Suction Based Characterization of Healthy and Diseased Skin

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) show a thickening of the skin due to massive deposition of collagen and temporary edema in the dermis. The clinical palpation method is currently the only diagnosis method. For an objective detection a non-invasive skin elasticity measurement can be performed. The widely used approach is based on local tissue suction. This study aims at an identification and quantification of mechanical and structural properties of human skin. The results will then be compared in age- and gender matched control groups. For evaluation of the skin elasticity measurement the results will be compared to the clinical parametar validated, modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS).

The mechanical properties of healthy and diseased skin will be assessed by suction based measurements. The negative pressure is needed to gain a certain tissue elevation. Tissue elevation in response to a certain negative pressure as well as the time of retraction of tissue will be recorded and analyzed. (The different parameters depend on

Inclusion criteria

-Signed Informed Consent

Healthy volunteers:

• Age ≥18 years old

SSc-Patients:

• Age ≥18 years old
• Diagnosis of systemic sclerosis according to the ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria
• Skin thickening diagnosed by clinical expert

Exclusion criteria

• Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse,
• Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant,
• Previous enrolment into the current study,
• Participants, who are unable to hold still
• Impaired skin at the regions of measurements