Age-related differences in healing of superficial skin wounds in humans.

The healing response of human volunteers was measured by monitoring the reestablishment of skin surface markings in unroofed blisters induced by brief exposure to a 1:1 aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide. At all stages of repair, older individuals (ages 65-75 years) as a group lagged behind young adults (ages 18-25 years). Although individuals differed appreciably, especially in the older cohort, there was a good correlation between the rate of repair at two protected sites, the inner upper arm and the volar forearm. This suggests that healing response may a reliable measure of the physiologic status of the skin.