with any of these will be excluded.

This study was funded by a research gift from Procter & Gamble. While the investigator is under no obligation to do so, research results and/or study data may be shared with the company for purposes of future scientific publications and/or research collaborations. However, information shared with the company will not include any identifiers that could be used to link data to individual subjects.

As collected; until the study is complete and the results and published.

Image data files and subject questionnaires may be used after the study for future research. However, no individually identifiable patient information will be correlated with or otherwise used with the study data. Specimens and data will not be stored at collaborating sites outside of Partners Healthcare.