Abstract
We analyze the influence of a person's age on the thicknesses and reduced scattering coefficients of the epidermis and dermis in visible part of the spectrum. Their values were assessed using a non-invasive technique which combines pulsed photothermal radiometry and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy with Monte Carlo modeling of light transport in a four-layer model of skin. The analysis is affected by the strong influences of the melanin content on the reduced scattering coefficient of the epidermis, a (epi), and blood content in the case of dermis (a (der)). Separating their contributions reveals a significant decrease of a (der) with the person's age at an average rate of -0.25 mm(-1) per decade, while the contribution of blood in the papillary dermis amounts to 1.0 mm(-1)%(-1). Meanwhile, no influence of the person's age was found on a (epi) and the thicknesses of the epidermis or dermis.