Is skin thinning a natural consequence of aging or a result of sarcopenia?

Abstract

It is widely known that skin thickness decreases and fragility increases with aging. However, the relationship between sarcopenia, a condition commonly associated with frailty in older adults, and skin thickness remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of skin thinning in patients with sarcopenia and investigate the relationship between sarcopenia, age, and skin thickness. This cross-sectional study included 66 participants aged 40 to 80, comprising 20 individuals with pre-sarcopenia, 13 with sarcopenia, and 33 healthy controls. Total skin thickness (epidermal + dermal) was measured using ultrasound (US) at four anatomical regions: leg, hand, forearm, and upper arm. Leg and hand skin thicknesses were significantly lower in patients with pre-sarcopenia compared to the control group (all p < 0.05). Similarly, forearm and upper arm skin thicknesses were significantly lower in patients with sarcopenia compared to the control group (all p = 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors such as age, sex, and BMI, Sarcopenia remained significantly associated with reduced skin thickness across all regions (all p < 0.05). A moderate-to-high positive correlation exists between HGS and leg skin thickness (all p < 0.01). However, no significant relationships were found between skin thickness and age or sex. Sarcopenia is associated with skin thinning across all examined regions, independent of age, sex, or BMI. Skin thickness measurements may serve as a diagnostic marker for sarcopenia.