Skin surface lipid and skin friction: relation to age, sex and anatomical region.

Differences in the skin surface lipid content (SSL) and the dynamic friction coefficient (mu) were investigated with respect to age, sex, and anatomical region in 29 volunteers. The group consisted of (a) 7 young adult females (24.9 +/- 1.1 years old, mean +/- SD), (b) 7 old females (75.3 +/- 2.4 years old), (c) 7 young adult males (28.7 +/- 0.5 years old), and (d) 8 old males (73.8 +/- 1.9 years old). Measurements were obtained on 11 anatomical regions, namely, the forehead, upper arm, volar and dorsal forearm, postauricular, palm, abdomen, upper and lower back, thigh, and ankle. Skin surface lipid content data were compared with mu measurements to determine the relative contribution of the former to frictional properties of skin. mu and SSL were not statistically different between age groups on all regions except for the ankle, where lipid content was lower in the elderly. Similarly, mu did not vary between sex groups. Skin surface lipid content was statistically lower on the forehead, dorsal forearm and postauricular area in females. Both parameters, however, showed considerable regional variability. A significant linear correlation was established between mu and SSL combining all regions from all volunteers. When mu was plotted against SSL among individual anatomic sites, only the forehead and postauricular area showed significant linear correlations between the two parameters. These data suggest that surface lipid content plays a limited role in frictional properties of skin.