The effect of aging and arteriosclerosis on human skin blood flow.

Skin blood flow in the deltoid region of 65 men was measured by the xenon 133 clearance method and in studying the correlation of age, total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure to skin blood flow, the following results were obtained. (1) Skin blood flow significantly decreased with increase in age. In calculating skin blood flow at 20 and 70 years of age from the regression line between skin blood flow and age, it was estimated that skin blood flow at 70 years of age decreased to 40% of that at 20 years of age. (2) Skin blood flow significantly decreased with increase in total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. (3) Skin blood flow showed the closest correlation with age, followed by total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure which showed a weak correlation. It is estimated from the foregoing results that as skin blood flow in patients with arteriosclerosis decreases more in elderly individuals than in young persons, their wound healing is delayed.